REMINISCENCES 


PUBLIC  MEN  IN  ALABAMA, 


FOR   THIRTY   YEARS, 


W1T1I 


AN  APPENDIX. 


WILLIAM   GAEEETT, 


LATE  SECRETARY  OF  STATE, 


ATLANTA,  GEORGIA: 

PLANTATION  PUBLISHING  COMPANY'S  PRESS, 

1872. 


<b 


Entered,  in  1872,  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  by 

WILLIAM  GARRETT. 
In  the  Office  of  the  Librarian  of  Congress,  at  Washington. 


•      »  \  ******* 


TO 

THE  YOUNG  MEN  OF  ALABAMA, 

WITH   WHOSE   FATHERS   I   WAS  ASSOCIATED   IN   PUBLIC   LIFE, 
AND   WHO   HAVE   PASSED  AWAY: 

AND   TO 

THE   YOUNG   MEN,   DESCENDANTS   OF   THE   ORIGINAL   PROPRIETORS, 
WHO   LAID   THE   FOUNDATION   OF   THE 

GOVERNMENT, 

AND   BY   WHOSE   WISE   COUNSELS   AND   FAITHFUL   ADMINISTRATION 
THE   STATE   ENJOYED  A   CAREER   OF 

UNEXAMPLED  PROSPERITY, 
(PREVIOUS  TO  THE  LATE  WAR  BETWEEN  THE  STATES,) 

AND   TO   WHOSE   TALENT^    AND   VIRTUES 
I  HAVE  ERECTED  A  MEMORIAL, 

THIS  VOLUME  IS  RESPECTFULLY  INSCRIBED, 

BY  THEIR   FRIEND, 

THE  AUTHOR. 


PREFACE. 


IT  is  deemed  necessary  to  state,  that  the  Author  was  requested 
by  a  number  of  friends  who  knew   his   long   connection  with 
the  Government,  to  prepare  "Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in 
Alabama,"  as  a  contribution  to  the  history  of  the  times,  which 
could  not  fail  to  be  of  general  interest.     Prompted  by  this  sug 
gestion,  he  ventured  upon  the  task,  believing  that  it  was  a  duty 
he  owed  his  fellow-citizens  to  lay  before  them  the  results  of  his 
observation  and  experience  during  a  period  which  embraced  the 
most  distinguished  actors  on  the  public  stage,  and  the  most  stirring 
events  which  have  occurred  since  the  State  passed  from  its  Terri 
torial  condition.     His  memory  has  thus  been  exercised  to  gather 
up  and  preserve,  in  the  form  of  narrative  and  description,  many 
things  which  otherwise  would  have  perished,  as  no  man  living, 
except  himself,  had  the  same  opportunities  to  acquire,  by  personal 
contact  with*  men,  the  minute  knowledge  embodied  in  this  work. 
When  the  Author  decided  to  make  the  attempt  for  publication, 
his  chief  inquiry,  within  himself,  was,  Where  shall  I  find  the  ma 
terials  to  fill  the  proposed  volume  ?     As  he  progressed,  new  stores 
opened  to  him,  and  such  has  been  their  abundance,  that  the  em 
barrassing  question  now  is,  How  shall  I  select,  and  what  shall  I 
be  compelled  to  leave  out,  after  diligent  revision  of  the  manu 
script,  which  has  grown  far  beyond  the  limits  prescribed  to  the 
work  ?     This  is  no  small  difficulty  in  his  mind.     He  has  endea 
vored,  however,  to  observe  such  a  course  as  he  deemed  most  sat 
isfactory  to  the  public,  omitting  large  documentary  extracts  which, 
in  many  instances,  would  have  illustrated  more  fully  the  measures 
of  legislation  to  which  they  applied.     The  substance,  however, 
has  been  given  in  most  cases,  without  the  formal  amplification. 

With  regard  to  the  characters  introduced,  the  Author  takes  occa 
sion  to  say,  that  they  are  such  as,  in  his  judgment,  belonged  prom 
inently  to  the  times  and  circumstances  of  which  he  treated.  Some 
of  them  have  a  National  fame,  and  others,  not  so  well  known, 


abroad,  have  a  distinguished  reputation  at  Home.  The  Author, 
however,  deems  it  no  sacrifice  of  feeling  or  of  taste  to  confess, 
that  his  sympathies  and  his  sense  of  justice  have  induced  him  to 
rescue  from  neglect,  and  perhaps  from  oblivion,  many  names  of 
less  pretension,  but  of  solid,  practical  worth.  A  number  of  such 
are  specially  noticed. 

Besides  the  matter  which  is  arranged  in  distinct  chapters,  con 
stituting  the  main  body  of  the  work,  the  Appendix  includes  a 
Eoll  of  the  General  Assembly  from  1819  to  1872;  a  Roll  of  the 
Judges  of  the  Supreme  and  Circuit  Courts,  and  of  the  Attorney 
Generals  and  District  Solicitors  for  the  same  period ;  of  the  Sena 
tors  and  Representatives  in  the  Congress  of  the  United  States, 
and  other  condensed  records  which,  upon  examination,  will,  no 
doubt,  be  welcomed  by  the  general  reader. 

While  the  Author  has  furnished  the  facts  and  materials  which 
form  the  staple  of  the  work,  and  has  bestowed  much  labor  in  their 
presentation,  he  takes  pleasure  in  acknowledging  the  assistance 
which  has  been  afforded  by  his  personal  friend,  Major  STEPHEN 
F.  MILLER,  who  was  Editor  of  the  "Monitor,"  at  Tuskaloosa, 
from  March,  1840,  to  October,  1847,  and  who,  in  1843,  wrote  and 
published  "Heads  of  the  Alabama  Legislature."  £ince  1849, 
Major  MILLED  has  resided  in  Georgia,  where,  among  other  works 
of  which  he  is  the  author,  is  " The  Bench  and  Bar  of  Georgia" 
in  two  volumes,  published  by  J.  B.  Lippincott  &  Co.,  Philadel 
phia,  in  1858.  Especially  is  it  due  to  him  to  say,  that  the  ex 
tracts  incorporated  in  the  notices  of  public  men,  showing,  from 
their  speeches  and  letters,  the  part  they  acted,  and  the  sentiments 
they  entertained,  have  been  supplied  from  the  large  collection  of 
documents  and  pamphlets  which  have  been  preserved  by  Major 
MILLER,  in  bound  volumes,  now  forming  a  part  of  his  Library. 

"With  these  observations  as  to  the  origin  and  progress  of  the 
work,  the  Author  submits  it  to  the  People  of  Alabama,  in  whose 
service  he  has  passed  more  than  thirty  years,  embracing  the  prime 
of  his  manhood.  Nor  would  it  be  proper  to  omit,  here,  the  ex 
pression  of  his  grateful  acknowledgments  for  the  confidence  and 
kindness  always  extended  to  him  in  his  public  and  social  relations. 

W.  G. 

BRADFORD,  NOVEMBER,  1872. 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  I. 

Outlines  of  Population  and  State  Nativities. 

GEORGIANS  IN  LEGISLATURE;  Referring  to  Prince's  Digest;  Special  Juries; 
Opposed  to  Chancery  and  Supreme  Courts ;  In  favor  of  Justices'  Courts ; 
Virginians;  Revised  Code  of  1819;  Foreman  of  Grand  Jury  puzzled; 
Antiquity  of  Code;  Law  of  Descents;  South  Carolinians;  Marriage  Con 
tracts  ;  Opposed  to  Divorce ;  System  of  Punishment ;  Tennesseeans ;  Hay- 
wood' s  Digest;  Redemption  of  Land  at  Judicial  Sales;  Assessing  Taxes 
by  Justices  of  the  Peace;  Road  Laws;  Pride  of  Ancestry  in  different 
States;  Local  Institutions;  Revolutionary  Influences;  Immigrants  to 
Alabama;  Intelligent  Communities ;  Distribution  of  Property;  Evidences 
of  Comfort  and  Wealth ;  French  Refugees ;  Napoleon's  Officers;  Culture 
of  the  Olive  and  Grape;  National  Qualities;  French  Names  and  Blood 
still  preserved  in  Alabama 33 

CHAPTER  II. 

Regular  Session  of  1837. 

PRESIDENT  OF  SENATE  GOVERNOR,  ex-ojficio;  State  House  Officers;  Officers  of 
Senate;  Prominent  Senators;  Officers  of  House;  Leading  members ;  Ex 
ecutive  Message ;  Banks  and  Pecuniary  Distresses  of  the  People ;  Revised 
Code  of  Punishment  Recommended;  Commercial  Revulsion;  Report  of 
Bank  Committee  to  reform  Abuses ;  Counting  Votes  for  Governor;  Inau 
guration  of  Governor  Bagby ;  Special  Message ;  Unsold  State  Bonds  with 
drawn  from  Market  and  Cancelled;  Board  of  Control  established;  Pre 
mium  derived  from  the  Banks;  Suspended  Debts;  Bank  Reports;  Elec 
tion  of  Directors;  Oyster  Suppers  given  by  Candidates;  Anecdote  in 
Receiving  Attentions ;  Education  Bill  and  School  Law ;  Log-Rolling  Prac 
tices;  Failing  to  Vote  on  First  Call;  Demoralizing  Schemes ;  State  Cotton 
Agency;  Tricks  of  Trade;  Attacks  on  Merchants  of  Mobile;  Defense  by 
Gen.  Bates;  Commission  to  establish  Public  Warehouses ;  University  Exer 
cises;  Dr.- Wood  retiring,  and  Dr.  Manly  installed  President;  Governor 
Bagby  delivering  Keys  of  the  Institution;  Address  of  the  New  Pres 
ident....'^. , 37 

CHAPTER  III. 

Political  Topics — Men  of  Action  Introduced. 

NATIONAL  POLITICS  IN  1837;  Conservatives  in  Legislature  ;  Balance  of  Power; 
Prejudice  against  Nullifiers;  Resolutions  in  favor  of  Mr.  Van  Buren's 
Sub-Treasury  Plan;  Contest  in  Senate;  Mr.  Elmore's  Substitute  adopted; 


8  Cbntenh. 

Debate  on  the  Specie  Clause;  Public  Lands;  Vote  Postponed  in  House} 
State  Rights  Men  allying  with  the  Democratic  party;  D.  H.  Lewis  and 
J.  M.  Calhoun;  Support  of  Judge  White  by  the  Whigs  in  183G;  Caution 
in  seeking  Office;  Retiring  Senators  1837-' 38:  Jesse  Beene — George  W. 
Crabb — James  B.  Wallace — John  M.  Burke — John  T.  Rather — John  A. 
Elmore — John  Rains — Samuel  B.  Moore;  Retiring  Members  of  House: 
Alfred  V.  Scott— John  W.  Womack— Daniel  P.  Bestor ;  Anecdote  of  Col. 
T.  B.  Tunstall ;  Retribution  by  Columbus  W.  Lee 48 

CHAPTER  IV. 

Progress— Session  of  1838. 

NEW  ORGANIZATION  OP  PARTIES;  Issue  between  Independent  Treasury  and 
Local  Banks;  Efforts  to  resume  Specie  Payments;  Advances  by  the  Banks 
on  Cotton;  Cotton  Agents;  New  Senators;  Prominent  Members  of  House; 
Governor's  Message;  Banking  System  reviewed ;  Changes  recommended; 
Bank  Committees  at  work;  Penitentiary  System  adopted;  Judges  of  the 
Supreme  Court  to  prepare  a  Penal  Code;  Building  Commissioners  ap 
pointed;  Separate  Courts  of  Chancery  established;  Example  of  Delay 
under  Old  System ;  Anderson  Crenshaw  and  Silas  Parsons  elected  Chan 
cellors;  John  P.  Booth  elected  Judge  Sixth  Circuit;  New  Apportionment 
of  General  Assembly;  Eastern  Counties  turn  the  Scale  of  Power;  Ratio 
of  Representation;  Solvent  Banks,  and  the  Specie  Feature;  Judge  Smith's 
Specie  Resolutions;  Amendments  Offered;  Protracted  Debate;  A  Break- 
Down  on  the  Floor;  Previous  Question  sustained;  Resolutions  passed  in 
House;  Animated  Discussion  in  Senate;  Adopted  by  Large  Majority; 
Convention  at  the  Capitol;  Election  of  Bank  Presidents  and  Directors: 
Sketches  of  George  S.  Gaines— B.  M.  Lowe— Jesse  W.  Garth—William  B. 

McClellan— Thomas  S.  Mays 63 

CHAPTER  V. 
Sketches  of  Character — Retiring  Members  of  the  Legislature. 

PUBLIC  SERVICE  TERMINATING  WITH  SESSION  orl838-'39:  Dr.  Neill  Smith- 
In  North  Carolina  House  of  Commons  1810  and  1811— 'Policy  to  be  elected 
President  of  Senate ;  John  P.  Booth — Acts  in  a  Duel ;  Henry  T.  Jones ; 
C.  Carmack;  Archibalds.  Mills;  Benjamin  G.  Shields — His  election  to 
Congress — Mission  to  Venezuela;  Hon.  Abner  S.  Lipscomb— His  High 
Character  and  Position — Removes  to  Texas,  and  is  appointed  Secretary 
ot  State;  Blanton  McAlpin — Mayor  of  Mobile — Emigrates  to  California} 
Henry  W.  Hilliard — -Professor  in  University,  1832 — -Service  in  Congress — • 
Minister  to  Belgium — Regent  of  Smithsonian  Institute  —  Commands  a 
Legion  in  Late  War ;  George  D.  Shortridge — Elected  Judge  Third  Circuit, 
1844— Candidate  for  Governor,  1855 — In  Convention,  1861 ;  L.  A.  Wie- 
singer — Advocate  of  State  Rights;  W.  E.  Blassingame— Fondness  for 
Literature;  John  M.  McClanahan— elected  Judge  Probate  Court— Re 
moves  to  Louisiana  —  Killed  by  Lightning  in  1867;  William  Winter 
pftyne — Service  in  Legislature,  1832 — In  Congress,  1841  to  1847 — Escape 
from  the  bursting  of  the  "  Big  Gun,"  1844— Return  to  Virginia  after  last 
Term  in  Congress;  Dr.  Reuben  Searcy,  of  Tuskaloosa — His  management 
of  Hospital  for  the  Insane 8G 


Contents.  9 

CHAPTER  VI. 

Sketches  Continued— Election  of  1839,  $c. 

MALCOLM  M.  BURKE — Young,  bold,  and  promising,— His  Early  Death  ;  Thomas 
Price — His  Clerical  Qualifications — Not  Skilled  in  Politics;  Governor 
Bagby  re-elected  ;  Members  of  Congress  ;  Changes  ;  Organization  of  the 
Legislature;  New  Members;  Governor's  Message;  Internal  Improve 
ment;  Two  and  Three  Per  Cent.  Funds;  Judge  Hunter's  Report;  Fire 
and  Pestilence  in  Mobile;  Judge  Porter's  Resolutions;  Speech  of  Percy 
Walker,  Esq.;  Contested  Election  in  Senate,  between  Mr.  Payne  and  Mr. 
Boyd ;  Eligibility  of  Members  inquired  into ;  Seats  of  Several  Declared 
Vacant;  Political  Conventions  and  their  Officers;  Thomas  H.  Benton  sug 
gested  for  the  Presidency ;  W.  R.  King  for  Vice-President ;  Electoral 
Ticket  Organized;  Delegates  to  Democratic  National  Convention  Ap 
pointed;  Whig  Mass  Meeting  at  Tuskaloosa,  June,  1840;  Officers  and 
Principal  Speakers ;  Display  of  Emblems ;  Whig  Address  to  the  People ;  • 
Democratic  Convention,  1840;  President  and  Chief  Speakers;  Electors 
on  the  Stump ;  Mr.  Van  Buren  receives  Vote  of  Alabama 101 

CHAPTER  VII. 

Retiring  Members — Eligibility,  3fc. 

HON.  WILLIAM  SMITH — In  Congress,  179G — Offices  held  in  South  Carolina — Re 
ceives  Electoral  Vote  of  Georgia  for  Vice-President,  1828 — Opposed  to 
Nullification— Removes  to  Alabama,  1833— Elected  to  Legislature,  1835— 
His  Ability  as  a  Democratic  Leader — In  favor  of  the  Sub-Treasury — De 
clines  appointment  of  Associate  Justice  of  United  States  Supreme  Court — 
His  Death,  1840;  John  D.  Phelan— Elected  to  House,  1833 — Attorney- 
General,  1836— Speaker  of  House,  1839— Circuit  Judge,  1841  to  1851— 
Judge  of  Supreme  Court — Clerk—Again  Judge — Law  Professor  in  Uni 
versity  of  the  South ;  William  P,  Chilton— Sketch  of  his  Life  and  Public 
Services — Tokens  of  Respect  on  his  Death;  James  M.  Boiling:  Robert 
A.  High  ;  Nathaniel  Cook— Elected  Judge  Circuit  Court,  1847— Removes 
to  Texas  ;  Lorman  Crawford — His  Refined  Taste  and  Culture — Early 
Death ;  Marmaduke  Williams — In  Congress  from  North  Carolina,  1803  to 
1809— Candidate  for  Governor  of  Alabama,  1819— His  Vote,  7,140— To 
tal  Vote,  15,482 — Service  in  the  Legislature — Judge  of  County  Court — 
His  Upright  Character—Death  in  1850  ;  General  William  Wellborn— Ser 
vices  in  Indian  War  and  in  Senate  ;  John  Vining  ;  Samuel  D.  J.  Moore  : 
Arnold  Scale ;  General  James  G.  Carroll— An  Original  Character ;  Wil 
liam  Hawn — State  Treasurer — 'Cashier  of  State  Bank  ;  General  Jones  M. 
Withers— Sketch  of  his  Public  Employments— A  Graduate  of  West  Point ; 
Matthew  W.  Lindsay— Attorney-General 113 

CHAPTER  VIII. 

Parties  in  1840 — Excitement  in  the  Legislature,  $c. 

PRESIDENTIAL  CANVASS  ;  Organization  of  the  Legislature  ;  Talent  in  both 
Houses;  Prominent  Members;  Senatorial  Contest;  Resolution  of  Mr, 


10  Gmtmte. 

Terry  adopted  in  Senate — Opposed  by  the  Whigs  in  House — Motions  fo* 
Delay — Time  for  Election  Expired  ;  Another  Resolution  of  Mr.  McClana- 
han;  Mr.  W.  B.  Moores'  Amendment;  Mr.  Morris'  Amendment;  Adroit 
Skirmishing  ;  Uproar  and  Confusion ;  Both  Parties  Unyielding  ;  Frequent 
Motions  to  Adjourn;  Yeas  and  Nays;  Resolution  and  Amendments  Laid 
on  the  Table ;  Session  of  Eighteen  Hours ;  New  Resolution  by  Mr.  Mc- 
Clanahan ;  Denounced  by  Mr.  Bates  as  a  "Snap  Judgment;"  Whigs 
Called  to  Leave  the  House ;  Magnanimity  of  Mr.  Reynolds ;  Knightly 
Combatants  ;  House  Adjourned  at  3  o'clock  A.M.;  Leading  Speakers  on 
Each  Side;  Joint  Resolution  by  Mr.  Moore,  of  Madison,  to  Elect  17th  of 
November — Adopted ;  Colonel  King  Received  72  Votes  ;  Governor  Gayle, 
55 ;  Resignation  of  Mr.  Speaker  Walker ;  Election  of  Hon.  R.  A.  Baker, 
to  fill  Vacancy  127 

CHAPTER  IX. 

More  of  the  Session  of  1840 — General  Ticket  for  Congress — State  House  Officers. 

GOVERNOR'S  MESSAGE  ;  Committee  in  Senate  Reported  Bill  to  Establish  the 
General  Ticket  System  ;  Animated  Discussion  ;  Passed  by  a  Strict  Party 
Vote,  except  Mr.  McVay ;  Action  of  the  House ;  Various  Motions  and 
Votes ;  Christmas  Day  ;  Election  of  Bank  Presidents  and  Directors ;  Bill 
Resumed  ;  Questions  of  Order ;  Appeals  from  the  Chair ;  Bill  Ordered  to 
Third  Reading,  48-43  ;  Taken  up  for  Passage — 44  yeas,  5  nays ;  No  Quo 
rum  Present ;  Whigs  withdraw  from  Hall ;  Call  of  House  Ordered  ;  Two 
Absentees  sent  for  and  Quorum  formed ;  For  Putting  Main  Question — 
yeas  51,  nays  00  ;  Bill  Passed— 50-23  ;  Great  Disorder  in  House  ;  Mem 
bers  Standing  on  Desks ;  Protest  of  Mr.  Bates  and  others ;  Charges  of 
Partiality  against  Speaker,  and  Reply ;  State  House  Officers  Elected  ; 
Sketches  of  the  Secretary  of  State,  Comptroller  and  Treasurer ;  Thomas 
B.  Tunstall,  a  Native  of  Virginia — Clerkship  in  the  Land  Office — Clerk  of 
House,  1825  to  1836— Secretary  of  State,  1836  to  1840— Again  Clerk  of 
House — A  High-toned  Gentleman — His  Death,  1842;  Gideon  B.  Frierson, 
from  Tennessee— Elected  Assistant  Clerk  of  House,  1834 — In  1836  and 
1837  Principal  Clerk— Elected  Solicitor  of  Seventh  Circuit— In  1842 
Judge  County  Court — His  Conflict  with  Rufus  K.  Anderson — Circum 
stances  of  the  Killing — Justifiable  Homicide 138 

CHAPTER  X. 

Public  Men  in  1810-^-Sketches  of  Character.  >•   , 

WILLIAM  J.  ALSTON— Elected  to  House,  1837— In  Senate,  1839— A  Whig  in 
Politics — To  Congress,  1849;  Jefferson  Buford — Service  in  Indian  War — 
In  Senate,  1840 — -Led  Company  of  Emigrants  to  Kansas,  1855 — In  Con 
vention,  1861;  John  R.  Clarke— In  Senate,  1839— Again,  1845— His 
Death,  1870;  Gerard  W.  Creagh — Graduate  of  Columbia  College — Settles 
in  Alabama  Previous  to  1813 — Wounded  in  Indian  Fight  at  Burnt  Corn — 
Successful  as  a  Merchant— Elected  to  House,  1838— To  Senate,  1839— 
Served  Ten  Years;  James  L.  F.  Cottrell — President  of  the  Senate — 
Champion  of  General  Ticket — Elected  to  Congress,  1846 — Removes  to 


Cbntenis.  11 

Florida;  General  Dennis  Dent — In  Florida  War — Elected  to  Senate, 
1838 — Served  until  1849-50 — President  of  Senate — Commercial  Pursuits 
in  Mobile — Died,  1860;  Dixon  Hall — In  Senate — Removes  to  Mississippi; 
Benjamin  Hudson— A  Faithful  Senator — Died  of  Cancer,  1848;  John  Ed 
mund  Jones — Elected  to  Senate,  1840 — Minister  of  Gospel — Skill  in  De 
bate—Elected  Solicitor,  1844  — Judge  City  Court  of  Mobile,  1847; 
Sketches  of  other  Senators  :  Peyton  King — Henry  C.  Lea — Felix  G.  Mc- 
Connell— Hugh  McVay— Dr.  Samuel  C.  Oliver— William  S.  Phillips- 
George  R,eese — Green  P.  Rice — Nathaniel  Terry — Solomon  C.  Smith — 
Hon.  Harry  I.  Thornton — General  T.  L.  Toulmin — Daniel  E.  Watrous — 
Thomas  Wilson 156 

CHAPTER  XL 

House  of  Representatives,  1840 — Sketches  of  Members. 

JAMES  M.  ADAMS— Elected  Solicitor,  1851— Lost  in  Gulf  of  Mexico ;  R.  A. 
Baker — In  Legislature  previous  to  1837 — Elected  Speaker,  1840 — Mem 
ber  of  Commission  House  in  Mobile — His  Death,  1866  ;  John  Barren — • 
Elected,  1839— Member  Presbyterian  Church;  Joseph  Bates — Elected, 
1837  —  Major-General  of  Militia — Commanding  Person  —  Courage  and 
Skill  as  a  Party  Leader— Compliment  of  Mr.  Clay;  Dr.  A.  Q.  Bradley- 
Fondness  for  Literature — Voted,  1859,  against  call  of  Convention ;  Rob 
ert  B.  Campbell — In  Congress  from  South  Carolina — Service  on  Commit 
tees—Consul  to  Havana;  Jeremiah  Clemens — Service  in  Mexican  War — 
Elected  Senator  in  Congress — Author  of  Books;  Walter  H.  Crenshaw — 
Elected,  1838— Speaker  of  House,  1861— 1863— In  Convention,  1865— 
President  Senate,  1865-66;  Dr.  James  M.  Davenport;  John  H.  Garrett— 
Died  During  Session,  1841;  George  Hill — Trustee  of  University — In 
Senate,  1857 — Died,  1867;  Dr.  Samuel  S.  Houston — In  Land  Office,  St. 
Stephens — Minister  of  Gospel — Personal  Peculiarities;  John  S.  Hunter — •• 
As  a  Politician — Report  on  Internal  Improvement — Removal  to  Ken* 
tucky ;  Joseph  J.  Hutchinson;  William  M.  Inge;  Charles  C.  Langdon; 
Dr.  Blake  Little;  Solomon  McAlpin ;  Charles  McLemore ;  Dr.  David 
Motire;  Dr.  William  B.  Moores;  William  W.  Morris;  William  M.  Mur 
phy  ;  William  H.  Norris ;  Daniel  H.  Norwood ;  Hardin  Perkins ;  Thomas 
M.  C.  Prince;  Benjamin  M.  Reynolds;  Samuel  F.  Rice;  Oran  M.  Rob 
erts;  James  E.  Saunders;  Luke  R.  Simmons;  Henry  D.  Smith;  Hon. 
Samuel  Walker;  Thomas  A.  Walker;  Tandy  W.  Walker;  Elisha  Young..  172 

CHAPTER  XII. 

Administration  of  Governor  Bagby — Personal  History. 

PECUNIARY  DISASTERS,  1837;  Message,  1838;  Removal  of  Indians;  Pre-emp 
tion  Rights ;  Volunteer  Force  under  Major-Generals  Patteson  and 
Philpot ;  Mounted  Rangers  in  Dale  County ;  Bank  Commissioners  ; 
Increase  of  Coin  in  Banks ;  Alexander  Pope,  Agent  in  Liverpool  to  sell 
State  Bonds ;  Private  Banking  Associations ;  Advances  on  Cotton  by  State 
Bank  Disapproved;  Montgomery  &  West-Point  Railroad ;  State  Univer 
sity;  Penal  Code;  Public  Warehouse  in  Mobile;  Revised  Military  Code, 


12  Vmtenis. 

by  Generals  Crabb  and  Bradford;  Separate  Courts  of  Chancery  ^Increase 
of  Salary  to  State  House  Officers ;  Duties  of  Attorney-General ;  Resolu 
tions  from  other  States ;  Constitutional  Treasury ;  Message,  1839 ;  Boundary 
between  Georgia  and  Alabama;  Contract  for  building  Penitentiary; 
Encampment  Drills ;  Connection  between  Mobile  Bay  and  Tennessee  River ; 
State  Geological  Survey ;  Attempt  to  burn  Capitol ;  Change  in  Election  of 
Bank  Directors ;  Bank  Marshal ;  Cancellation  of  Unsold  State  Bonds ; 
Corporations  of  other  States  making  Contracts  in  Alabama;  Decision  of 
Supreme  Court ;  Message,  1840;  General  Ticket  System;  Message,  1841; 
Political  Doctrines;  Personal  History  of  Governor  Bagby — Comes  from 
Virginia  to  Alabama  before  1819 — Settles  at  Claiborne — Serves  in  the 
Legislature — Several  times  Elected  Speaker — Political  Sentiments — His 
Genius  and  Eloquence — Elected  United  States  Senator,  1841 — Appointed 
Envoy  to  Russia,  1848 — Resigns,  1849 — Return  to  Alabama — His  Death 
in  Mobile,  1858— Traits  of  character— Letter  to  Author,  1845 201 

CHAPTER  XIII. 

Political  Events — Legislature,  1841 — Character  of  Members. 

NATIONAL  ADMINISTRATION  ;  Whigs  in  Power ;  Special  Session  of  Legislature ; 
Election  to  Congress  under  General  Ticket ;  Popular  Vote ;  Nomination 
for  Governor;  Harvey  W.  Ellis — His  Character  and  Death;  Repeal  of 
General  Ticket;  Election  of  Governor  Fitzpatrick  over  Colonel  McClung; 
Detection  of  Bank  Frauds ;  Action  of  Committee ;  New  Senators ;  Lead 
ing  Members  of  House;  Standing  Committees;  Extract  from  Governor 
Bagby 's  last  Message;  Installation  of  Governor  Fitzpatrick;  Order  of 
Ceremonies;  Investigation  of  Bank  Frauds  resumed;  Mr.  Jemison's 
Resolution;  Evidence  taken  by  Joint  Committee;  Card  from  Members; 
Senate  Committee  dissolved ;  No  Definite  Action ;  Evidence  Deposited  in 
Secretary  of  State's  Office;  Incautious  Manner  of  Granting  Certificates 
of  Solvency  by  Members  ;  Remarks  of  Mr.  Young ;  Revenue  Bill  Reported 
by  Colonel  James;  Federal  Politics;  Legislature  adjourned,  January  1, 
1842;  Notice  of  Members;  Arthur  Foster — Elected  President  of  State 
Bank — Judge  of  County  Court — Influence  in  the  Election  of  John  A. 
Cuthbert,  Judge  of  County  Court  of  Mobile — Number  of  Ballots ;  Sketch 
of  Mr.  Cuthbert ;  Angus  McAllister — Served  many  years — Removed  from 
Dale  to  Limestone;  Mace  T.  P.  Brindley — a  Bank  Director — Kindness 

of  Heart — His  Death,  1871;  Milton  McClanahan;  Walker  K.  Baylor 

His  various  Learning — Trustee  of  University— Judge  Circuit  Court His 

Accidental  Death  in  Texas ;  Walter  R.  Ross 209 

CHAPTER  XIV. 

Session  of  1841,  and  Sketches  of  Members  Continued* 

IN  THE  HOUBE.  John  Steele,  a  Tennesseean- — His  Sound  Judgment — Great 
Success  as  a  Trader;  John  L.  Hunter — His  Huegunot  Ancestry — Fondness 
for  Scientific  Agriculture — Trustee  of  University — Anecdote  of  Politeness ; 
Hugh  N.  Crawford — His  Humor  in  Debate — Removes  from  Eufaula  to 
Montgomery ;  John  Cochran — His  Personal  Qualities — Liierary  Attain- 


Contents.  13 

ments— Ready  Wit— Offices  Held;  William  H.  Musgrove;  Matthew  W. 
Phillips ;  Lorenzo  James — Graduate  of  Yale  College — Chairman  of  Com 
mittee  of  Ways  and  Means — Sensible  in  Debate;  William  0.  Winston — A 
Native  of  Virginia — Fifteen  years  in  the  Legislature — Elected  Solicitor — 
President  of  Will's  Valley  Railroad— His  Death,  1871 ;  Felix  G.  Norman- 
Activity  and  Influence — Courtesy  in  Debate — Bold  and  fearless  in  the 
Line  of  Duty ;  John  S.  Kennedy — Elected  Solicitor,  1847, 1851,  and  1855 — 
Prudent  and  Successful — Engages  in  Manufacturing;  Nathaniel  Davis — 
A  Christmas  Scene  in  the  House — "Joint  Song" — Messenger  to  Washing 
ton;  George  T.  Jones — His  Firmness — Last  Vote — Death,  1871;  John  B. 
Hogan — United  States  Agent  of  Indian  Reserves,  1835 — Contest  with 
Speculators — Collector  at  Mobile — Business  Qualities;  Charles  E.  B. 
Strode — Cultivated  and  Ambitious — Fastidious  in  Pronunciation — Anec 
dote  at  Blount  Springs — Elected  Solicitor ;  James  Cain ;  James  M.  Rushing ; 
Harrison  W.  Covingion — Graduate  of  North  Carolina  University — Return 
to  his  Native  State;  Leroy  Gresham — Elected  Judge  County  Court;  Jabea 
Mitchell — Seven  years  in  Service — Sudden  Death;  Wyatt  Hefflin,  from 
Georgia — His  Diligence  and  Fidelity;  William  H.  Green — Member  of 
Episcopal  Church 225 

CHAPTER  XV. 

Legislature  of  1842 — List  of  Members — Banks  Placed  in  Liquidation — White  Bam — 

Events  of  the  Session. 

ORGANIZATION;  Chairmen  of  Committees;  Governor's  Message;  Mr.  Pettit's 
Resolution;  Topics  of  Reform;  Congressional  Districts;  White  Basis; 
Yeas  and  Nays  on  Mr.  Hubbard's  Resolution;  Whig  Protest;  Mr.  Camp 
bell's  Protest;  Passage  of  Bill ;  Depreciated  Currency;  Report  of  Bank 
Committee ;  Branch  at  Mobile ;  Investment  of  Capital ;  Specie  Payments ; 
Sentiments  of  Governor  Approved;  Loss  of  Bank  Capital;  Branch  at 
Decatur  in  Liquidation;  Relief  Measures  ;  Summary  of  Mr.  Campbell; 
Select  Committees ;  Faith  of  the  State ;  Expenses  of  Government ;  Rev 
enue  from  Taxation;  Bank  Loans  Discontinued;  Salaries  Curtailed; 
Retrenchment  of  Court  Costs ;  Surplus  of  Bank  Assets ;  Interest  on  Bonds ; 
Sclool  and  University  Fund ;  Sacred  Trusts ;  Maturity  of  State  Bonds ; 
Value  of  Punctuality 232 

CHAPTER  XVI. 

Judicial  Elections,  1842 — Character  of  the  Judges. 

JUDGES  SUPREME  COURT  :  Collier,  Goldthwaite  and  Ormond  re-elected — In 
Second,  Third,  Fourth  and  Seventh  Circuits,  no  Opposition ;  Pickens, 
Peter  Martin  and  S.  Chapman  re-elected;  Ballots  for  Sixth  Circuit; 
Judge  Bragg  elected;  Ballot  for  Ninth  Circuit;  Judge  Eli  Shortridge 
elected.  Personal  Notices :  Hon.  Ezekiel  Pickens — In  Senate,  1828 — His 
Terms  on  the  Bench — Eccentricities — Anecdotes — Mesmerism  and  Phre 
nology — Personal  Appearance;  Hon.  Peter  Martin — Early  in  Legisla 
ture — Elected  Solicitor — Next  Attorney-General — Judge  of  Circuit  Court, 
1836 — In  House,  1844 — Chairman  of  Committee  on  Banks ;  Hon.  Daniel 


14  Content*. 

Coleman — Many  years  on  Circuit  Bench— Resigns,  1847 — Engages  in 
Merchandise — Judge  Supreme  Court,  1851— His  Christian  Character ; 
Hon.  Samuel  Chapman — A  Virginian — Long  on  Circuit  Bench — Defeat, 
1850— Dignified  Address— His  Social  Qualities;  Hon.  Eli  Shortridge— 
Politics  in  Kentucky— Removal  to  Alabama,  1830— Elected  Judge,  1835— 
Eloquent  Style;  Hon.  John  J.  Ormond — Service  in  Legislature — Eleven 
years  on  Bench  Supreme  Court — Resignation,  1848;  Pamphlet  Attack  of 
J.  M.  Bates  in  Bank  Cases;  Advances  on  Cotton  Reviewed  by  the  Court; 
Rules  and  Regulations,  1838;  Pitcher  &  Ball,  Agents  at  Mobile;  Fon 
taine  &  Prince,  Agents  at  Liverpool ;  Fortieth  Section  Bank  Charter ; 
Opinion;  Points  Decided;  Collier  and  Ormond  Compared  to  Jeffries; 
History  of  Cotton  Speculations ;  Elevated  Character  of  Judge  Ormond — 
His  Death,  1865 » 261 

CHAPTER  XVII. 

Measures  of  Reform  at  the  Session  of  1842 — Personal  Sketches. 

ADJOURNMENT,  FEBRUARY  15,  1843;  Session  of  Seventy-five  Days;  Discount 
on  Bank  Notes;  Government  Lands;  T.  B.  Cooper's  Resolution;  Regis 
tering  and  Burning  Bank  Notes;  Low  Price  of  Cotton ;  A  Hard  Year; 
Policy  of  Governor  Fitzpatrick;  Currency  Improved.  Notice  of  Senators: 
Dr.  Samuel  C.  Dailey;  William  Fleming;  James  E.  Reese;  Hugh  M. 
Rodgers;  Richard  B.  Walthall — Educated  at  Cumberland  College — Re 
moves  to  Alabama,  1819 — A  Large  Planter — Public  Services — Character — 
His  Death,  1849;  Dr.  John  Watkins— In  Convention,  1819— Extensive 
Reading — Useful  in  Legislature — Skilled  in  his  Profession ;  Burr  W.  Wil 
son — Ten  years  in  Senate — In  Conventions  of  1861  and  1865.  Members 
of  the  House:  Miles  W.  Abernathy;  Marion  Banks;  John  W.  Bridges — 
Prominent  in  Public  Life — Important  Services;  Dr.  John  W.  Both  well; 
John  A.  Campbell — Leader  of  the  House — His  Reports  from  Committee — 
Appointed  Judge  United  States  Supreme  Court,  1853 — Removes  to  New 
Orleans;  James  M.  Calhoun — His  Decided  Character — President  of  Sen 
ate  ;  Clement  C.  Clay,  Jr. — Legislative  Career — Election  to  United  States 
Senate — To  Confederate  Senate — Imprisonment  in  Fortress  Monroe — 
His  Release — Devotion  of  his  Wife ;  Thomas  B.  Cooper — His  Public  ^Re- 
cord — Warm  Sympathies — In  Convention,  1865 — Elected  Speaker  of  the 
House ;  Dr.  Isaac  Dortch ;  William  D.  Dunn ;  Dr.  Samuel  S.  Earle ;  El- 
bert  H.  English;  John  Erwin;  Isaac  H.  Erwin;  Alva  Finley;  William 
H.  Gasque;  Alfred  Harrison;  Herndon  L.  Henderson;  John  W.  Henley; 
JohnM.  Hendrix;  David  Hubbard 278 

CHAPTER  XVIII. 

Legislature  of  1842 — Sketches  of  Members  Continued. 

JOHN  JACKSON — His  Skill  in  Accounts — Firmness  in  Debate — Impeachment  of 
Judge  Booth — Lost  on  a  Steamer,  1850 ;  William  G.  Jones — Nephew  of 
Governor  Giles,  of  Virginia — Influence  in  House — Solidity  in  Debate — 
Appointed  Judge  United  States  District  Court — Confederate  Judge ;  Wil 
liam  B.  Martin— In  House,  1838— Polk  an4  Dallas  Elector,  1844— Presi- 


Omtent*.  15 

dent  of  Senate,  1853;  James  W.  McClung — Several  times  Speaker  of  the 
House — Candidate  for  Governor,  1841 — Chairman  of  Committee  of  Ways 
and  Means,  1844 — In  Senate,  1847 — Chairman  Judiciary  Committee — 
Death,  1848;  Thomas  W.  McCoy — Efforts  to  Improve  Currency — Business 
Habits — Elected  Major-General — Removes  to  Baltimore;  Lemuel  G.  Me- 
Million  ;  John  Morrisette — In  House,  1829 — Served  Many  Sessions — 
Senate,  1847 — Ability  in  Debate — Controversy  with  A.  P.  Bagby — Ex 
tracts  from  Pamphlet ;  John  W.  A.  Pettit — In  Legislature  of  Georgia — 
Services  in  Alabama — Witty  Retort — Removes  to  Memphis;  Benjamin  F. 
Porter — In  House,  1833 — Appointed  Reporter  Supreme  Court,  1834 — . 
Again  in  the  Legislature — Originates  Bill  Abolishing  Imprisonment  for 
Debt— Elected  Judge  of  Tenth  Circuit,  1839— Resigned,  1840— Returns 
to  the  House — Extracts — Voluminous  Writer — Trustee  of  University — . 
His  Death,  1868;  James  Robinson— Quiet  in  his  Habits;  Robert  T. 
Scott — Candidate  for  Congress,  1835 — In  House,  1837 — Resolution,  1842, 
on  Bank  Expenditures — Agent  to  Washington;  John  S.  Storrs;  Dr.  Rob 
ert  J.  Ware  ;  Thomas  Williams 299 

CHAPTER  XIX. 

Congressional  Elections,  1843 — Spirit  of  the  Canvass — Sketches  of  Candidates. 

RESULT  IN  THE  SEVERAL  DISTRICTS  ;  George  S.  Houston — Term  in  the  Legisla 
ture — Elected  Solicitor,  1847 — To  Congress,  1841  —  Served  Eighteen 
Years — Chairman  of  Committee  on  Military  Affairs — Next  of  Ways  and 
Means,  and,  also,  Chairman  of  Judiciary — Elected  United  States  Senator, 
1865  ;  James  Dellet— First  Speaker  of  House,  1819— Elected  to  Congress, 
1839 — Extract  from  Speech  ;  John  Murphy — In  Convention,  1819 — 
Elected  Governor,  1825  and  1827 — To  Congress,  1833;  James  E.  Belser — 
Elected  Solicitor,  1837— Commissioner  to  Washington,  1842— Elected  to 
Congress,  1843 — Extracts  from  Speeches — On  Annexation  of  Texas — On 
Oregon — On  Admission  of  Florida — Supports  General  Taylor  for  Presi 
dent,  1848 — Elected  to  Legislature,  1853  and  1855 — Advocates  Internal 
Improvement— His  Sudden  Death,  1858 328 

CHAPTER  XX. 

Session  of  1843 — Judicial  Elections — Personal  Sketches. 

ORGANIZATION  ;  Chairmen  of  Committees  ;  Annual  Message  ;  Three  Thousand 
Copies  Clay's  Digest  printed  by  M.  D.  J.  Slade;  Quo-  Warranto  as  to  the 
Planters'  and  Merchants'  Bank  of  Mobile ;  Appraisement  of  Real  Estate 
of  Banks;  Report  on  Bank  Expense  Account;  State  Bonds  Extended; 
Increased  Labor  of  Winding  up  the  Banks ;  Claims  for  Expenditures  in 
Indian  War ;  County  Expenses ;  Congressional  Returns  ;  Two  per  cent. 
Fund  Vested,  Drawing  Interest  Six  Per  Cent;  Pre-emption  Rights;  Six 
teenth  Section  Fund  in  Trust;  Liquidation  of  Banks  Approved  by  the 
People;  Paper  Circulation  Delusive;  Gold  and  Silver  from  Foreign  Ex 
change  ;  Taxes  Cheerfully  Paid ;  Honor  of  State  Promotes  Interest  of 
People;  State  University ;  Census  for  1844 ;  Medical  College  in  Mobile; 


16  Contents. 

Vacancies  in  Office  Filled  ;  Second  Inauguration  of  Governor  Fitzpatrick ; 
Mr.  Taylor's  Resolution  on  "Mixed  Basig;"  Debate;  Federal  Politics; 
Party  Conventions  at  the  Capitol;  Nicholas  Davis,  Sr.;  Resolutions  on 
the  Tariff;  Mr.  Howard's  Resolutions  to  Accept  the  Land  Fund;  Yeas 
and  Nays ;  Judicial  Elections  ;  Ballots  for  Third  Circuit ;  For  Eighth  Cir 
cuit  ;  For  Ninth  Circuit ;  For  Attorney-General ;  For  Solicitor  Second 
Circuit ;  For  Solicitor  Eighth  Circuit ;  Military  Elections ;  Sketches  of 
Candidates  :  George  W.  Stone  ;  Thomas  D.  Clarke ;  Joseph  Phelan  ;  Ma 
rion  A.  Baldwin ;  Rush  Elmore  ;  George  C.  Ball ;  J.  McCaleb  Wiley 3$5 

CHAPTER  XXI. 

Session  of  1843,  Continued — New  Senators — Sketches  of  the  House. 

DR.  JAMES  E.  BERNEY,  a  Clay  Whig — Fine  Social  Qualities ;  Robert  Dough 
erty — Fondness  for  Anecdote — His  Rich  Humor — Elected  Judge  Ninth 
Circuit,  1850— Held  to  1865— His  Last  Days;  Robert  S.  Hardaway ; 
General  Moses  Kelly.  Members  of  House:  1.  Enoch  Aldridge,  Elected 
1837 — Served  to  1861.  2.  Decatur  C.  Anderson — Gallant  in  Bearing — 
Elected  Solicitor,  1851.  3.  Joseph  G.  Baldwin — Ability  in  Debate — 
Speech  on  White  Basis — Extract — Author  of  "  Flush  Times  of  Alabama 
and  Mississippi,"  of  "  Party  Leaders" — Removes  to  California — Elected 
to  Supreme  Court.  Francis  Bugbee — Trustee  University  for  Thirty-five 
Years — His  Report  on  its  Endowment — Judge  Circuit  Court,  1865 — United 
States  Attorney,  1866.  Charles  Dear;  Pleasant  Hill;  William  B.  H. 
Howard — Strong  and  animated  in  Debate — Removal  to  New  Orleans  and 
California — Return  to  Alabama — Elected  Again,  1855 — Elected  Solicitor 
Twelfth  Circuit,  1865.  David  C.  Humphreys— His  Logical  Mind— Ap 
pointed  Judge  of  Supreme  Court  of  District  of  Columbia — Resides  at 
Washington  City  ;  Bakus  W.  Huntingdon — His  Literary  Culture — Self- 
reliant— Elected  Judge  Seventh  Circuit — Removes  to  New  York ;  Henry 
C.  Jones — Educated  at  LaGrange  College — High  Rank  in  House — Op 
posed  to  Secession,  1861 — Member  of  Provisional  Congress.  Norman 
McLeod;  John  W.  Portis;  John  C.  Whitsett;  George  W.  Williams 353 

CHAPTER  XXII. 

Presidential  Canvass,  1844 — The  Legislature — Senatorial  and  Judicial  Elections — 
Personal  Notices. 

VISIT  OF  MR.  CLAY  TO  MOBILE— Public  Reception  at  Mansion  House — Inter 
view  with  Tuskaloosa  Committee — Exertions  in  the  Canvass ;  Disappoint 
ment  of  the  Whigs ;  Vote  of  New  York  Deciding  the  Election ;  Organ 
ization  of  the  Legislature;  Heads  of  Committees;  Governor's  Message — 
Mostly  a  Business  Document;  Federal  Politics;  Topics  Acted  upon; 
Apportionment — Gain  by  Certain  Counties — Loss  by  others ;  Mr.  Phillips' 
Report  from  Committee  on  Federal  Relations ;  Unanimous  Vote  by  Yeas 
and  Nays ;  Another  Report  from  Mr  Phillips  on  the  Federal  Basis ;  Col. 
King  Resigns  Seat  in  Senate ;  D.  H.  Lewis  Elected — Vote ;  Hon.  Arthur 
F.  Hopkins,  Native  of  Virginia— In  Convention,  1819— Service  in  the 
Legislature— Elected  Judge  Supreme  Court— Removes  to  Tuskaloosa, 


Contents.  17 

1843—  Active  Supporter  of  General  Harrison,  1840,  and  of  Mr.  Clay, 
1844— Acknowledged  Whig  Leader  in  State— Settles  in  Mobile— Pres 
ident  of  Mobile  &  Ohio  Railroad  ;  Judicial  Elections  :  Ballots  for  Chan 
cellor  of  Southern  Division;  For  Solicitor  Fourth,  Fifth,  Sixth  and 
Seventh  Circuits  ;  Richard  W.  Walker  —  Elected  Solicitor— In  House, 
1851— In  1855,  Speaker— Next,  Judge  Supreme  Court— Also,  in  Confed 
erate  Senate;  Edward  A.  O'Neal;  John  B.  Sale;  E.  W.  Pettus ;  Percy 
Walker;  William  Acklin ;  Anderson  Crenshaw— Graduate  Columbia 
College,  1806— Offices  Held— Charges  Preferred  Against  him  and  other 
Judges,  by  William  Kelly,  1829 ;  Response  of  Judge  Crenshaw 371 

CHAPTER  XXIII. 

Legislature  of  1844  Continued — Senators  and  Representatives  Sketched. 

EDWARD  S,  DARGAN— Elected  to  Congress— Judge  Supreme  Court ;  Archibald 
Gilchrist ;  Sampson  W.  Harris — Faculties  in  Debate — Election  to  Con 
gress;  Sidney  C.  Posey— His  Upright  Character;  Calvin  C.  Sellers.  Mem 
bers  of  House :  Frankiin  W.  Bowdon— Educated  in  State  University — 
Service  in  Legislature— In  Congress— Extracts  from  Speeches;  Daniel 
Chandler  —  His  Literary  Character — Persuasive  Eloquence  —  Elevated 
Morals— Female  Education ;  Williamson  R.  W.  Cobb— Terms  in  Congress— 
His  Accidental  Death;  Dr.  Edward  H.  Cook;  Isaac  Groom — Graduate  of 
North  Carolina  University— Patron  of  Agriculture ;  Harrell  Hobdy ;  Sam 
uel  W.  Inge — Elected  to  Congress — Duel  with  Mr.  Stanly — Removes  to 
California— United  States  District  Attorney ;  Robert  Jemison,  Jr.— Long 
and  Faithful  Public  Service ;  Dr.  Pleasant  W.  Kittrell— His  Efficiency  in 
the  Legislature ;  Columbus  W.  Lee— A  Giant  in  Debate ;  William  S.  Pat- 
ton;  Philip  Phillips — His  Courtesy  of  Manner — Elected  to  Congress; 
Nathaniel  J.  Scott;  Joseph  Seawell;  Thomas  Williams,  Jr.— Whig  Elec 
tor,  1840 — Powers  as  an  Advocate;  Extract  from  Judge  O'Neal's  "Bench 
and  Bar  of  South  Carolina" 385 

CHAPTER  XXIV. 

Governor  Martin's  Election — Session  of  1845— Judicial  and  Legislative  Sketches. 

CANVASS  WITH  MR.  TERRY  ;  Management  of  Banks ;  Public  Excitement ;  News 
of  Election;  Congressional  Districts;  Anecdote  of  General  McConnell ; 
Organization  of  Legislature;  Heads  of  Committees;  Governor  Fitzpat- 
rick's  Last  Message;  Death  of  General  Andrew  Jackson;  Parting  Ad 
vice  5  Inauguration  of  Governor  Martin ;  Popular  Vote  on  Biennial  Ses 
sions  ;  On  Removal ;  Report  of  Mr.  Bowdon ;  Parliamentary  Tactics ; 
Heated  Discussion ;  Removal  is  Carried ;  Ballots  for  New  Seat  of  Gov 
ernment;  Montgomery  Selected;  Special  Message  of  Governor  Martin; 
Bank  Policy  Reviewed;  Collection  of  Bank  Debts;  Public  Faith  Sus 
tained  ;  Payment  of  Taxes  ;  Re-issue  of  Bank  Notes  ;  Losses  to  the  State ; 
Suits  Against  Bank  Debtors ;  Accountability  of  Public  Agents ;  Justice 
to  all  Classes ;  Bank  Assets  turned  over  to  Commissioners  ;  Judicial 
Elections  :  Twenty-seven  Ballots  for  Third  Circuit ;  George  D.  Shortridge 
Elected;  Candidates;  Lincoln  Clark— Eulogy  on  General  Jackson— Ex-* 
9 


IB  Contents. 

tract— In  Congress  from  Iowa ;  Hon.  Ptolemy  T.  Harris  -Long  on  Circuit 
Bench— Becomes  Factor  in  Mobile;  Hon.  Alexander  Bowie — Trusteed 
University — Integrity  of  Character— Six  Years  Chancellor— His  Profound 
Learning— Religious  Principles  ;  Thomas  Woodward— His  Literary  Cul 
ture Southern  Politics  ;  David  G.  Ligon — Elected  Chancellor — Judge 

Supreme  Court.  Visit  to  Hermitage  —Interview  with  General  Jackson, 
1842.  New  Senators  :  Jack  F.  Cocke";  Jefferson  Falkner;  General  James 
G.  L.  Huey ;  Hon.  John  Gill  Shorter ;  Solomon  C.  Smith ;  Beloved  L. 
Turner— His  Physical  Strength 410 

CHAPTER  XXV. 

Session  0/1845,  Continued — Sketches  of  the  House. 

THOMAS  K.  BECK;  Benajah  S.  Bibb— Judge  County  Court,  1825— In  Legislature 
many  Years— Judge  of  Criminal  Court ;  William  P.  Browne ;  Aaron  B. 
Cooper  —  Professional  Eminence — Active  and  Useful  as  a  Legislator ; 
Isham  W.  Garrott— Fiery  and  Fearless  in  Debate  —  Commands  a  Reg 
iment—Killed  in  Battle ;  George  W.  Gayle— Skilled  in  Public  Proceedings ; 
Dr.  James  Guild— Report  on  Insane  Hospital ;  Dr.  J.  H.  Hastie ;  John 
J.  Holly;  General  Crawford  M.  Jackson— Devotion  to  Books— Elected 
Speaker,  1857;  Robert  T.  Johnston ;  Egbert  J.  Jones ;  Elijah  Kerr;  Amos 
R.  Manning— Serves  in  House  and  Senate;  Thomas  M.  Peters — In  House 
and  Senate — Judge  of  Supreme  Court ;  James  R.  Powell — Dispatch  in 
Business— Tour  in  Europe— Founds  Birmingham  ;  Joseph  W.  Taylor— His 
Public  Record— Address  before  University,  1847— Elected  to  United 
States  Congress,  1865— Refused  Seat— Able  Communications  Published—  v 
State  of  the  Country  Examined — Constitutional  Rights — Policy  of  Pres 
ident  Johnson  for  Reconstruction — Treatment  of  the  South — Appeal  to 
Public  Opinion — Southern  University — President  Board  of  Trustees — 
Address  before  Washington  and  Lee  University  ;  A.  J.  Walker — Graduate 
of  Nashville  University— Comes  to  Alabama,  1841— Teaches  a  Class  in 
Latin,  and  Greek,  and  Mathematics — In  House,  1845 — Presidential  Elector, 
1848— Elected  Chancellor,  1854— Judge  of  Supreme  Court,  1855— Compiles 
Code  of  Alabama 431 

CHAPTER  XXVI. 

Session  of  1847 — Reception  of  Generals  Shields  and  Quitman — Senatorial  Contest — 
Judicial  and  State  House  Elections — Sketches  of  Character. 

ELECTION  OF  GOVERNOR  CHAPMAN  ;  Congressional  Districts ;  John  Gayle— 
Elected  Governor,  1831  and  1833  —In  Congress— Judge  United  States 
District  Court— His  Abilities  and  Social  Nature;  John  T.  Taylor;  State* 
Archives  ;  Removal  to  New  Capitol ;  First  Session  in  Montgomery ;  Or 
ganization  ;  Crowded  Hotels ;  Governor  Martin's  Message ;  Alabama 
Troops  in  Mexican  War ;  Expenses  Incurred  ;  Committees ;  Counting 
Votes  for  Governor ;  Inauguration  of  Governor  Chapman ;  Reception  of 
General  Shields ;  Reception  of  General  Quitman  ;  Ceremonies  ;  Respect  to 
Remains  of  Colonel  Butler  of  the  Palmetto  Regiment ;  Address  by  B.  F. 
Porter;  Pacific  Railroad;  Mr.  A.  Whitney's  Exposition  at  Capitol;  Sen- 


Conimts.  19 

atorial  Election ;  D.  H.  Lewis  prevails  on  Eighteenth  Ballot ;  Sketch  of 
Dixon  Hall  Lewis— Extracts  from  his  Speeches— Public  Services  -His 
National  Character.  Judicial  Elections ;  Vacancy  in  Supreme  Court — 
Memoir  of  Judge  Henry  Goldthwaite — His  Eminent  Character;  Joseph 
W.  Lessene —Elected  Chancellor — Drowned  in  Mobile  Bay  ;  John  Edmund 
Moore— Fifth  Circuit— Elected  Judge,  1858.  Other  Elections  ;  William  S. 
Mudd  ;  Alexander  B.  Forney ;  Joel  Riggs  ;  William  Graham ;  Henry  C. 
Semple  ;  George  Taylor  ;  Albert  G.  Gooch  ;  Charles  T.  Pollard  :  William 
E.  Clarke 456 

CHAPTER  XXVII. 

Session  of  1847 — Leading  Measures —  Governor  Clay  and  other  Public  Characters 

Noticed. 

REVENUE  SYSTEM;  Sixteenth  Sections;  University  Fund;  Bank  Commission 
ers;  Their  Report;  S.  F.  Lyon,  Sole  Trustee;  Sketch  of  Clement  C. 
Clay— Elected  Judge  Fifth  Circuit,  1819— In  House,  1827— Elected  to 
Congress,  1829  to  1835— Governor,  1835— Senator  in  Congress,  1837— 
Resigns,  1841 — Appointed  Judge  Supreme  Court,  1843 — Sufferings  in 
late  War — Letter  of  General  Sherman;  William  Cooper — His  Public 
Trusts.  New  Senators  Noticed :  Dr.  James  M.  Beckett— Trustee  of  Uni 
versity — Pleasant  Manner  in  Debate;  Charles  G.  Edwards;  Thomas  J. 
Judge— Solicitor,  1843— In  House,  1844  and  1845— In  Senate,  1847— 
Again  in  House,  1853— Canvass  for  Congress,  1857 — Commissioner  to 
Washington,  1861 — Correspondence — Commands  a  Regiment  in  late 
War — Elected  Judge  Supreme  Court;  James  M.  Nabors;  George  N. 
Stewart  —  Reporter  Supreme.  Court — Original  Conceptions — Term  in 
Senate— His  Industry  and  Method;  Seth  P.  Storrs— His  Thorough  Ed 
ucation — Pleasant  Humor.  Members  of  House:  George  Amason — An 
ecdote  at  Theater;  James  F.  Bailey-  Prestige— Elected  Judge  County 
Court— Of  Probate,  1850;  James  W.  Davis— In  House,  1832  and  1806; 
James  G.  Gilchrist;  Philip  S.  Glover— Resolutions  on  his  Death;  Peter 
Hamilton;  J.  D.  Jenkins;  J.  R.  John;  Elihu  Lockwood;  Richard  H. 
Ricks;  Hodge  L.  Stephenson;  Leroy  Pope  Walker;  James  Williams; 
Louis  Wyeth 483 

CHAPTER  XXVIII. 

Session  of  18±9— Burning  of  the  Capitol— Inauguration  of  Governor  Collier— Can 
didates  and  Sketches. 

PRESIDENTIAL  CONTEST,  1848;  Vote  in  Alabama;  Committee  to  Receive  Ex- 
President  Polk;  Escort  to  Montgomery,  Dinner  and  Incidents;  Demo 
cratic  Convention  in  June;  Contest  for  the  Nomination;  Legislature  Or 
ganized;  General  Dent,  President;  General  L.  P.  Walker,  Speaker;  Mes 
sage  of  Governor  Chapman;  State  of  the  Finances;  County  Maps;  Tax 
able  Property  in  State;  Trust  Funds;  Reporter  Supreme  Court;  Asylum 
for  the  Insane;  Professor  of  Agriculture;  Fees  of  Public  Officers;  Legis 
lation  of  Congress;  Chairmen  of  Committees;  Report  of  Mr.  Lyon; 
Action  of  Joint  Committee;  Counting  Votes  for  Governor;  Capitol  De- 


20  Contents. 

stroyed  by  Fire— Particulars— Tender  of  Churches  for  Public  Use;  Gov 
ernor  Collier  Installed  in  Office— Ceremonies ;  Memorial  of  Miss  Dix— 
Reports  Favorable  to  Object;  Personal  Notice  of  Miss  Dix-  -Her  Travels 
as  a  Philanthropist;  Ballots  for  United  States  Senator;  Governor  Chap 
man — His  Administration;  Silas  Parsons — Elected  Judge  of  Supreme 
Court — His  Intellectual  Faculties — Plain  Appearance — Strength  in  Ar 
gument;  John  J.  Woodward— Elected  Solicitor,  1853 — Volunteered  in 
late  War — Killed  in  Virginia;  James  A.  Stallworth;  Johnson  J.  Hooper; 
Milton  S.  Latham ;  William  S.  Ernest 511 

CHAPTER  XXIX. 

Personal  Sketches  of  the  Legislature  at  Session  of  1849. 

SENATORS:  William  S.  Compton— Judge  County  Court— Cashier  of  Bank- 
Southern  Bank  Charter;  Cade  M.  Godbold— United  States  Marshal;  Geo. 
W.  Gunn— Chairman  of  Judiciary  Committee ;  Leonard  Tarrant— Agent 
of  Indian  Reserves— Opinion  of  General  Jackson.  Members  of  House: 
Thomas  Brazier— Decision  of  Character;  Thomas  R.  Crews— Intelligent 
and  Aifable— Judge  of  Probate  Court;  Frederick  F.  Foscue— Popular 
Address— Family  Record;  George  W.  Goldsby— His  Finished  Educa 
tion;  Benjamin  F.  Goodman  —  Bold  and  Positive  —  Practical  Expe 
diency — His  Death  in  Texas;  Boiling  Hall — A  Veteran  in  Politics;  John 
T.  Hill— Social  Character;  Thomas  E.  Irby— In  Mexican  War— Mental 
Vigor — Killed  in  Virginia;  Reuben  McDonald  —  Success  Among  the 
People— Coast  Life;  Moses  McGuire — Judge  Court  of  Probate — Long 
Service — Popularity;  Walker  Reynolds— Enterprise  and  Success;  Robert 
H.  Smith — Ability  as  a  Lawyer — Commissioner  to  North  Carolina — In 
Provisional  Congress;  George  C.  Whatley— Skill  and  Power  in  Debate — 
Resolutions  in  Convention,  1861— Resists  Election  of  Lincoln  and  Ham- 
lin— Killed  in  late  War— His  Personal  Courage;  William  Wright — His 
Social  Relations— The  Olden  Time 530 

CHAPTER  XXX. 

Congressional  Elections — Legislature  of  1851 — New  Parties — Georgia  Platform — 
Notices  of  Candidates  and  Public  Men. 

TERRITORIAL  QUESTION,  1850;  Southern  Rights;  Union  Party;  Re-election  of 
Governor  Collier;  Competitions  for  Congress;  Speech  of  Senator  Foote 
in  Capitol— Party  Conventions;  Organization  of  Legislature;  Commit 
tees;  Governor's  Message;  Georgia  Platform;  Adoption  of  Code;  Sena 
tors  King  and  Clemens  on  Compromise;  Elections  for  Supreme  Court 
Judges  and  Chancellors;  For  Secretary  of  State.  Sketches:  George 
Golclthwaite  —  Settled  in  Montgomery,  1830  —  Judge  Circuit  Court — 
Judge  Supreme  Court — United  States  Senator;  James  B.Clark — His  Long 
Career;  Eggleston  D.  To wnes— Elected  Chancellor;  Alvis  Q.  Nicks — 
His  Offices  and  Aspirations;  Matthew  J.  Turnley— United  States  Dis 
trict  Attorney;  Vincent  M.  Benham— Elected  Secretary  of  State;  Alex 
ander  B.  Clitherall — Clerk  of  House— Judge  Circuit  Court — Register  of 
Confederate  Treasury ;  Amand  P.  Pfister  —  Offices  in  Grand  Lodge;  Sec 
ond  Inauguration  of  Governor  Collier.  Members  of  Congress:  James 


Contents.  21 

Abercrombie— His  Manly  Character;  John  Bragg— Public  Record;  Wil 
liam  R.  Smith— His  Early  Struggles  —  Public  Service— Extracts  from 
Speeches— Publishes  Debates  in  Convention,  1861— President  of  Uni 
versity;  Alexander  White  —  Supports  General  Scott,  1852  — Franking 
Documents — Supports  Mr.  Bell,  1860 — in  Convention,  1865 — Patriotic 
Sentiments — In  Selma  Convention,  1866 544 

CHAPTER  XXXI. 

Session  of  1851,  Continued — Members  of  the  Legislature  Specially  Noticed. 

SENATOBS:  Benjamin  A.  Baker — Remarks  in  Convention,  1861 — Officer  in 
the  War— His  Death;  E.  R.  Flewellen— Ready  in  Debate— Well  Versed 
in  Politics;  John  T.  Hefflm— Judge  Circuit  Court;  Dr.  JoelE.  Pearson — 
In  House,  1839— Modest  and  Popular;  Dr.  George  G.  Perrine— Enlight 
ened  and  Vigilant — Agreeable  Address.  Representatives  :  James  M. 
Armstrong— Elected,  1852— Solid  Qualities;  William  M.  Byrd— Elected 
Chancellor— Judge  Supreme  Court — His  Religious  Character;  Rufus  H. 
Clements — A  High-toned  Planter;  Henry  W.  Cox — His  Convictions  of 
Duty — Killed  in  War;  N.  S.  Graham — Success  before  the  People;  An 
drew  Isbell  Henshaw — Graduate  of  University — Animation  in  Debate; 
Dr.  C.  C.  Howard— His  Extensive  Reading;  Francis  S.  Jackson— Elected 
Solicitor,  1838— His  Competitors— Six  Ballots  —  Extreme  Opinions- 
Soured  by  Disappointment  —  Dies  at  Pensacola;  George  L.  Barry — 
Elected  Judge  County  Court — Returns  to  Georgia;  Porter  King — His 
Literary  Attainments — Judge  Circuit  Court — Served  in  War;  Cameron 
McKoskill- -Modest  and  Sensible— His  Early  Death;  John  S.  McMullen; 
William  B.  Moss— His  Great  Intellectual  Promise — Good  Habits— Died 
of  Yellow  Fever,  1854;  John  D.  Rather— Elected  Speaker— His  Com 
mittees;  Price  Williams— Strength  of  Character— Example  and  Success; 
James  S.  Williamson— Skill  in  Debate— Killed  in  War;  Benjamin  M. 
Woolsey— His  Talents  and  Purity  of  Character 564 

CHAPTER  XXXII. 

Session  of  1853 — Inauguration  of    Governor    Winston — Elections  and  Sketches — 
lion.  S.  F,  Lyon,  Dr.  A.  A.  Lipscomb,  and  Others. 

NEW  ORGANIZATION  OP  PARTIES  ;  National  Conventions ;  Southern  Rights  Con 
vention;  Troup  and  Quitman;  Nomination  of  Governor  Winston;  State 
Aid  to  Railroads;  Temperance  Convention  at  Selma;  Elections  for  Con 
gress;  Organization  of  the  Legislature;  Committees;  Message  of  Gov 
ernor  Collier— Thirty-seven  Pae;es;  Internal  Improvements;  Atlantic  & 
Pacific  Railroad;  Code  of  Alabama;  Banks  and  Banking;  University; 
Judiciary  and  Elections  by  the  People;  Taxes;  Line  between  Alabama 
and  Georgia;  Counting  Votes  for  Governor;  Resolutions  Presented  to 
Hon.  F.  S.  Lyon  by  Speaker;  Death  of  Vice-Presidcnt  King;  Inaugura 
tion  of  Governor  Winston;  Extract  from  Address;  Basis  of  Representa 
tion;  Senatorial  Election;  Ballots  for  Judge  Supreme  Court;  For  Chan 
cellor;  For  Solicitors;  For  Superintendent  of  Public  Instruction;  For 
Secretary  of  State;  Adjournment.  Personal  Notices:  James  F.  Dow- 
dell— His  Triumphs  at  Ballot-box— Literary  and  Christian  Character j 


22  Contents. 

Hon.  Francis  S.  Lyon — Outlines  of  his  Successful  Life — His  Great  Ser 
vices  as  a  Financier;  John  Whiting — His  Public  Spirit  and  Financial 
Skill;  Lyman  Gibbons;  Joseph  P.  Saffold;  Wade  Keyes;  Sterling  G. 
Cato;  Septimus  D.  Cabaniss;  John  H.  Caldwell;  General  Robert  W. 
Higgins;  Alfred  E.  Vanhoose;  Elliott  P.  Jones;  William  F.  Perry;  An 
drew  A.  Lipscomb,  LL.  D 557 

CHAPTER  XXXIII; 

Session  of  1853,  Concluded — Senators  and  Representatives  Sketched. 

SENATORS  :  William  Ashley— His  Youth  and  Ability— In  Senate,  1865;  Sam 
uel  R.  Blake—Chairman  of  Judiciary  Committee— Force  in  Debate- 
Personal  Address;  General  Jacob  T.  Bradford  -Family  Prestige  in  Ten 
nessee — Public  Services;  James  S.  Dickinson — Chairman  of  Committee 
on  Finance — Elected  to  Confederate  Congress;  General  Joseph  P.  Fra- 
zier— Officer  in  Florida  War — A  Senator,  1837— Solidity  of  Character; 
Dr.  Allen  Kimball — Skill  as  a  Party  Tactician ;  James  D.  Webb — Excita 
ble  in  Debate — Voted  for  Secession — Killed  in  War.  Representatives: 
Charles  A.  Abercrombie — Famfly  Influence;  Isaac  Bell,  Jr. — His  Busi 
ness  Capacity;  Augustus  Benners — Graduate  of  North  Carolina  Univer 
sity;  Newbern  H.  Brown— Efforts  for  Insane  Hospital;  Thomas  J.  Bur 
nett—Character  as  a  Politician— Served  in  Army;  Walter  Cook— His 
Exertions  to  Suppress  Gaming— Killed  in  War;  Dr.  Memorable  W. 
Creagh— Large  Family  Connection — High-toned  in  Bearing— Eloquent 
in  Debate;  Robert  S.  Hatcher— Large  Planter — Accidental  Death;  Gib 
son  F.  Hill— His  Military  and  Scientific  Academy— Lottery— Manager 
Swan;  Richard  F.  Inge;  Andrew  Jay;  Robert  Murphy;  Sidney  B. 
Payne;  George  C.  Phillips;  Richard  O.  Pickett;  Daniel  S.  Robinson;  N. 
G.  Shelley;  Alphonzo  A.  Sterrett;  General  E.  G.  Talbert;  Malcolm  D. 
Graham 598 

CHAPTER  XXXIV. 

%. 
Pestilence  in  1854 — Elections  in  1855 — Legislature — Governor  Winston's  Vetoes — • 

Judicial  Elections  and  Sketches. 

YELLOW  FEVER  in  Montgomery— Malignant  Type;  Nimrod  E.  Benson—Na 
tive  of  South  Carolina — Came  to  Alabama  while  it  was  a  Territory — 
Settles  in  Montgomery  in  the  practice  of  the  Law — Long  Service  in  the 
Legislature — Elected  Judge  of  County  Court — Often  Mayor  of  the  city — 
Receiver  of  Moneys  at  the  Land  Office  —  Democrat  of  the  Jackson 
School — Oldest  Mason  in  Alabama  —Grand  Master  of  the  Gi  and  Lodge — 
Director  to  take  Charge  of  Assets  of  Branch  Bank— As  Mayor,  looks 
after  the  Work  on  the  Capitol — Moral  Courage  and  Frankness — Charac- 
acter  without  disguise — His  Death  in  1864;  Election  for  Governor — Con 
test  Between  Governor  Winston  and  G.  D.  Shortridge— Popular  Vote; 
Congressional  Elections — Five  Democrats  and  Two  Know-Nothings  Re 
turned;  Eli  S.  Shorter— Born  and  Educated  in  Georgia— Belongs  to 
Extreme  Southern  School  of  Politics— Bold  and  Defiant  in  Congress — 
Extract  from  Speeches— Be-elected  to  Congress  in  1857— Commanded  a 
Regiment  in  the  War;  Julius  C.  Alford— Served  in  Congress  from  GeoiN 


23 

gia — Fearless  and  Stormy  in  Debate — Gives  the  War-Whoop  on  the 
Floor— Terrifies  the  Northern  Fanatics — Removed  to  Alabama,  1850 — 
In  Union  Convention,  1852  —Defeated  for  Congress  by  Col.  Shorter  in 
1855;  Organization  of  the  Legislature — Benjamin  C.  Yancey  Elected 
President  of  the  Senate;  Richard  W.  Walker  Elected  Speaker  of  the 
House ;  Governor  Winston's  Message — Refers  to  the  Death  of  Ex-Gov 
ernor  Collier;  Installation  of  Governor  Winston  for  a  Second  Term — 
Pamphlet  containing  his  Thirty-Three  Veto  Messages;  Election  of  Gov 
ernor  Fitzpatrick  to  United  States  Senate;  Complimentary  Vote  to  Luke 
Pryor;  Contest  for  Judge  Supreme  Court — Three  Days  in  Ballotings — 
George  W.  Stone  Elected;  Robert  B.  Brickell— Lawyer  of  High  Rank — 
Author  of  a  Digest  of  Alabama  Reports;  James  H.  Weaver — Elected 
to  House  in  1853— Secretary  of  State  from  1856  to  1860;  William  J. 
Greene — Elected  Comptroller  of  Public  Accounts-  Ten  Years  in  Office — 
Business  Capacity;  Robert  B.  Arm  stead — Born  and  Educated  in  Vir 
ginia-Elected  Solicitor  of  Sixth  Circuit— Advantages  of  Person  and 
Disposition  to  Command  Success— Entered  the  Confederate  Service- 
Held  the  rank  of  Major— Killed  in  Battle  in  Virginia— His  Lofty  Char 
acter  as  a  Patriot;  Leonard  F.  Summers — Resident  Lawyer  of  Mobile — 
Defeated  for  Solicitor  in  1855,  but  Elected  to  the  Office  in  1859— His 
Prospects  of  Usefulness — Enters  the  Confederate  Service  as  Captain  of 
a  Company — Killed  in  Battle  in  his  Native  State;  Young  L.  Roys- 
ton-  -Planter  and  Lawyer— Elected  Solicitor  in  1855,  1859  and  1863- 
Commanded  a  Regiment  in  late  War — Wounded  in  Virginia — Assigned 
to  Duty  in  Alabama — Was  taken  Prisoner  in  1865;  John  Foster — A 
Georgian— Settled  in  Jacksonville  as  a  Lawyer  in  1836 — Painful  Rumor 
of  his  Death  by  the  Indians — Expressions  of  Sympathy — His  Cruel  Fate 
much  Lamented — The  False  Report  Causes  him  to  be  better  known — 
Elected  Chancellor  in  1855— Re-elected  in  1861— Ten  Years  in  Office- 
Learned  and  Patient— Fond  of  Books  and  Personal  Friends— Delegate  in 
the  Constitutional  Convention  of  1865 — Active  in  its  Proceedings  -His 
Acknowledged  Abilities 614 

CHAPTER  XXXV. 

Session  of  1855,  Concluded — Senators  and  Representatives  Specially  Noticed. 

DB.  E.  J.  BACON— An  Old  Line  Whig— Opposed  the  Know-Nothings—Vic 
tory  in  the  Canvass— High  Social  Position — Prominent  in  the  Legisla 
ture—Graceful  Address— A  Georgian  by  Birth— Well  Educated — Ready 
and  Fluent  in  Debate — A  Member  of  the  Masonic  Fraternity— Removes 
to  Arkansas;  T.  B.  Bethea  —  A  Lawyer  by  Profession  —  Becomes  a 
Wealthy  Planter— Upon  the  Democratic  Electoral  Ticket  in  1848 — Re 
moves  from  Wilcox  to  Mobile — In  1853,  Elected  to  the  Senate  as  a  Dem 
ocrat — In  1855,  acted  with  the  Know-Nothings — Settles  in  Montgomery — 
Elected  to  the  House  in  1863  and  1865 — Influence  in  Legislation — Force 
of  Character;  Nathaniel  Holt  Clanton — A  Georgian — His  large  Planting 
Interest— Popular  and  Successful— In  1853,  Elected  to  Senate— Serves 
with  Efficiency— His  Death,  in  1855— Christian  Character;  John  N.  Ma- 
lone— A  Graduate  of  LaGrange  College— Admitted  to  the  Bar— Six 
Years  in  the  Senate— DeJ^gate  to  the  National  Democratic  Convention, 


24  Omtents. 

1852— In  1860,  Supported  Mr.  Douglas  for  the  Presidency— Opposed  to 
Secession — Afterwards  Supported  the  Southern  Cause  with  Zeal  and 
Ability— As  a  Senator,  Courteous  in  Bearing— Clear  and  Concise  in  De- 
.  bate— Confiding  and  Affable;  F.  C.  Webb — A  Whig  in  Politics— Elected 
to  the  House  in  1853,  and  to  the  Senate  in  1855 — Skill  and  Humor — 
Writes  Squibs  in  Prose  and  Poetry  to  Amuse — Modest  in  Debate — A 
Cultivated  Gentleman;  Dr.  B.  F.  Wilson — Intelligent — Useful  on  Com 
mittees—No  Taste  for  the  Scramble  of  Public  Place — Retires  to  Private 
Life;  Benjamin  C.  Yancey — Native  of  South  Carolina — Besides  awhile 
in  Wetumpka — Jointly  with  his  Brother,  William  L.  Yancey,  Edits  a 
Democratic  Paper  in  1840— Returns  to  South  Carolina,  where  he  is  Sev 
eral  Times  Elected  to  the  Legislature — Subsequently  he  Removes  to 
Cherokee  County,  Alabama— In  1855,  Elected  to  the  Senate,  of  which 
he  was  made  President — Changes  his  Residence  to  Athens,  Georgia — 
Appointed  by  President  Buchanan  Minister  to  the  Argentine  Republic, 
South  America— After  Return,  Several  Years  President  of  the  State  Ag 
ricultural  Society— His  Labors  to  Recuperate  the  South;  Franklin  K. 
Beck— Elected  Solicitor  in  1843— Efficient  as  a  Prosecuting  Officer— In 
1851,  Elected  to  House  in  Favor  of  Compromise— In  1852,  with  Demo 
cratic  Party  on  Georgia  Platform— Chairman  of  Committee  on  Federal 
Relations  in  1855 — Delegate  in  Convention,  1861 — Extract  from  Speech — 
Raised  a  Regiment,  which  he  Commanded  in  the  War — Killed  in  Bat 
tle — His  Fine  Character  and  Talents;  William  P.  Davis — Entered  Early 
in  Public  Life — Self-Reliant  —  Fond  of  Debate  —  A  Southern  Rights 
Democrat — Eccentric  and  Impulsive — Belonged  to  "Young  America" — 
Bemoval  West;  Thomas  H.  Hobbs— Early  Advantages,  all  that  Wealth 
and  Paternal  Tenderness  could  Bestow — A  Christian  in  Principle — Ad 
vocate  of  Temperance — In  1855  and  1857,  Elected  to  House — Chairman 
of  Committee  on  Education — Enters  the  Confederate  Service — Attains 
the  Rank  of  Major — Killed  in  Battle  in  Virginia;  Nathaniel  R.  King — 
Elected  to  House  in  1855— Well  Educated— Declining  Health— Travels 
in  Europe— His  Early  Death;  E.  G.  Portis;  Wesley  M.  Smith;  George 
Taylor;  Dr.  George  F.  Taylor;  Toliver  Towles;  James  H.  Clanton 624 

CHAPTER  XXXVI. 

Elections,  1856 — Legislature,  1857  —  Inauguration  of  Governor  Moore  —  Candidates 
and  Members  Sketched. 

ANTI-KNOWING-NOTHINQ  CONVENTION:  Embarrassment  in  Party  Designations; 
Strongest  Men  for  Electors ;  Popular  Vote  for  Buchanan  and  Fillmore ; 
Democratic  State  Convention,  1857 — Contest  for  the  Nomination — Ballot- 
ings  Two  or  Three  Days — Judge  A.  B.  Moore  Nominated,  and  in  August 
Elected  Governor;  Congressional  Elections — Only  One  Know-Nothing, 
W.  R.  Smith,  Returned  as  Successful ;  Jabez  L.  M.  Curry — Ample  Liter 
ary  Advantages  —  Completes  His  Education  at  the  Law  School,  Cam 
bridge — Elected  to  House,  1847 — At  Once  Pronounced  a  Rising  Young 
Man — Chairman  of  Committee  on  Internal  Improvements — Prudent  and 
Forcible  in  Debate — In  1855  Re-elected  to  House — Chairman  of  Same 
Committee— Bare  Powers  Developed  by  Age  and  Experience— Elector,  ia 


Omtents.  25 

1856,  on  the  Buchanan  and  Breckinridge  Ticket  —  In  1857  and  1859 
Elected  to  Congress — Commissioner  to  Maryland  in  1860 — Reports  to  the 
Governor — Elected  to  Confederate  Congress  in  1861 — His  Defeat  by  M. 
H.  Cruikshanks  in  1863 — In  Military  Service  at  Selma — His  Christian 
Character  —  Declined  the  Presidency  of  Mercer  University,  Georgia — 
Now  Pastor  of  a  Baptist  Church  at  Richmond,  Virginia;  Legislature  Or 
ganized,  November,  1857  —  James  M.  Calhoun  President  of  Senate — 
Crawford  M.  Jackson  Speaker  of  House;  Governor  Winston's  Message — 
Extract ;  Two  and  Three  Per  Cent.  Funds ;  Judicial  Elections ;  Chancel 
lor  Clarke  Re-elected;  Zachariah  L.  Nabors — Member  of  House  in  1855 
and  1857 — Judge  of  Probate — Declined  the  Commission  Tendered  Him 
by  President  Buchanan  as  Judge  of  the  United  States  Court  in  New  Mex 
ico;  Cullen  Battle — A  Georgian — Member  of  the  Bar — Volunteered  in 
the  Confederate  Service — Promoted  to  the  Rank  of  Brigadier-General ; 
Noah  A.  Agee — Graduate  of  the  University  of  Alabama  —  Elected  to 
House  in  1853,  and  to  Senate  in  1857 — Chairman  of  Committee  on  Edu 
cation ;  Edward  C.  Bullock — Raised  and  Educated  at  Charleston,  South 
Carolina — Settles  in  Eufaula  as  a  Lawyer — Edits  a  Paper — Elected  to 
Senate  in  1857 — Ability  at  the  Bar,  and  in  the  Legislature — Chairman  of 
the  Committee  on  the  Judiciary — Re-elected  in  1859 — Again  at  Head  of 
Same  Committee— Courteous  in  Deportment — Clear  and  Forcible  in  Dis 
cussion — Member  of  Democratic  Convention,  1860 — Appointed  by  Gov 
ernor  Moore  Commissioner  to  Florida — Volunteered  in  Confederate  Ser 
vice,  and  Commanded  a  Regiment  at  Pensacola  —  Feeble  Health  and 
Exposure  in  Camp  Life — His  Death  in  1862 — Legislature,  after  the  War, 
Named  a  County  to  Honor  His  Memory;  Oakley  H.  Bynum — Elected  to 
House  in  1839  and  in  1849 — In  1859  He  was  Returned  to  Senate — En 
gaged  in  Debate — Wit  and  Retorts — Delegate  in  National  Convention  at 
Baltimore  in  1860 — Supported  Mr.  Douglas  for  the  Presidency — Opu 
lent  Planter;  Daniel  Crawford — Native  of  South  Carolina — In  the  House 
in  1847 — Served  on  Committee  of  Ways  and  Means — Valuable  Aid  in 
Preserving  the  Public  Faith — Elected  to  Senate  in  1857 — His  Good  Judg 
ment  and  Extensive  Reading — Logical  and  Clear  in  Statement ;  Robert 
S.  Hefflin— A  Georgian— Elected  to  House  in  1847— To  the  Senate  in 
1859 — Political  Relations  During  and  Since  the  War;  Allen  C.Jones — By 
Birth  a  Virginian — Elected  to  House  in  1856 — To  the  Senate  in  1857 — 
Commanded_a  Regiment — Patriotism  and  Courage  in  the  War;  S.  K. 
McSpadden — In  Senate  from  1857  to  1861 — Colonel  of  a  Regiment  in  the 
War — Rendered  Gallant  Service — Elected  Chancellor  of  Northern  Division 
in  1865;  John  Rowe— A  Georgian— Elected  to  House  in  1859  and  1861— To 
Senate  in  1857 — Fine  Social  Qualities ;  Michael  J.  Bulger — Born  in  South 
Carolina — Came  to  Alabama  in  his  Youth — Marked  Individuality  of 
Character — Elected  to  the  House  in  1851  as  a  Southern  Rights  Democrat — 
Again  in  1857 — Versed  in  Parliamentary  Law — Elected  Brigadier  Gen 
eral — Delegate  to  the  Charleston  Convention  in  1860 — Elector  on  the 
Douglas  Ticket — Opposed  to  Separate  State  Secession — Resolution  Invit 
ing  Co-operation  of  other  States — Volunteered  in  the  Confederate  Army — 
Wounded  in  Several  Battles — Reported  as  Killed  at  Gettysburg — Taken 


26  Contents. 

Prisoner — Exchanged  and  Returned  to  his  Regiment — Candidate  for  Gov 
ernor  in  1865— Defeated  by  R.  M.  Patton— In  1866  Elected  to  the  Senate; 
Henry  De  Lamar  Clayton — Born  in  Georgia — Graduated  at  Emory  and 
Henry  College,  Virginia,  in  1848— Admitted  to  the  Bar  in  1849— Elected 
to  the  Legislature  in  1857  and  1859 — Chairman  of  the  Military  Committee 
in  1861 — Serves  in  the  War — Wounded  in  Battle — Rose  from  Captain  to 
the  Rank  of  Major-General — After  the  War,  Elected  Judge  Circuit  Court — 
Charge  to  the  Grand  Jury  of  Pike;  Samuel  Jeter;  Dr.  A.  G.  Mabry ; 
James  B.  Martin ;  Stephen  F.  Hale  ;  Alexander  Smith  646 

CHAPTER  XXXVII. 

Financial  Policy — Banking  System. 

ESTABLISHING  STATE  BANK  AND  BRANCHES  ;  Interest  on  Capital  Substituted  for 
Taxes ;  Estimates  of  Profits ;  Ratio  of  Specie  and  Circulation  ;  Support 
of  Government ;  Popular  Education  ;  Fulfillment  of  Contracts  ;  Demand 
for  Accommodations;  Offerings  of  Ninety  Days'  Paper;  Statement  oft 
Figures;  Amount  Discounted;  Joint  Bank  Committee,  1840;  Tables  for 
each  Bank ;  Advances  on  Cotton ;  Public  Loss ;  Amount  Due  Banks ; 
Committee  Report,  1842 ;  Indebtedness  of  each  County  ;  Committee  Re 
port  for  1843  ;  Debts  Collected  During  Year;  Outstanding  Circulation; 
Specie  in  Branch  Banks ;  Current  Expenses  of  Banks ;  Paid  on  Value 
less  Sixteenth  Sections  ;  Amount  Due  Sixteenth  Sections  ;  Report  of 
Bank  Commissioners,  1845 ;  Bonds  Issued  to  each  Bank ;  Annual  Inter 
est  ;  School  Fund ;  Quantity  of  Land  Donated  by  Congress ;  Banks 
Placed  in  Hands  of  Trustees,  1846  ;  Assistants  at  each  Bank  ;  Report  of 
Trustees,  1847  ;  Amount  Collected  ;  Sixteenth  Section  Fund  on  Deposit ; 
Estimate  of  Available  Assets ;  Bank  Notes  Near  Par  with  Specie ;  Com 
ments  ;  Bank  Affairs  Closed  by  Trustees ;  Public  Creditors  Fully  Paid ; 
Release  from  Taxation  Eight  Years ;  Bank  Administration  Reviewed  ; 
Popular  Effects ;  Prosperity  of  Other  Times 668 

CHAPTER  XXXVIII. 

Vice- President  King — His  Public  Services — Testimonials  of  Congress  and  the   United 
States  Supreme  Court  at  his  Death. 

NATIVITY;  Solicitor  in  North  Carolina;  In  House  of  Commons,  1808  and  1809; 
Elected  to  Congress,  1810;  Serves  until  1816;  Secretary  of  Legation  to 
Russia;  Removal  to  Alabama;  Signs  Constitution,  1819;  Elected  United 
States  Senator,  1819,  an.d  Served  to  1844;  Appointed  Minister  to  France; 
Returns,  1847;  Appointed  United  States  Senator,  1848;  Again  Elected 
to  Senate;  In  1852,  Elected  Vice-President ;  Visits  Cuba  for  Health; 
Takes  Oath  of  Office;  Returns  to  Alabama;  His  Death,  in  April,  1853; 
Announcement  in  Message  of  President  Pierce.  Eulogies  in  Senate:  1. 
By  Mr.  Hunter— Lofty  Sense  of  Honor.  2.  By  Mr.  Everett— Qualities 
as  a  Presiding  Officer.  3.  By  Mr.  Douglas — His  Fidelity  and  Ability  in. 
Public  Trusts.  4.  By  Mr.  Clayton — Among  the  Master  Spirits  of  Con 
gress.  Resolutions  of  Senate,  Passed.  Eulogies  in  House:  1.  By  Mr. 


Contents.  27 

Harris — Closing  Scene  of  his  Life.  2.  By  Mr.  Chandler — His  Modesty 
and  Self-Respect.  3.  By  Mr.  Latham — Type  of  an  American  Gentleman. 
4.  By  Mr.  Taylor — His  Firmness  and  Moderation.  5.  By  Mr.  Ashe — 
Graduates  in  Seventeenth  Year — Reads  Law  in  Fayetteville.  6.  By  Mr. 
Benton — His  Intelligent  Discharge  of  Duty.  7.  By  Mr.  Phillips — His 
Great  Purity  of  Character.  Resolutions,  Adopted.  Address  of  Mr. 
Gushing,  Attorney-General;  Response  of  Chief  Justice  Taney;  Court 
Adjourns ;  Letter  to  Author,  1848 675 

CHAPTER     XXXIX. 

William  Lowndes  Yancey — His  Public  Life-  and  Character. 

PARENTAGE;  Came  to  Alabama,  1886;  Edits  Paper  at  Wetumpka;  In  Demo 
cratic  Convention,  1840;  Elected  to  House,  1842;  In  Senate,  1848;  Re 
signs,  1844;  Elected  to  Congress;  Duel  with  Mr.  Clingman;  Re-elected, 
1845;  Resigns;  Law  Firm  of  Elmore  &  Yancey;  In  Baltimore  Convention, 
1848;  Refuses  to  Support  Mr.  Cass;  Southern  Rights,  1851;  Votes  for 
Troup  and  Quitman,  1852;  Buchanan  Elector,  1856;  State  Platform,  1859; 
Head  of  Delegation  at  Charleston,  1860;  His  Leadership;  Reports  Ordi 
nance  of  Secession,  1861 ;  Other  Measures;  Appointed  Commissioner  to 
England  and  France,  1861;  Returns,  1862;  Elected  Senator  of  Confeder 
ate  States;  Serves  at  Richmond;  His  Death,  July,  1868.  Additional 
Account:  Debate  with  Senator  Pugh  at  Charleston;  The  Convention; 
Address  of  Mr.  Gushing,  President;  Committee  on  Resolutions  and  Plat 
form;  Reference  of  Action  from  States  Represented;  Extracts;  Contest 
as  to  Delegations  and  Platforms;  Skirmishing;  Withdrawal  of  Certain 
Delegates;  Protests;  First  Ballot  for  Nominee;  On  Eighth  and  Ninth 
Days,  Fifty-seven  Ballotings  without  a  Choice;  Convention  Adjourns  to 
Baltimore;  Closing  Address  of  President  Gushing;  Two  Democratic  Con 
ventions  held ;  Mr.  Douglas  and  Mr.  Breckenridge  Severally  Nominated 
.  for  President.  Platforms  of  Four  Conventions:  1.  At  Chicago,  by  Repub 
licans — Mr.  Lincoln's  Letter  of  Acceptance.  2.  At  Baltimore,  by  Con 
stitutional  Union  Party — Mr.  Bell's  Letter  of  Acceptance.  3.  At  the 
Front  Street  Theater — Mr.  Douglas'  Letter  of  Acceptance.  4.  At  the 
Maryland  Institute — Mr.  Breckinridge's  Letter  of  Acceptance 681 

CHAPTER  XL. 

Literary  Characters  of  Alabama — Authors  of  History  and  Romance. 

JOSEPH  G.  BALDWIN — (See  Page  358);  Frederick  A.  P.  Barnard,  LL.D. — 
Graduate  of  Yale  College  in  1828 — Appointed  Tutor  in  that  Institution, 
1829 — Instructor  in  Asylum  for  Deaf  and  Dumb  at  Hartford  in  1831 — 
In  1833,  Became  Connected  with  the  New  York  Institute  for  the  Deaf 
and  Dumb — Taught  there  until  1838 — Accepted  Professorship  of  Mathe 
matics  in  University  of  Alabama — At  end  of  Ten  Years,  Filled  the  Chair 
of  Chemistry  from  1848  to  1854 — Thence  Passed  to  the  Chair  of  Mathe 
matics  and  Astronomy  in  the  University  of  Mississippi  in  1854 — Elected 
its  President  in  1857 — The  Degree  of  Doctor  of  Laws  Conferred  by  Jeffer- 


Contents. 

son  College — Author  of  Works  on  Education — Address  on  Masonry — 
President  of  Columbia  College,  New  York — United  States  Commissioner 
at  Paris  Exposition — His  Learned  Report  in  a  Volume  of  650  Pages  ; 
John  G.  Barr — Graduate  at  University  of  Alabama — Then  a  Tutor — Pas 
sion  for  Literature — Excels  as  a  Writer  and  Speaker — Volunteers  in  the 
Mexican  War — Commands  a  Company — On  Return,  Edits  "Flag  of  the 
Union" — Writes  for  Magazines,  and  " Porter's  Spirit  of  the  Times," 
New  York — On  Democratic  Electoral  Ticket  in  1856 — Speeches  in  the 
Canvass — Testimonials  to  the  President — Appointed  by  President  Buch 
anan  Consul  at  Melbourne— Died  at  Sea — Tribute  to  his  Character  ;  Jer 
emiah  Clemens — (See  Page  176);  Augusta  J.  Evans — Published  "  Beu- 
lah"  in  1859— At  Once  Secured  a  High  Reputation— Other  Works  Fol 
lowed — "  Macaria,"  "St.  Elmo,"  and  "Vashti" — Earliest  Production, 
"Inez,  a  Tale  of  the  Alamo;"  Caroline  Lee  Hentz — Popular  Writer — 
List  of  Works— Her  Death  in  1856;  Henry  W.  Billiard—  (See  Page  93); 
Johnson  J.  Hooper — (See  Page  526) ;  Octavia  Walton  LeVert — Mingles 
in  Society  at  Washington — Attentive  to  Debates  in  Congress — Two  Visits 
to  Europe — Interview  with  the  Pope  at  Rome — Publishes  "Souvenirs  of 
Travel"  in  1857— Resides  in  the  City  of  New  York  ;  Alexander  B.  Meek- 
Born  in  South  Carolina,  1814 — Graduates  at  University  of  Alabama  in 
1833 — Admitted  to  the  Bar  in  1835 — Volunteers  in  the  Indian  War  in 
Florida  in  1836  —  Appointed  Attorney-General  —  Edits  "Flag  of  the 
Union" — In  1839,  Edits  the  "Southron,"  a  Monthly — Appointed  Judge 
of  County  Court,  1842— Published  Supplement  to  Digest  of  Alabama, 
1842  — In  1844,  Bearer  of  Electoral  Vote  to  Washington  — Appointed 
Law  Clerk  to  Solicitor  of  Treasury  in  1845— Appointed  by  the  President 
United  States  Attorney  for  Southern  District  of  Alabama — Removes  to 
Mobile — From  1848  to  1853,  Associate  Editor  of  the  "Mobile  Daily  Reg 
ister" — Elected  to  Legislature  in  1853 — Chairman  of  Committee  on  Edu 
cation — His  Report  on  Free  Public  Schools — Elected  Judge  of  the  City 
Court  of  Mobile  in  1854— Publishes  "Red  Eagle"  and  Other  Works— In 
1859,  Elected  Speaker  of  the  House  of  Representatives — History  of  Ala 
bama  in  Progress — Interrupted  by  the  War — His  Poetry  and  Addresses — 
Removes  to  Columbus,  Mississippi — His  Death  in  1865;  Albert  James 
Pickett — Author  of  "History  of  Alabama" — Born  in  North  Carolina — 
Brought  by  his  Father  to  Alabama  in  1818 — Assistant  Adjutant-General 
in  the  Creek  War  of  1836— His  Death  in  1858— Biographical  Sketch  by 
General  C.  M.  Jackson— Extract ;  Dr.  Samuel  C.  Oliver— (See  Page  164) ; 
William  Russell  Smith — (See  Page  558).  Ladies  of  Alabama  Mentioned 
in  "The  Living  Female  Writers  of  the  South"  :  Madame  Adalaide  De  V. 
Chaudron  ;  Miss  Kate  Gumming ;  Miss  Annie  Creight  Floyd ;  Mrs.  E. 
W.  Bellamy  ;  Mary  A.  Cruse  ;  Lilian  Rozell  Messenger  ;  Sarah  E.  Peck  ; 
Julia  L.  Keyes  ;  Ina  M.  Porter  Henry ;  Catharine  W.  Towles  ;  Mrs. 
Julia  Shelton ;  Mary  Ware  ;  Mrs.  E.  L.  Saxon  ;  S.  S.  Crute ;  Anna  Tre- 
dair  ;  Caroline  Theresa  Branch  ;  Bettie  Keyes  Hunter 707 


Contents.  2§ 

CHAPTER  XLI. 

Administrations  Noticed — Sketches  of  Governors  Fitzpatricfc,  Collier,  Moore,  Shorter, 

and  Watts. 

BENJAMIN  FITZPATRICK — Came  from  Georgia  to  Alabama,  1818 — Elected  So 
licitor,  1821  and  1823— Governor,  1841  to  1845— Appointed  United  States 
Senator,  1848  and  Again  1853— Elected,  1853,  to  Serve  Colonel  King's 
Term — In  1855,  for  a  Full  Term — President  United  States  Senate — Nomi 
nated  for  Vice-President,  1860 — Presides  in  Convention,  1865 — His  Death, 
1869 — Tributes  of  Respect.  Henry  Watson  Collier — Born,  1801,  in  Vir 
ginia — Educated  in  South  Carolina — Settles  at  Huntsville — Next,  in  Tus- 
kaloosa — Elected  to  Legislature — Circuit  Judge — Chief  Justice  of  Su 
preme  Court — Governor,  1849  to  1853— Joint  Resolutions  on  his  Death, 
1855.  Andrew  B.  Moore,  Native  of  South  Carolina— In  House,  1839— 
Elected  Speaker,  1843,  1844  and  1845— Appointed  Judge  Circuit  Court, 
1851— Elected  Judge  by  the  People— Governor,  1857  to  1861.  John  Gill 
Shorter  — Born  in  Georgia,  1818— Admitted  to  Bar,  1838  — Appointed 
Solicitor,  1842  — In  Senate,  1845  — In  House,  1851  — Appointed  Circuit 
Judge,  1851— Elected  Judge,  1852— Commissioner  to  Georgia,  1861— In 
Provisional  Congress — Elected  Governor,  1861.  Thomas  Hill  Watts,  a 
Native  Alabamian— Educated  at  University  of  Virginia— In  House,  1842 
to  1845— Again,  1851— 1853— Elector  for  Bell  and  Everett,  1860— In 
Convention,  1861 — Commands  Regiment  in  late  War — Appointed  At 
torney-General  of  Confederate  States— Elected  Governor,  1863— His  Ad 
ministration — Professional  and  Religious  Character 715 

CHAPTER  XL1I. 

Grouping  of  Characters  and  Events. 

JOHN  ANTHONY  WINSTON — A  Native  of  North-Alabama — Wealthy  Planter- 
Settles  in  Sumter  County— Elected  to  the  House  in  1840  and  1842— To 
the  Senate  in  1853— President  of  Senate  1845  and  1847— Served  until 
1852 — Elected  Governor  in  1853,  and  re-elected  in  1855 — In  Charleston 
Convention,  1860 — Commands  a  Regiment  at  Yorktown,  Virginia — Elected 
a  Senator  in  Congress  in  1866— His  Death  in  1872;  John  W.  A.  San- 
ford — Born  and  Raised  in  Georgia — Graduates  at  Oglethorpe  University — > 
Enters  Dane  Law  College  of  Farvard  University — Oommpleting  his  Course, 
Settles  in  Montgomery,  where  he  is  Admitted  to  the  Bar — In  1856,  is  an 
Elector  on  the  Buchanan  Ticket — Supports  Mr.  Breckinridge  for  the  Pres 
idency  in  1860— Serves  in  the  Army  of  Tennessee  and  in  Northern  Vir 
ginia — Commands  a  Regiment  in  the  Battles  Around  Richmond  and  Peters 
burg — Elected  Attorney-General  in  1865 — Displaced  by  Gen.  Meade  in 
1867— Re-elected  Attorney-General  in  1870— Letter  to  Speaker  Hubbard; 
Abraham  Martin— Judge  of  Circuit  Court,  1837:  N.  H.  R.  Dawson— Ser 
vices  in  Legislature — In  Charleston  Convention  ;  Augustus  B.  Fannin 

Services  in  Legislature  of  Georgia  and  Alabama— His  Death  in  1868; 
William  II.  Barnes— Chairman  of  Judiciary  Committee  in  Senate— Wil 
liam  M.  Brooks— Judge  of  Circuit  Court,  1857— President  of  State  Con- 


SO 

vention,  1861— Lewis  L.  Cato;  William  H.  Chambers;  David  Clopton ; 
Robert  H.  Erwin;  •John  Forsyth ;  Samuel  A.  Hale;  William  P.  Jack; 
Levi  W.  Lawler;  Hon.  Robert  B.  Lindsay— Elected  Governor,  1870;  Dr. 
E.  H.  Moren— Elected  Lieutenant-Governor 720 

CHAPTER  XLIII. 

Governors  Parsons  and  Patton — Conclusion — Deferred  Sketches. 

LEWIS  E.  PARSONS — Native  of  New  York — Settles  in  Talladega  as  a  Lawyer,  in 
1841— Whig  in  Politics— In  1859  Elected  to  House— Unites  with  Demo 
cratic  Party  in  I860 — Delegate  to  Baltimor  Convention  which  Nominated 
Mr.  Douglas — Again  Elected  to  House  in  1863 — Appointed  Provisional 
Governor  in  1865— Calls  a  State  Convention  for  September,  1865— Sum 
mary  of  Proceedings — Certain  Ordinances  Passed — Changes  in  Constitu 
tion — Legislature  met,  November,  1865 — Amendment  to  Constitution  of 
the  United  States  Ratified— Members  of  Congress  Elected — President  of 
United  States  Advised  of  Proceedings — Successor  Inaugurated — Papers 
and  Property  of  State  Transferred  by  Order  of  the  President — Compli 
mentary  Vote  by  the  Convention — Elected  a  Senator  in  Congress ;  Robert 
M.  Patton — Native  of  Virginia — Successful  as  a  Merchant  in  North-Ala 
bama — Served  Many  Sessions  in  Legislature  from  Lauderdale — A  Whig 
Until  1855,  when  he  attached  Himself  to  the  Democratic  Party — Elected 
Governor  under  the  New  Constitution  in  1865 — Displaced  by  the  Recon 
struction  Measures  of  Congress,  in  July,  1868 — He  has  since  been  in  Re 
tirement — Member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  —  Patron  of  Sabbath 
Schools..  .  735 


APPENDIX. 


I.  KOLL   OF   THE   GENERAL    ASSEMBLY: 

Names  of  Senators  and  Representatives  in  the  Legislature  of  Alabama 
from  1819  to  1872 741 

II.  MEMBERS  OF  CONGRESS: 

Names  of  Senators  and  Representatives  in  the  Congress  of  the  United 
States  from  Alabama,  since  1819 771 

III.  GOVERNORS  AND  EXECUTIVE  OFFICERS — 1819  TO  1872: 

Names  of  Signers  of  the  Constitution  in  1819,  and  of  the  Governors  and 
State  House  Officers  773 

IV.  COURT  ROLL: 

Names  of  Judges  of  the  Supreme  Court,  Judges  of  the  Circuit  Court, 
Attorney-Generals  and  Solicitors  from  1819 ;  Also  Chancellors 775 

V.  ROLL  OF  ATTORNEYS  IN  1845: 

Names  of  Six  Hundred  Attorneys  at  Law  in  Alabama,  being  the  first  List 

of  the  kind  Published 780 

VI.  UNIVERSITY  or  ALABAMA: 

Names  of  Trustees,  Faculty,  and  Graduates 791 


KEMINISCENCES  OF 

PUBLIC  MEN  IN  ALABAMA. 


CHAPTER  I. 

Outline  of  Population,  and  State  Nativities. 

No  formal  treatise,  or  eonuected  narrative,  is  here  intended 
relative  to  the  early  settlers  of  Alabama.  Since  the  State  was 
admitted  into  the  Union  in  1819,  Virginia,  North  and  South 
Carolina,  Georgia,  Tennessee,  and  other  States,  have  contributed 
to  the  population,  and  no  particular  ascendency  can  be  awarded. 
Yet  traits  of  character  somewhat  peculiar  to  each  could  be  dis 
cerned  in  the  communities  which  they  formed,  or  in  which  they 
were  scattered.  In  the  General  Assembly  this  was  quite  apparent 
in  the  representative  men  who  figured  in  public  life ;  so  much  so 
that  it  was  not  difficult  to  tell  what  State  a  man  was  from  by  his 
ideas  of  legislation.  The  man  from  Georgia  was  very  apt  to  in 
quire  for  Prince's  Digest,  and  was  altering  the  law  so  as  to  intro 
duce  some  change  in  unison  with  the  statutes  of  that  State.  The 
Georgians  were  opposed  to  the  judicial  system  of  Alabama  gener 
ally,  especially  the  Supreme  and  Chancery  Courts,  preferring  the 
Georgia  plan  of  a  "special  jury,"  instead  of  the  tribunals  where 
no  jury  trials  existed.  They  proposed  to  establish  Justice's  Courts, 
and  the  first  law  passed  in  Alabama  providing  for  monthly  courts, 
and  afterwards  jury  trials  in  such  courts,  was  introduced  by  a 
gentleman  who  had  been  a  member  of  the  Legislature  of  Georgia. 
It  was  difficult  for  them  to  get  into  the  habit  of  writing  the  word 
3 


34  R<mmiwfncett  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

tk  Brats/'  to  distinguish  the  civil  divisions  of  a  county,  in  place  of 
"  Districts/'  as  they  were  called  in  Georgia.  And  so  of  various 
other 'mutters  of  law  or  custom,  these  gentlemen  would  frequently 
refer  to  Georgia,  and  the  practice  there,  &c. 

The  Virginians  were  a  different  class,  and  probably  manifested 
more  of  the  old  State  leaven  than  others.  Not  a  great  many 
Virginians,  comparatively,  sought  places  in  the  Legislature.  They 
came  to  Alabama  mostly  as  planters,  wealthy,  independent,  and 
little  disposed  to  engage  in  the  scramble  for  place.  But  it  was 
easy  to  distinguish  them;  for  they  had  little  use  for  any  other  law 
book  beyond  the  "  Revised  Statutes  of  1819,"  and  the  laws  therein,' 
especially  those  relating  to  descents;  and  in  other  respects  looking 
to  the  improvement  of  the  laws  of  Alabama  by  engrafting  the 
provisions  of  the  Virginia  Code,  which  had,  in  part,  the  sanctity 
of  a  hundred  years  to  recommend  them. 

By  way  of  illustration,  there  is  an  amusing  anecdote.  In  one 
of  the  southern  counties  lived  Col.  Gibbs,  a  high-toned  and  proud 
spirited  Virginian.  He  was  drawn  and  summoned  on  the  Grand 
Jury,  and  his  prominence  caused  him  to  be  appointed  foreman. 
After  the  Judge  had  charged  the  jury,  and  before  they  retired, 
Col.  G.  addressed  the  Court  with  much  gravity,  and  inquired 
whether  they  were  to  be  governed  by  the  "Virginia  Revised  Code 
of  1819 ;"  and  being  informed  that  they  were  not,  he  seemed 
greatly  puzzled  as  to  how  the  jury  would  get  along. 

The  South  Carolinians  were  less  wedded  to  their  State  legisla 
tion,  and  were  less  marked  in  that  respect,  while  they  frequently 
inquired  for  the  statutes  at  large  of  that  State,  and  examined  with 
attention  that  portion  'relating  to  marriage  contracts.  As  a  class? 
they  were  enlightened  and  well  informed  upon  the  general  scope 
of  legislation,  and  contributed  no  little  to  an  improvement  of  the 
laws  of  Alabama,  though  they  did  not  favor  a  penitentiary  system,  or 
the  law  of  divorce — things  unknown  in  the  statutes  of  South 
Carolina. 

Tennesseeans  were  generally  known  by  their  reference  to 
"  Hay  wood's  Digest,"  or  that  of  a  later  date  by  Caruthers  &  Nich 
olson,  and  were  in  favor  of  engrafting  upon  our  system  the  Ten 
nessee  law  for  the  redemption  of  real  estate ;  and  every  member 
originally  from  that  State  yoted  for  the  bill  making  that  provision. 


E  eminiscenccs  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  35 

which  was  proposed  by  a  Tennesseean,  and  they  all  rejoiced  when 
the  bill  became  a  law,  and  that  notions  of  Tennessee  jurisprudence 
had  obtained  in  favor  of  unfortunate  debtors  in  Alabama.  They 
were  also  generally  in  favor  of  changing  the  mode  of  assessing 
the  taxes,  so  as  to  conform  to  the  laws  and  practice  of  the  old 
State,  making  it  the  duty  of  a  Justice  of  the  Peace  in  each  beat 
to  assess,  &c.  They  were,  too,  attentive  to  the  road  laws  of  the 
old  State,  and  ready  to  offer  an  amendment  to  any  road  bill,  espe 
cially  about  the  width  of  roads,  lanes,  &c. 

The  National  pride  of  the  comers  from  the  different  States  was 
also  apparent.  That  of  the  Virginians  is  known  to  all.  They 
were  proud  of  their  ancestry  and  State,  as  well  they  might  be; 
for  theirs  was  the  only  State  which  had  produced  such  men  as 
Washington  and  Jefferson,  and  Madison  and  Monroe,  and  Patrick 
Henry,  besides  a  host  of  others  on  the  roll  of  fame.  The  Ten- 
nesseean  was  proud  of  the  character  his  State  had  obtained  in 
arms,  in  the  battles  of  the  Creek  war,  and  at  New  Orleans.  The 
Georgians  placed  a  high  value  on*  their  State  institutions,  which 
they  considered  preferable  to  any  other,  not  only  in  the  laws,  but 
iu  their  administration.  The  South  Carolinians  took  pleasure  in 
remembering  the  exploits  and  noble  sacrifices  of  the  Whigs  of 
their  State  in  the  war  of  the  Revolution,  and  the  part  they  bore 
in  achieving  independence. 

The  North  Carolinians  were  proud  of  their  State  for  its  fixed, 
steady  habits  and  principles,  and  of  the  character  of  the  men 
whose  names  adorned  her  annals,  as  Gaston,  Stanly,  Badger,  Hay- 
wood,  Macori,  Mangum,  and  others,  not  to  mention  those  who 
distinguished  themselves  in  the  Revolutionary  period  of  1776. 

The  early  settlements  of  Alabama  were  by  emigrants  inamly 
from  the  States  specified,  although  some  of  the  first  settlers  were 
from  Kentucky,  and  States  further  North.  The  Georgians  settled 
in  the  eastern  part  of  the  State;  further  west  and  southerly  were 
the  North  Carolinians  and  Virginians.  These  last  also  came  in 
numbers  to  North  Alabama,  especially  Huntsville,  which  they 
mainly  settled.  Tennesseeans  found  their  way  to  Shelby  and 
Bibb,  as  well  as  the  counties  of  North  Alabama.  The  impress  of 
the  characteristics  of  the  early  settlers,  and  the  States  and  commu 
nities  from  which  they  came,  was  strongly  made  in  the  sections 


36  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Akibama. 

where  they  resided.  In  the  region  about  Montgomery  the  char 
acter  of  the  Georgians  predominated  for  a  long  time,  as  did  that  of 
the  Virginians  and  the  Carolinians  farther  Avest  and  south,  in 
Perry,  Greene,  Tuskaloosa,  Marengo,  Dallas,  Monroe,  and  Wilcox. 
Huntsville  is  indebted  no  little  to  the  Virginians  and  Georgians, 
who  settled  there  at  an  early  day,  for  the  high-toned  character 
which  it  has  long  borne,  and  has  distinguished  its  people  for  intel 
ligence  and  refinement  for  half  a  century. 

Greene  county  has  been  perhaps  more  fortunate  in  the  character 
of  its  early  settlers  than  any  other  county.  Men  fr.om  different 
States  settled  there — pleased  with  the  local  surroundings  and 
fertility  of  the  soil — who  vied  with  each  other  in  developing  a 
good  state  of  society,  for  culture,  reading,  and  general  intelligence, 
not  only  in  literature,  but  in  the  knowledge  of  agriculture;  and 
their  devotion  to  these  objects  was  so  eminently  successful  that 
thirty  years  ago  it  presented  a  happy  condition,  which,  in  a  general 
pecuniary  independence,  coupled  with  intelligence  and  refinement, 
a  high  character  for  humanity^ to  slaves,  correct  teachings,  and 
affable  deportment  in  both  sexes,  could  rarely  be  found  throughout 
an  entire  county.  In  1844  the  State  census  was  taken,  and  in 
compiling  them  in  a  report  to  the  Legislature,  I  could  not  but 
notice  the  distribution  of  slave  property  in  the  county — very  few 
heads  of  families  possessing  more  than  one  hundred,  and  few 
ranged  below  fifteen  slaves. 

Twenty-five  years  ago  I  heard  a  gentleman  say  he  had  occasion 
to  be  at  Eutaw,  the  county-seat  for  Greene,  on  Monday  morning 
of  Circuit  Court,  and  counted,  as  they  arrived,  upwards  of  a 
hundred  fine  buggies,  occupied  by  well  dressed,  intelligent  gen 
tlemen,  and  drawn  in  most  instances  by  fine  horses.  There  are 
but  few,  if  any,  counties  in  the  State  of  which  this  could  be  said. 

Although  the  number  is  not  very  considerable,  the  emigrants 
from  France  are  entitled  to  friendly  attention  in  these  pages.  Soon 
after  the  downfall  of  the  Emperor  Napoleon,  in  1815,  many  of 
his  officers  and  adherents  came  to  the  United  States  as  refugees 
from  the  vindictive  persecutions  set  on  foot  by  the  restored  Bour 
bon*  dynasty.  Among  them  were  several  Marshals  and  Generals 
of  Napoleon,  and  other  prominent  citizens  of  France,  with  their 
families.  Congress  made  a  liberal  donation  of  lands  in  the  vicin- 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  37 

ity  of  Domopolis  to  the  French  emigrants,  with  the  view  of  intro 
ducing  the  culture  of  the  grape  and  the  olive.  An  account  of 
this  settlement,  the  hardships  endured  by  the  emigrants  in  the 
wilderness,  their  courtly  social  habits,  and  the  proud  and  lofty 
principles  which  governed  their  conduct  in  adversity,  has  been 
published  in  Col.  Pickett's  History  of  Alabama,  and  also  in  other 
works  more  or  less  descriptive.  In  Marengo  (named  by  the 
French),  arid  the  adjoining  counties,  the  descendants  of  these 
refined  and  worthy  foreigners  constitute  a  pleasing  element  in  the 
population  to  this  day.  Many  of  the  names,  still  preserved,  will 
at  once  suggest  to  the  reader,  when  he  hears  them,  the  quality  of 
the  blood  they  represent. 


CHAPTER  II. 

Regular  Session  of  1837. 

When  I  entered  the  public  service  as  Assistant  Clerk  of  the 
House  of  Representatives,  in  November,  1837,  the  State  was 
officered  by  men  of  experience  in  public  affairs.  Many  of  them 
came  down  to  that  period  from  the  organization  of  the  State  gov 
ernment,  and  had  much  to  do  in  the  administration  of  its  affairs. 
There  was  marked  ability  in  the  practical  experience  with  which 
the  government  was  administered;  and  not  a  few  younger  men 
who  were  destined  to  a  large  participation  of  public  affairs  in  the 
future  history  of  the  State. 

The  Hon.  Hugh  McVay  was  Governor,  and  succeeded  to  the 
Executive  as  President  of  the  Senate,  to  fill  the  vacancy  caused 
by  the  resignation  of  Gov.  C.  C.  Clay,  on  his  election,  at  the 
called  session  in  June  preceding,  to  the  Senate  of  the  United 
States.  Mr.  Albert  G.  Gooch  was  Private  Secretary  to  the  Gov 
ernor;  Mr.  Thomas  B.  Tunstall,  long  connected  with  the  Legisla 
ture  as  Principal  Clerk  of  the  House  of  Representatives,  was 
Secretary  of  State;  Mr.  Jefferson  C.  Van  Dyke  was  Comptroller 


§8  Heminwccnccs  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

of  Public  Accounts;   Mr.   William  Hawn,  Treasurer;  and  Jolni 
D.  Phelan,  Esq.,  was  Attorney-General. 

The  Hon.  Henry  W.  Collier  was  Chief  Justice  of  the  Supreme 
Court,  with  the  Hon.  Henry  Goldthwaite  and  Hon.  John  J. 
Ormond  as  Associate  Justices.  Henry  Minor,  Esq.,  was  Clerk ; 
Hon.  Benjamin  F.  Porter,  Reporter. 

The  Senate  presented  a  strong  array  of  talent  and  character, 
as  did  the  House  of  Representatives.  In  the  former  were  Messrs. 
Jesse  Beene  of  Dallas,  George  "VV.  Crabb  of  Tuskaloosa,  Thomas  S. 
Mays  of  Montgomery,  John  A.  Elmore  of  Lowndes, 'Sidney  C. 
Posey  of  Lauderdale,  Nathaniel  Terry  of  Limestone,  John  T. 
Rather  of  Morgan,  Samuel  B.  Moore  of  Pickens,  John  Rains  of 
Marengo,  Henry  C.  Lea  of  Perry,  Joseph  P.  Frazier  of  Jackson, 
James  B.  Wallace  of  Lawrence,  Daniel  E.  Watrous  of  Shelby, 
and  J.  M.  Burke  of  Wilcox.  Mr.  Beene,  Democrat,  was  elected 
President,  without  opposition ;  Mr.  Charles  D.  Conner,  Secretary, 
and  Thomas  B.  Childress,  Assistant  Secretary;  A.  B.  Thomas, 
Door-keeper. 

In  the  House  of  Representatives  were,  Col.  James  W.  McClung, 
Judge  William  Smith,  and  Dr.  David  Moore,  from  Madison; 
Messrs.  James  M.  Calhoun  and  William  S.  Phillips  from  Dallas; 
John  W.  Womack  of  Butler,  Charles  McLemore  of  Chambers, 
W.  W.  Morris  of  Coosa,  R.  A.  Baker  of  Franklin,  John  Erwin, 
Solomon  McAlpin,  and  D.  P.  Bestor,  of  Greene;  J.  L.  F.  Cottrell 
and  R.  P.  McCord,  of  Lowndes;  Benjamin  G.  Shields  and  William 
J.  Alston,  of  Marengo;  Samuel  C.  Oliver  and  Alfred  Scott,  of 
Montgomery ;  Joseph  Bates  and  T.  L.  Toulmin,  of  Mobile ;  Dunklin 
Sullivan  -and  Columbus  W.  Lee,  of  Perry;  W.  W.  Payne  of 
Sumter,  W.  B.  McClellan  of  Talladega,  and  Marmaduke  Williams, 
Pleasant  H.  May,  and  Benjamin  F.  Porter,  of  Tuskaloosa.  Many 
of  these  gentlemen  had  been  connected  with  the  Legislature  at 
an  early  day,  and  some  of  them  were  subsequently  advanced  to 
higher  positions  of  honor  and  trust. 

Col.  McClung  was  elected  Speaker  of  the  House  over  Mr. 
Shields.  It  is  proper  to  say,  in  this  connection,  that  Col.  McClung 
had  not  affiliated  with  the  Democratic  party.  He  had  presided 
over  the  House,  at  several  sessions  before  the  present,  with 
marked  ability,  and  was  from  the  northern  part  of  the  State, 


Revrwniseences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  •%$ 

where  he  was  personally  very  popular,  so  much  so  that  he  received 
the  votes  of  many  Democrats.  Mr.  Gideon  B.  Frierson  was 
elected  Clerk  ;  William  Garrett,  Assistant  Clerk ;  Thomas  Price, 
Enrolling  Clerk ;  John  Tatom,  Door-keeper,  and  James  Rather, 
Messenger. 

The  Governor's  message  was  delivered  by  Mr.  Gooch — was 
short,  plain  and  pointed.  The  engrossing  subject  which  occupied 
the  public  mind  more  than  any  other — the  banks  and  pecuniary 
situation — was  but  slightly  noticed,  and  most  of  the  message  was 
devoted  to  a  consideration  of  the  criminal  laws.  The  Governor 
recommended  strongly  the  establishment  of  a  penitentiary,  and  a 
revision  of  the  code  of  punishments,  adapting  it  to  such  a  system. 

But  the  failure  of  the  Governor  to  enlarge  upon  the  banking 
system,  and  the  best  policy  to  be  adopted,  did  not  prevent  the 
Legislature  from  taking  up  the  subject.  Indeed,  they  could  not 
avoid  it.  The  country  was  in  the  midst  of  a  sevore  pecuniary 
revulsion,  which  had  commenced  the  Winter  before — a  revulsion 
so  pervading  and  damaging  in  its  effects  upon  the  business  of  the 
country,  that  the  President  of  the  United  States  had  considered 
it  necessary  to  convene  Congress  in  extraordinary  session,  as  did 
the  Governor  of  Alabama  in  regard  to  the  Legislature,  to  consider 
what  was  to  be  done  to  meet  the  terrible  emergency,  and  prevent 
the  bankruptcy  and  ruin  which  every-where  threatened  the  people. 
The  Legislature,  at  the  called  session,  had  authorized  the  issue  of 
five  millions  in  bonds,  upon  the  faith  and  credit  of  the  State,  the 
proceeds  to  be  deposited  with  the  banks  in  just  proportions,  to  be 
used  in  discounting  bills  and  notes,  looking  to  the  relief  of  the 
people — to  be  loaned  on  one,  two,  and  three  years,  upon  approved 
paper,  backed  by  a  mortgage  upon  unincumbered  property. 

This  foiled  to  afford  the  relief  sought  and  demanded  by  the 
exigencies  of  the  times.  Various,  indeed,  were  the  projects 
brought  forward,  looking  mainly  to  the  reformation  of  abuses  in 
the  management  of  the  banks,  which,  all  agreed,  existed  more  or 
less.  In  the  Senate,  Mr.  Riddle,  of  Greene,  and  in  the  House, 
Mr.  Smith,  of  Madison,  were  placed  at  the  head  of  the  committees 
of  the  respective  Houses,  on  the  State  Bank  and  Branches,  and 
from  them  much  was  expected  in  directing  the  action  of  the 
Legislature  in  reforming  the  abuses  and  defects  which  were 


40  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

alleged  to  exist.  Gov.  Bagby,  who  was  inaugurated  at  this  session, 
submitted  a  special  message  to  the  two  Houses,  giving  his  views  of 
the  banking  system,  its  defects,  and  the  proper  remedies.  The 
result  of  the  legislation  of  the  session  in  regard  to  the  banks,  was 
to  provide  for  withdrawing  from  market  and  cancelling  the  unsold 
bonds,  and  organizing  a  Board  of  Control,  consisting  of  three 
persons,  who  were  to  be  appointed  by  the  Governor,  and  exercise 
a  supervisory  control,  with  extensive  powers.  The  Governor 
appointed  John  B.  Norris  of  Mobile,  Thomas  Owen  of  Tuska- 
loosa,  and  Thomas  Brandon  of  Huntsville,  to  constitute  this  Board. 

INAUGURATION  OF  GOVERNOR  BAGBY. 

At  the  general  election,  this  year,  Mr.  Arthur  P.  Bagby  of 
Monroe,  was  elected  Governor,  over  Mr.  Samuel  W.  Oliver,  of 
Conecuh.  Both  of  these  gentlemen  had  presided  over  the  House 
of  Representatives  as  Speaker,  with  ability,  and  either,  it  was 
conceded,  would  fill  the  Executive  with  dignity  and  efficiency. 
Gov.  Bagby  was  the  Democratic  candidate,  and  Mr.  Oliver,  while 
not  extreme,  and  had  been  so  acceptable  to  the  Democrats  that 
they  assisted  in  electing  him  Speaker  of  the  House,  was,  in  this 
contest,  ranged  under  the  Whig  banner.  At  the  polls,  Mr.  Bagby 
received  21,800,  and  Mr.  Oliver  17,663  votes— majority  4,137. 

Gov.  Bagby  was  inaugurated  on  the day  of  November, 

1837.  I  well  remember  the  day,  and  the  imposing  character  of 
the  ceremonies.  The  Hall  of  the  House  of  Representatives  had 
been  refitted  and  furnished  with  fine  desks,  chairs,  sofas  and  otto 
mans,  and  damask  curtains,  such  as  it  never  contained  before. 
The  capitol  was  besieged  by  a  dense  crowd  of  citizens  from  differ 
ent  parts  of  the  State,  who  had  come  up,  many  of  them  attended 
by  their  families,  to  be  present  at  the  installation  of  the  Governor 
elect;  and  the  occasion  was  heightened  by  the  fact,  that  the  Execu 
tive  office  had  been  filled  for  six  months  by  one  who  was  not 
elected  by  the  people.  As  usual,  on  such  occasions,  the  floor  was 
invaded  by  ladies — the  fair,  intelligent  daughters  of  Alabama — 
who  filled  the  Hall  and  lobby,  leaving  little  room  for  the  members 
of  the  House  and  Senate.  The  press  was  so  great  that  it  was  diffi 
cult  for  the  Committee  of  Arrangements,  headed  Jby  Judge  Smith, 
of  Madison,  and  the  Governor  elect,  to  reacli  the  Speaker's  stand. 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  41 

The  display  was  altogether  civil,  there  being  no  military,  drum 
or  fife  engaged.  Gov.  Bagby  will  be  recollected  by  all  who 
knew  him  in  public  life,  as  remarkable  for  the  dignity  and  pro 
priety  of  his  bearing  on  State  occasions — scrupulously  attentive 
to  dress  and  manner — in  all  of  which,  this  day,  he  came  fully  up 
to  the  character  he  had  long  borne  as  a  public  man.  After  an 
impressive  prayer  by  the  Rev.  Robert  L.  Kennon,  D.  D.,  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  the  inaugural  address  was  gracefully 
delivered,  and  was,  indeed,  a  beautiful  display  of  eloquence. 
The  oath  of  office  was  then  administered  by  Mr.  Speaker  McClung, 
in  the  presence  of  the  two  Houses  and  the  vast  audience,  with  an 
appropriateness  of  manner  which  none  could  excel  and  few  equal. 
A  ball  followed  at  night,  where  merriment,  display,  and  pastime 
afforded  much  enjoyment  to  the  young  people. 

LEGISLATIVE   LABORS. 

In  those  days,  afternoon  sessions  were  generally  resorted  to  the 
second  week,  and  business  proceeded  with  energy  in  both  Houses. 
The  Legislature  was  made  up,  in  the  main,  of  substantial  men  of 
much  experience,  and  close  identity  with  the  interests  of  the 
people;  so  much  so  that  economy  of  time  was  regarded  as  a  saving 
of  money.  The  expenses  of  the  State  Government  were  drawn 
from  the  banks.  There  was  no  State  tax  collected;  yet  expendi 
tures  were  closely  scrutinized.  How  the  capitol,  or  rather  the 
Representative  Hall  and  Senate  Chamber,  came  to  be  so  finely 
furnished  that  year,  or  by  what  authority,  I  never  heard;  but  I 
recollect  how  difficult  it  was  to  get  members  to  vote  the  appropri 
ations  to  pay  the  bills;  and  nothing  but  the  fact  that  it  had  been 
used  during  the  session,  and  members  felt  that  they  were  thus 
committed  in  good  faith,  secured  the  payment;  for,  if  the  appro 
priations  had  been  asked  for  in  advance,  it  would  most  probably 
have  been  denied.  To  show  IIOAV  well  the  public  treasury  was 
guarded  in  those  days,  the  Comptroller  of  Public  Accounts  was 
required  by  law  to  make  a  report  of  payments  from  the  Contingent 
Fund  within  three  days  from  the  meeting  of  the  Legislature, 
which  report  had  to  show  every  item  clearly  set  forth;  and  this 
report  was  printed  and  laid  upon  the  tables  of  members,  who  were 
apt  to  scan  it  closely.  It  is  not  my  purpose,  in  saying  this,  to 


42  IZeminiscmccs  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

draw  invidious  comparisons  with  after  times;  but  I  desire  to  show 
in  this  respect  the  character  of  the  men  who  guarded  the  public 
interest  with  watchful  and  frugal  care,  and  have  in  this,  as  in  many 
other  things,  left  a  good  example  for  the  imitation  of  their  suc 
cessors. 

As  already  said,  the  banks  and  the  pecuniary  embarrassment  of 
the  people,  formed  the  absorbing  subject  in  both  Houses;  but 
there  was  much  diversity  as  to  the  measures  of  relief,  or,  really, 
whether  any  legislation  thereon  would  avail  anything,  unless  it 
was  directed  to  a  reformation  of  the  evils  which  had  crept  into 
the  management  of  these  institutions.  It  has  been  noticed  else 
where  how  this  was  gradually  introduced,  until  really  the  whole 
system  seemed  te  be  imbued  with  selfishness  and  favoritism  in  the 
management,  in  utter  disregard  of  the  interests  of  the  State  and 
people,  who  were  bound  to  make  good  the  losses  in  the  payment 
of  the  bonds.  But  it  is  astonishing  how  men  are  controlled  in 
their  opinions  and  actions  in  such  a  case  by  the  complex  surround 
ings  and  difficulties  of  an  undue  influence.  Many  gentlemen 
were  disposed  to  go  the  full  length  of  measures  for  reformation, 
but  were  threatened  in  all  their  efforts  by  influences  brought  to 
bear  upon  a  majority,  who  were  led  by  the  conviction  that  another 
policy  would  be  better.  And  after  getting  in  all  the  reports  from 
the  banks,  exhibiting  a  fearful  amount  of  suspended  debt,  and 
indebtedness  by  directors,  they  concluded  that  little  else  could  be 
done  than  to  change  the  regulation  of  directors,  many  of  whom 
stood  in  an  unfavorable  light  in  the  matter  of  indebtedness,  etc. 

As  the  time  for  electing  the  several  boards  approached,  (the 
heel  of  the  session,)  candidates  for  bank  directors  began  to  arrive 
in  great  numbers.  The  charters  allowed  fourteen  to  each  of  the 
banks,  making  three  score  and  ten,  in  the  aggregate,  to  the  State 
Bank  and  its  four  branches,  and  more  than  thrice  that  number 
were  in  attendance  as  candidates,  thronging  the  capitol  and  be 
sieging  the  rooms  of  members,  and  furnishing  at  the  restaurants 
oyster  suppers  and  other  entertainments  to  secure  votes.  An 
anecdote  illustrating  this  is  here  given.  A  member  (Mr.  Sullivan, 
of  Perry,)  died,  and  the  House,  in  respect  to  his  memory,  resolved 
that  the  members  wear  the  usual  badge  of  mourning  (crape  on 
the  left  arm)  for  thirty  days.  This  was  a  mark  by  which  members 


Hemmiseenues  vf  PMlc  Men  In  Alabama.  4S 

were  known,  and  was  especially  noticed  by  the  candidates  for  the 
bank  directorships  who  had  not  the  advantage  of  extensive  per 
sonal  acquaintance.  It  so  happened  that  E.  Herndon,  of  Benton 
county,  in  one  of  his  trading  excursions,  came  to  Tnskaloosa  about 
this  time.  Pie  liked  attention,  was  social  in  his  feelings,  and  sharp 
and  observant  of  the  best  means  to  accomplish  his  ends.  Seeing 
the  magic  influence  of  crape  on  the  arm  in  the  attention  it 
received,  especially  in  the  articles  of  good  cigars,  liquors,  and 
oysters,  he  at  once  assumed  the  character  of  a  member,  by  wear 
ing  the  badge,  and  soon  found  himself  the  recipient  of  many 
civilities,  and  being  that  way  inclined,  he  made  a  good  thing  of  it- 
Mr.  Daniel  P.  Bestor,  of  Greene,  a  gentleman  of  high  culture, 
and  devoted  to  the  cause  of  education,  especially  in  the  common 
schools,  went  to  work  early  in  the  session,  and  applied  himself 
assiduously  to  the  improvement  of  that  system  upon  the  statute 
book;  and  to  his  efforts  the  State  and  the  people  are  indebted  for 
valuable  progress  in  the  school  laws.  This  was  the  last  session 
in  which  he  served  as  a  member,  and  I,  who  was  frequently  in 
association  with  him  toward  the  close,  could  not  fail  to  perceive 
that  he  seemed  worried  and  somewhat  disgusted.  But  he  suc 
ceeded,  to  some  extent  in  his  efforts  some  years  afterwards  when 
I  occupied  another  department  in  the  capitol.  Mr.  Bestor  called 
one  day,  and  in  the  course  of  conversation,  in  reply  to  the  inquiry 
why  he  had  so  soon  relinquished  public  life,  he  stated  that  the 
events  of  the  session  of  1837  had  pretty  well  disgusted  him  with 
public  life;  that  in  canvassing  his  school  bill  among  the  members, 
and  advocating  the  efficiency  of  common  schools,  he  was  frequently 
met  with  the  reply:  "I  don't  know  anything  about  your  bill,  but 
will  say  that  I  have  a  friend  I  want  elected  a  bank  director,  and 
if  you  will  vote  for  him  I  will  vote  for  your  bill." 

This  was  the  last  election  of  directors  by  the  Legislature  until 
the  charters  were  amended  by  reducing  the  number  to  six,  and 
imposing  restrictions  which  made  the  occasion  a  decent  one.  And 
it  was  well  for  the  character  of  the  State  and  of  the  Legislature 
that  the  change  was  made.  In  the  elections  this  year  (1837)  there 
was  an  exhibition  such  as  has  been  often  witnessed  at  the  ballot- 
box  in  times  of  political  excitement  and  demoralization,  not  only 
by  many  of  the  candidates,  but  by  not  a  few  of  the  members. 


44  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

No  rules,  in  joint  elections  by  the  two  Houses,  existed  then, 
requiring  a  member  to  vote  from  his  seat  when  his  name  was 
called  in  appropriate  order,  and  at  least  one-third  of  the  members 
failed  to  vote  on  the  first  oall.  Enough  voted,  however,  to  indi 
cate  the  strength  of  candidates  and  the  chances  for  election.  Then 
the  members  who  had  purposely  omitted  to  vote  on  the  first  call, 
had  it  fully  in  their  power  to  elect,  and  thus  secure  an  influence 
with  the  directory.  And  they  did  so,  doubtless,  to  a  great  extent. 
So  disgusted  was  a  majority  of  the  members  at  this  conduct,  that 
early  in  the  next  session  a  joint  rule  was  adopted  which  removed 
this  evil  in  the  future.  I  would  not  have  it  inferred  for  a  moment 
that  all  the  candidates  for  directorships,  or  members  of  the  Legis 
lature,  were  involved  in  this  canvass.  Many  of  the  former  were 
not  at  Tuskaloosa  during  the  session,  but  remained  at  home, 
depending  on  a  good  reputation  to  carry  them  through,  and  quite 
a  number  of  such  men  were  elected;  and  a  large  majority  of  the 
members  were  devoted  to  a  reformation  in  the  management  of 
the  banks,  especially  in  the  directorships,  and  had  the  satisfaction 
to  procure  the  defeat  of  many  candidates  who  were  considered 
unworthy  of  confidence. 

STATE  COTTON  ^AGENCY. 

At  this  session  the  subject  of  selling  produce  in  Mobile  by 
commission  merchants  was  ventilated  and  thoroughly  discussed. 
Mr.  L.  A.  Weisinger,  a  member  of  the  House  from  Perry,  brought 
in  a  bill  intended  to  provide  against  alleged  abuses  in  flie  sales  of 
cotton,  by  establishing  a  public  ware-house,  and  selling  cotton 
under  the  patronage  of  the  State,  through  officers  appointed  for 
that  purpose.  The  debate  took  a  wide  range,  and  consisted  no 
little  of  allegations,  the  offspring  of  pecuniary  difficulties  and 
losses.  Judge  William  Smith,  of  Madison,  took  the  lead  in  sup 
port  of  the  bill,  assisted  by  Mr.  Weisinger  and  others — Mr. 
Martin  of  Benton,  Mr.  Cottrell  of  Lowndes,  and  Mr.  Columbus 
W.  Lee  of  Perry.  Gen.  Bates  of  Mobile,  opposed  the  bill  at 
every  step,  and  never  faltered  in  meeting  and  repulsing  the  many 
attacks  made  upon  the  business  men  of  Mobile;  and  when,  at  last, 
seeing  the  bill  would  pass,  he  proposed  an  amendment  inflicting 
penalties  on  planters  for  impositions  practiced  upon  commission 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  45 

merchants  in  getting  advances  on  cotton  to  be  shipped,  and  selling 
it  afterwards  to  other  persons,  and  for  plating  cotton  by  good  qual 
ities  on  the  outside  of  a  bale,  from  which  samples  are  usually 
taken,  while  the  interior  was  often  filled  with  a  very  inferior  kind, 
and  even  in  some  with  seed  and  rubbish.  The  previous  question 
was  called  and  sustained,  cutting  off  the  amendment,  and  the  bill 
was  thus  forced  through. 

I  feel  it  my  privilege  to  speak  of  this  legislation  (1837)  in 
terms  of  disapprobation,  for  the  tone  and  spirit  manifested  in  the 
debate,  and  in  the  provisions  of  the  bill,  against  the  commercial 
emporium  of  the  State,  which  really  should  have  received  the 
fostering  care  of  the  Legislature.  Instead  of  this,  the  debate,  in 
its  charges  against  the  place,  in  general  terms,  was  calculated  to 
produce  an  undue  prejudice  abroad.  That  there  had  been  some 
transactions  by  commission  merchants,  in  their  dealings  with 
planters,  which  could  not  be  defended,  was  possible.  Such  take 
place,  more  or  less,  in  all  channels  of  business.  But  it  was  seri 
ously  doubted  by  many  cool,  deliberate  men,  whether  the  mer 
chants  of  Mobile  had  not  suffered  even  more  from  the  tricks  of 
the  planters,  than  the  planters  had  suffered  from  merchants.  But 
a  revulsion  was  upon  the  country.  Men  suddenly  found  them 
selves  poor  and  straitened  so  suddenly  after  a  season  of  unexam 
pled  prosperity;  and  the  public  mind  was  so  generally  exercised 
in  misgivings  and  repinings,  that  they  must  have  a  victim.  In 
this  case  the  victims  were  the  commission  merchants  and  business 
men  of  Mobile;  for  the  provisions  of  the  bill  were  indiscriminate. 

Mobile  never  had  a  more  faithful  Representative  on  the  floor  of 
the  House  than  Gen.  Bates  proved  on  this  occasion.  He  made  a 
protest  against  their  action  in  the  passage  of  the  bill,  and  many  a 
member  winced  while  it  was  being  read  in  the  House.  It  was 
bold,  truthful,  pointed,  and  rather  denunciatory  of  the  majority, 
and  vindicated  his  constituents  manfully  against  the  insinuations 
and  aspersions  contained  in  the  bill.  So  strong  was  it,  that  after 
it  was  read  a  member  moved  to  lay  the  protest  on  the  table, 
alleging  that  it  cast  personal  reflections  upon  the  majority,  and 
especially  upon  some  members  of  it;  and  that  under  the  privilege 
of  the  protest  he  had  attacked  personally  the  motives  of  members. 
In  reply  to  this  imputation,  Gen.  Bates  in  his  place  declared  that 


46  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

he  was  personally  responsible  for  everything  contained  in  the 
paper.  The  House  refused  to  lay  it  on  the  table,  and  ordered  it 
to  be  spread  upon  the  Journals,  where  it  may  be  seen  at  page  202 
of  the  House  Journal,  1837,  a  monument  of  the  faithfulness  of  a 
Representative  in  his  vindication  of  his  constituents  in  the  city  of 
Mobile.  Afterwards,  Mr.  May  of  Tuskaloosa,  offered  resolutions 
censuring  the  author  of  the  protest;  but  they  were  never  acted 
upon  by  the  House.  The  bill  passed  the  Senate  and  became  a 
law;  and,  in  pursuance  of  its  provisions,  Gov.  Bagby  appointed  a 
commission  of  three  distinguished  citizens  of  Mobile,  to  examine, 
consider,  and  report  a  plan  for  an  extensive  ware-house,  where 
the  produce  of  all  sorts  coming  to  the  city  for  sale  could  be  stored, 
and  disposed  of  under  the  supervision  of  proper  agents,  to  the 
exclusion  of  all  other  factors.  Those  gentlemen  reported  the 
plans  of  extensive  ware-houses,  and  they  were  laid  before  the 
Legislature,  accompanied  by  drawings  of  the  ground-floor,  upper 
stories,  etc.  But  here  the  matter  ended  in  nothing. 

I  have  often  thought  of  this  measure  and  its  purposes,  since 
passing  through  the  business  portions  of  Mobile  a  few  years  after 
wards,  and  seeing  the  large  amount  of  produce  sold  in  large  quan 
tities  every  day,  and  the  hundreds  of  thousands  of  bales  of  cotton 
on  the  wharves  and  in  ware-houses,  sold  by  honest  commission 
merchants  and  dealers  to  ready  purchasers,  and  could  not  resist 
the  conclusion  that  the  members  of  the  Legislature  who  passed 
the  bill  providing  for  a  system  of  trade — narrow,  selfish,  and 
destructive  to  the  free  exercise  of  mercantile  competition,  which 
is  the  life  and  developement  of  a  commercial  community — had 
but  little  conception  of  the  future  extent  of  the  business  that 
would  be  transacted  by  a  high-toned,  honorable  class  of  merchants, 
in  building  up  and  enlarging  the  city  and  business  they  were 
seeking  to  destroy. 

UNIVERSITY  CEREMONIES. 

At  the  Commencement  Exercises  of  the  University  of  Alabama 
during  this  session  (1837)  its  Presidency  changed  hands.  This 
institution  is  so  closely  connected  with  the  State  that  it  will  not 
be  considered  out  of  place  to  speak  of  it  in  passing.  It  was 
founded  by  a  liberal  grant  of  laud  by  Congress.  The  trustees 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  47 

were  elected  from  the  different  judicial  circuits  by  joint  vote  of 
the  two  branches  of  the  Legislature,  and  the  trustees  elected  the 
Faculty,  and  made  by-laws  and  regulations  for  the  government  of 
the  Faculty  and  students.  The  Governor  was  President  of  the 
Board  of  Trustees,  and  ex-ojficio  a  member  of  it.  The  members 
of  the  Legislature  and  officers  of  State  were  annually  invited  and 
expected  to  attend. 

The  Rev.  Alva  Woods  had  been  the  President  many  years; 
but  difficulties  had  arisen,  of  which  it  is  not  now  necessary  to 
speak,  which  induced  or  obliged  him  to  resign,  and  the  Rev.  Basil 
Manly,  I).  D.,  of  Charleston,  South  Carolina,  was  elected  in  his 
place.  The  circumstances  attending  the  resignation  of  Dr.  Woods 
had  attracted  general  attention,  and  the  occasion  of  installing  a 
new  President,  whose  election  was  hailed  as  the  dawning  of  a 
new  era  in  the  history  of  the  college,  had  brought  together  a  large 
number  of  the  leading  citizens  and  families  of  the  State,  and  the 
day  presented  a  vast  multitude  of  Alabama's  noble  men  and 
women.  There  was  but  one  graduating  speech,  and  that  was  by 
Walter  H.  Crenshaw,  of  Butler,  whose  future  connection  with 
public  life  and  its  rewards  will  bring  him  frequently  to  the  notice 
of  the  reader  in  the  course  of  these  reminiscences. 

Dr.  Woods  delivered  his  valedictory,  which  was  lengthy,  eru 
dite,  cold,  and  formal,  showing  a  good  deal  of  the  blood  and  tem 
perament  of  the  author.  This  was  the  first  occasion  of  the  kind 
I  had  ever  attended,  and  although  deeply  interested  in  everything, 
and  paying  the  closest  attention  for  fear  something  would  be  said 
or  done  that  would  be  missed,  and  without  assuming  a  manner 
and  decorum  that  would  make  it  appear  I  had  been  familiar  Avith 
such  exercises,  and  Avas  Avell  at  home  Avithin  the  Avails  of  a  college, 
(the  first  really  I  had  ever  entered,)  I  did  not  feel  competent  to 
pronounce  judgment  upon  the  discourse,  as  everybody  Avas  doing, 
I  reckon  mostly  out  of  compliment  to  a  retiring  President.  As 
Dr.  Woods  concluded,  and  Avhile  the  audience  Avere  cheering, 
(which  Avas  regarded  by  some  as  equivocal  in  the  motive,)  the 
robe  of  office  as  President  Avas  lifted  from  his  shoulders,  and  trans 
ferred  to  Dr.  Manly,  Avho  Avas  brought  forward  and  presented  to 
Gov.  Bagby  for  installation.  This  portion  of  the  ceremony,  on 
the  Governor's  part,  consisted  in  the  delivery  of  a  large  bundle 


48  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  m  Alabama, 

of  keys  of  the  buildings,  saying  that  he  invested  him  with  the 
control  of  the  premises  and  dignity  of  the  office;  and  a  few 
admonitory  remarks  in  rather  a  low  tone,  expressed  with  clear 
ness,  and  enforced  by  several  shakes  of  the  left  hand,  with  the 
forefinger  pointed.  Dr.  Manly,  holding  the  bunch  of  keys  in  his 
hand,  made  his  acceptance ;  first  to  the  Governor  as  President  of 
the  Board  of  Trustees,  and  then,  advancing  to  a  table,  delivered 
his  inaugural  address,  which  was  well  conceived  and  delivered, 
and  warmly  applauded  by  a  delighted  auditory. 


CHAPTER  III. 

Political  Topics — Men  of  Action  Introduced. 

The  subject  of  National  politics  engaged  the  attention  of  both 
Houses  of  the  Alabama  Legislature  at  the  regular  session  of  1837. 
Mr.  Van  Buren  had  been  elected  President  the  year  before,  and 
soon  after  his  accession  to  office,  he  issued  his  proclamation  con 
vening  Congress,  to  consider  the  state  of  the  country  under  the 
severe  revulsion,  and  especially  the  financial  question,  as  con 
nected  with  the  operations  of  the  Government.  The  banks  had 
all  suspended  specie  payment,  and  in  many  instances  were  worth 
less.  The  receivers  and  custodians  of  the  public  money  at  several 
of  the  important  centers  had  squandered  the  funds  of  the  Gov 
ernment,  and  had  withdrawn  to  foreign  countries  to  avoid  punish 
ment.  There  was  no  confidence  or  credit,  no  cheerfulness  or 
hope ;  but,  on  the  contrary,  wide-spread  ruin  seemed  to  brood  over 
every  pecuniary  interest. 

In  his  message  to  Congress,  on  its  assembling  in  September, 
1837,  Mr.  Van  Buren  recommended,  among  other  things,  an  entire 
separation  of  the  Treasury  Department  from  the  banks — conse 
quently  the  discontinuance  of  the  local  banks  as  the  depositories 
of  the  public  money,  and  the  establishment  of  a  Sub- Treasury, 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  49 

with  receivers  of  the  public  money  at  leading  commercial  points, 
and  nothing  but  coin  to  be  recognized  in  the  transactions  of  the 
Government. 

This  recommendation  met  with  favor  in  some  of  the  leading 
men  of  the  South  who  had  stood  in  direct  opposition  to  the  Dem 
ocratic  party,  and  especially  to  Mr.  Van  Buren,  its  head  and 
leader.  It  was  understood,  at  this  session  of  the  Legislature,  that 
Mr.  Calhoun  of  Dallas,  Mr.  Dixon  H.  Lewis,  and  other  prominent 
leaders  of  that  wing  known  for  years  as  the  State  Rights  or  Nul 
lification  party,  favored  this  policy.  This  organization  had  existed 
since  1832,  and  while  it  never  attained  in  numbers  to  the  control 
of  the  State,  it  exerted  no  little  influence  as  a  "  balance  of  power," 
check  and  ally;  and  the  more  so,  as  it  was  made  up  mainly  of 
gentlemen  possessing  a  high  order  of  talent,  highly  educated, 
wealthy,  occupying  high  social  positions,  and  bold  and  decided  in 
the  advocacy  of  measures  and  principles  in  consonance  with  the 
feelings  and  sympathies  of  Southern  men,  especially  the  younger 
ones.  They  had  voted  generally  with  the  Whig  party,  for  Judge 
White  in  the  Presidential  election  of  1836,  and  were  regarded 
as  more  in  sympathy  with  it  than  with  the  Democratic  party,  espe 
cially  under  the  lead  of  Gen.  Jackson;  were  patriotic  in  their 
views  and  votes,  looking,  highest  of  all,  to  the  maintenance  of 
those  great  principles  which  would  protect  the  States  in  the  undis 
turbed  exercise  of  their  "sovereign  rights. " 

By  a  large,  number  there  was  much  prejudice  entertained,  espe 
cially  among  the  masses,  and  what  were  termed  the  "flat-footed" 
Democrats,  against  this  class 'of  politicians  known  as  Nidttfci'*,  not 
a  few  attaching  to  it  a  stigma  little  less  than  treason.  In  some 
instances,  candidates  for  office  before  the  Legislature  were  a  little 
cautious  in  going  among  them  for  votes,  and  when  they  did  go, 
it  was  with  secrecy  and  tact,  lest  the  dominant  party  should  sus 
pect  them.  An  anecdote  in  point  is  told  of  Col.  T.  J>.  Tunstall. 
In  1834  he  was  a  candidate  for  Secretary  of  State  iti  opposition  to 
E.  A.  Webster,  of  Jackson  county.  He  had  long  been  Clerk  of 
the  House,  and  was  popular.  The  State  Rights  men  were  dis 
posed  to  vote  for  him  quietly  in  concert,  as  they  usually  voted, 
especially  as  Mr.  Webster  was  distasteful  to  them  as  a  "  Jackson 
Democrat"  Col.  Tunstall  was  asked,  [during  the  canvass,  if  he 


50  Reminiscence*  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

expected  to  get  the  vote  of  the  Nullifiers  ?  He  replied,  with  no 
little  assumption  of  manner,  that  he  did  not — he  hoped  not — as  it 
would  "put  him  upon  explanations  if  they  voted  for  him,  and  he 
did  not  wish  to  be  bothered  with  such  things."  This  reached  the 
ear  of  Columbus  W.  Lee,  of  Perry,  a  member  and  leader  of  that 
organization,  and  in  the  election  that  vote  -was  cast  for  Mr.  Web 
ster,  electing  him.  I  am  indebted  for  the  incident  to  Mr.  Lee 
himself,  who  was  a  gentleman  of  strong  convictions  and  feelings, 
and  promptly  resented  any  insinuation  upon  his  principles  or 
associates. 

SUB-TREASUHY  SCHEME. 

Some  time  after  the  two  Houses  met  (1837),  resolutions  were 
offered  in  the  Senate  favoring  Mr.  Van  Buren's  plan  of  divorcing 
the  Federal  Government  from  the  banks  in  the  management  of 
its  financial  affairs,  which  gave  rise  to  a  general  discussion,  in 
which  Messrs.  Elmore,  Terry,  Mr.  President  Beene,  and  Posey 
advocated,  and  Messrs.  Burke,  Crabb,  H.  C.  Lea,  Rains,  Riddle, 
and  Wallace  opposed  the  measure.  The  subject  was  new,  and  the 
discussions,  which  were  conducted  with  much  spirit  and  ability  for 
several  days,  drew  attention,  not  only  of  the  visitors  to  the  Capi 
tol,  but  of  the  papers  throughout  the  State.  Politicians  were 
about  to  enter  upon  a  new  issue  before  the  country,  involving  the 
question  of  finance,  at  a  time  of  much  pecuniary  derangement; 
and  while  some  entered  the  field  boldly,  with  clear  convictions, 
determined  to  go  forward  without  halting,  there  were  others  who 
could  not  see  their  way  clear  through  the  difficult  questions.  At 
length,  after  many  parliamentary  moves  to  change  the  resolutions 
which  had  been  brought  forward  in  rather  an  unprepared  state, 
Mr.  Elrnore,  the  Senator  from  Lowndes,  proposed  an  amendment, 
\vhi<;h  had  doubtless  been  prepared  by  political  concert,  as  follows: 

Resolved,  That  in  the  opinion  of  the  Legislature,  it  is  expedient  that  the  rev 
enues  of  the  Federal  Government  be  so  collected  as  ultimately  to  save  the  Govern 
ment  from  all  connection  with  banks. 

Resolved,  That  in  the  opinion  of  this  Legislature,  the  revenues  of  the  Federal 
Government  should  be  so  deposited,  kept,  and  disbursed,  as  not  to  be  connected 
with  or  used  in  banking  operations. 

Resolved,  That  it  would  be  unconstitutional,  inexpedient  and  dangerous  to 
incorporate  a  National  Bank  for  managing  the  fiscal  operations  of  the  Federal 
Government. 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  51 

Messrs.  B.  W.  Hudson  and  Neill  Smith,  Democrats,  were  in 
favor  of,  and  voted  for,  a  motion  to  strike  from  the  last  resolution 
the  word  "  unconstitutional,"  while  Mr.  H.  C.  Lea  and  Mr.  J.  B. 
"Wallace,  gentlemen  who  stood  high  with  the  opposition,  voted 
against  it.  These  resolutions,  after  a  good  deal  of  parliamentary 
tact,  were  adopted  by  a  vote  of  yeas  19,  nays  12;  among  the  latter 
were  the  names  of  Mr.  T.  S.  Mays,  of  Montgomery,  and  Mr..B. 
W.  Hudson,  of  Franklin,  who  the  next  year  were  in  full  accord 
with  the  Democratic  party,  upon  a  more  explicit  declaration  of  the 
principles  contained  in  the  issue. 

In  the  debate  upon  the  question  touching  the  specie  clause  of 
Mr.  Van  Buren's  policy,  some  gentlemen  took  the  ground  that 
the  Government  should  receive  the  notes  of  specie  paying  banks 
l\\  payment  of  public  dues,  especially  for  the  Public  Lands;  and 
this  position  was  wisely  taken  for  party  purposes,  as  it  elicited  the 
approbation  and  support  of  men  Avho  wished  to  secure  to  them 
selves  homes,  and  at  the  same  time  enlisted  the  support  of  the 
local  banks  that  were  striving  to  resume  specie  payments  at  no 
distant  day,  and  looked  upon  the  specie  feature  of  the  Sub-Treas 
ury  as  likely  to  embarrass  their  operations. 

After  their  passage  in  the  Senate,  the  resolutions  were  commu 
nicated  to  the  House;  and  when  they  were  read,  Mr.  J.  M.  Cal- 
houn,  of  Dallas,  rose  in  his  place,  and  said  that  he  was  prepared 
to  vote  for  every  one  of  them;  but  the  session  was  far  advanced, 
members  were  determined  not  to  remain  longer  than  Christinas; 
the  questions  of  bank  policy  had  not  been  settled,  and  on  his  mo 
tion,  by  general  consent,  the  resolutions  were  allowed  to  lie  upon 
the  Speaker's  table — the  subject  to  be  brought  forward  at  the  next 
session  in  a  more  specific  and  organized  form,  as  we  shall  see. 
After  fixing  upon  two  or  three  periods  to  adjourn,  in  the  hope  of 
getting  away  before  Christmas,  the  two  Houses  were  obliged,  by 
considerations  of  the  public  interest,  to  rescind,  and  having  com 
pleted  the  business  on  the  morning  of  the  26th  of  December,  at 
11  o'clock,  then  adjourned  sine  die. 


52  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

RETIRING  MEMBERS. 

JESSE  BEENE  was  a  Tennesseean,  and  came  to  the  State  of 
Alabama  early  in  its  history,  settling  at  Cahaba,  the  then  Seat  of 
Government.  He  became  engaged  in  political  alliance,  ranging 
himself  on  the  side  of  the  Democratic  party,  which  relation  was 
strictly  maintained  through  his  life.  He  was  a  lawyer,  and  became 
extensively  engaged  fin  the  practice,  amassing  a  fine  property. 
Several  times  he  was  elected  to  the  House  from  Dallas,  and  then 
to  the  Senate,  of  which  body  he  was  elected  President.  He  was 
regarded  then  as  an  aspirant  to  Gubernatorial  honors,  and  his 
bearing  in  his  intercourse  with  his  party  proved  it.  Indeed,  he 
was  looked  upon  with  general  favor  for  that  position  for  a  time, 
and  there  were  not  a  few  who  predicted  that  he  would  succeed 
Gov.  Bagby.  He  attended  the  Democratic  Convention  in  Decem 
ber,  1839,  as  a  delegate  from  Dallas,  and  was  made  President  of 
that  body.  His  speech  on  taking  the  chair  was  violent,  and  de 
nunciatory  of  the  Whig  party,  so  much  so  that  many  of  his  friends 
regretted  its  tone  and  spirit,  not  because  they  believed  the  Whig 
party  of  the  State  was  not  open  to  the  objections  alleged,  but  they 
feared  its  reactionary  influence  upon  himself;  and  so  it  turned 
out.  His  chances  declined,  and  his  name  was  not  submitted  to 
the  Nominating  Convention.  His  health  had  been  giving  way 
for  some  time,  and  in  a  few  years  thereafter,  he  died.  Without 
the  advantages  of  early  culture,  as  they  fall  to  the  lot  of  many, 
Mr.  Beene  possessed  a  good  practical  mind,  and  was  well  versed 
in  the  details  of  business;  was  a  good  speaker,  an  ingenious  de 
bater,  and  usually  became  much  excited  in  his  public  addresses. 
He  was  a  gentleman  of  fine  social  qualities,  and  fair  conversational 
powers. 

GEN.  GEORGE  W.  CRABB  was  also  a  Tennesseean,  and  brother 
of  Judge  Henry  Crabb,  who  so  long  adorned  the  Bench  of  the 
Supreme  Court  of  that  State.  Removing  to  Alabama  when 
young,  he  settled  in  Tuskaloosa,  then  the  Seat  of  Government. 
He  was  first  elected  Assistant  Secretary  of  the  Senate,  and  after 
wards  to  the  office  of  Comptroller  of  Public  Accounts,  which  he 
held  a  few  years,  until  the  force  of  party  displaced  him.  Soon 


tteniiniscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  5S 

after  this,  the  Indian  war  in  Florida  opened,  and  he  went,  in  a 
campaign  of  twelve  months,  as  Lieutenant-Colonel  of  a  regiment 
raised  in  Alabama.     In  this  he  established  a  high  character  for 
bravery,  and  for  kindness  toward  those  under  his  command,  and 
returned  home  the  idol  of  his  men.     His  future  preferment  was 
certain.     Immediately  elected  a  Major-General,  and  to  the  Senate, 
he  took  high  rank  in  that  body,  not  only  for  his  excellent  business 
qualities,  but  for  ability  in  debate.     In  1838,  upon  the  death  of 
Judge  Lawler,  he  was  brought  forward  by  his  friends,  and  the 
Whig  party,  to  which  he  belonged,  as  a  candidate  for  Congress,  in 
opposition  to  Harvey  W.  Ellis,  Esq.,  the  Democratic  candidate. 
The  contest  was  animated,  and  the  District  was  closely  canvassed 
in  debate  with  an  ability  seldom  before  exhibited  in  the  State. 
The  public  mind  was  greatly  excited,  and  everybody  took  sides . 
Gen.  Crabb  was  elected  by  a  small  majority.     In  1839,  at  the 
regular  election,  both  these  gentlemen  were  again  before  the  pub 
lic  in  opposition,  and  another  spirited  campaign  ensued,  which 
resulted  in  the  re-election  of  Gen.  Crabb.     He  took  position  in 
Congress,  from  his  high  personal  worth,  that  reflected  honor  upon 
the  State.     In  1841,  in  the  election  under  the  general  ticket  sys 
tem,  he  was  defeated,  and  left  in  private  life.     To  the  surprise 
and  regret  of  his  Whig  friends,  he  espoused  the  cause  of  "  Polk, 
Dallas  and  Texas,"  in  1844,  and  at  a  public  barbecue  given  by  the 
Democrats  at  Tuskaloosa  in  June,  he  made  a  speech  of  considera 
ble  length  and  power,  in  which  he  reviewed  the  former  relation 
of  Texas  to  the  United  States;   the  circumstances  under  which  it 
was  ceded  to  Spain  in  1819;   the  opposition  of  Mr.  Clay  to  that 
treaty,  as  shown  by  his  speech  in  the  House  of  Represent  ives, 
April   3,  1820,  on    the  ground  that  he    (Mr.   Clay)  considered 
Texas  of  greater   value   to   us   than   Florida;  and    the  general 
opinion  entertained  by  the  Whigs  of  the  South  that  Mr.  Clay  was 
in  favor  of  annexation  until  the  Raleigh  letter  of  April,  first  pub 
lished  in  the  "National  Intelljgencer,"  announced  his  disapproval 
of  that  measure,  with  the  reasons  assigned,  which  Gen.  Crabb  did 
not  consider  satisfactory,  and  at  once  determined  him  to  cooperate 
with  the  party  which  had  made  the  annexation  of  Texas  an  article 
in  its  platform.     This  brought  him  in  unison  with  the  Democrats 
at  least  upon  that  question.     The  elaborate  speech  of  Gen.  Crabh 


64  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

was  extensively  published  in  the  newspapers,  and  henceforth  he 
ceased  all  connection  with  the  Whig  party,  of  which  he  had  been  a 
shining  light  since  its  organization  under  the  gallant  lead  of  Mr. 
Clay. 

In  February,  1844,  I  was  in  Mobile  when  the  Hon.  Henry 
Clay  visited  that  city,  on  his  Southern  tour  to  fulfil  an  engage 
ment  at  Raleigh,  to  be  present  at  the  celebration  of  his  sixty- 
seventh- birthday,  April  12,  1844.  A  committee  of  twenty  had 
been  appointed  by  the  Whigs  of  Tuskaloosa  to  wait  on  Mr.  Clay 
in  person,  and  to  invite  him  to  the  hospitalities  of  the  Seat  of  Gov 
ernment.  Gen.  Crabb  was  then  in  Mobile,  and  through  his  civil 
ities,  the  intercourse  between  Mr.  Clay  and  the  committee  was 
rendered  very  pleasant.  Though  differing  politically  from  all  the 
parties  engaged  in  this  mission  of  respect  to  their  illustrious  chief, 
as  the  members  of  the  committee  were  my  fellow-townsmen,  and 
some  of  them  my  personal  friends,  I  take  occasion  to  introduce 
their  names  as  a  memento  of  other  days.  The  gentlemen  of  the 
committee  present  in  Mobile,  were  Robert  Jemison,  Esq.,  chairman, 
Marion  Banks,  Alfred  Battle,  William  Braly,  Thomas  Carson,  J. 
C.  Clements,  Gen.  Dennis  Dent,  Dr.  John  R.  Drish,  Capt.  Otis 
Dyer,  John  Fitch,  Dr.  Rufus  Haywood,  Robert  Lacy,  Stephen  F. 
Miller,  Daniel  T.  Nooe,  Major  Hardin  Perkins,  Dr.  Nicholas JPer- 
kins,  A.  P.  Pfister,  and  Hon.  Benjamin  F.  Porter. 

After  this  brief  digression,  I  return  to  Gen.  Crabb,  who  was 
appointed  by  Governor  Martin,  in  1846,  Judge  of  the  County  Court 
of  Mobile,  the  duties  of  which  office  he  fiiithfiilly  discharged.  His 
declining  health  induced  him  to  pass  the  Winter  of  that  year  in  Ha 
vana,  Island  of  Cuba,  and  the  next  Summer  he  visited  Philadel 
phia  to  consult  the  best  of  the  medical  faculty,  where  he  died  in  1847. 
As  to  the  personal  character  of  Gen.  Crabb,  there  can  be  no 
diversity  of  opinion  among  those  who  knew  him.  He  was  the 
model  of  a  high-minded,  chivalrous,  upright  gentleman  in  all  the 
relations  of  life,  public  and  private.  His  talents  were  of  a  high 
order,  and  his  dignity  was  never  compromised  by  any  departure 
from  the  strictest  propriety  of  conduct.  His  grave  at  Tuskaloosa 
may  well  be  visited  as  a  shrine  where  the  purest  affection  and 
patriotism  may  offer  its  tribute  in  honor  of  the  noble  dead,  and  to 
stimulate  the  virtues  of  the  living. 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  m  Alabama.  55 

JAMES  B.  WALLACE  likewise  came  from  Tennessee  to  Ala 
bama,  and  settled  in  Lawrence  county,  where  he  filled  the  office 
of  Judge  of  the  County  Court,  and  was  twice  elected  to  the  Sen 
ate,  in  which  he  served  with  distinction  as  a  member  of  the  Whig 
party  of  the  State  Rights  school.  In  1838,  upon  the  death  of 
Judge  Henry  Minor,  he  was  appointed  Clerk  of  the  Supreme 
Court,  which  office  he  held  for  ten  years.  In  1851  he  was  elected 
from  Tuskaloosa  a  member  of  the  House  of  Representatives,  in 
which  capacity  he  gave  the  State  the  benefit  of  enlarged  expe 
rience  and  observation  in  public  affairs.  In  1853,  he  was  again  a 
candidate,  but  died  suddenly  before  the  election,  of  apoplexy. 
Judge  Wallace  was  certainly  a  gentleman  of  intelligence  and  culture, 
well  read  in  history  and  biography,  with  quite  a  taste  for  litera 
ture.  Of  fine  person  and  manners,  he  was  a  good  type  of  the 
gentleman,  and  filled  [a  wide  sphere  in  associations  with  the  first 
intellects  of  the  State. 

JOHN  M.  BURKE  was  for  many  years  connected  with  the  legis 
lation  of  the  two  Houses.  Industrious  and  attentive  to  his  duties, 
with  a  fine  business  talent,  he  made  himself  useful  in  the  councils 
of  the  State,  and  was  held  in  high  esteem  at  the  Seat  of  Govern 
ment,  and  wherever  known.  A  premature  partial  deafness  no 
doubt  caused  him  to  retire  from  public  life,  as,  to  some  extent,  it 
embarrassed  him  upon  the  floor  of  the  Senate.  He  was  an  opu 
lent,  intelligent  planter  of  Wilcox  county,  active  and  enterprising, 
so  that  his  usefulness  did  not  cease  upon  his  becoming  a  private 
citizen;  but  he  devoted  all  his  powers  to  the  improvement  and 
independence  of  his  State  in  agricultural  and  commercial  pursuits. 
He 'traveled  much  and  observed  closely,  and  dispensed  liberally 
the  advantages  of  information  gained.  Of  Irish  descent,  he  was 
a  genial,  polite  gentleman,  and  filled  a  large  place  in  the  social 
circle.  He  died  many  years  ago. 

JOHN  T.  RATHER,  of  Morgan,  retired  voluntarily  this  year,  in 
the1  meridian  of  life,  carrying  with  him  the  regrets  and  respect  of 
a  large  number  of  friends.  He  became  connected  with  the  State 
Government  at  an  early  day,  and  assisted  in  the  enactment  of 
those  fundamental  laws,  which,  amended  and  improved  in  the 


56  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

progress  of  events,  have  become  the  settled  landmarks  of  the 
State.  A  quiet,  working  member,  with  a  good  fund  of  common 
sense,  and  intimate  knowledge  of  the  wants  of  the  people;  with 
feelings  and  Sympathies  in  common  with  the  masses,  he  was  emi 
nently  qualified  to  act  an  important  part  in  the  important  work  of 
laying  the  foundations  of  the  State  Government.  A  sagacious 
turn  in  managing  men,  and  directing  the  political  movements  of 
his  (Whig)  party,  he  was  looked  to  as  a  leader.  He  was  a  gentle 
man  of  unobtrusive  bearing  and  manner,  a  boon  companion  in  the 
social  circle,  witty,  and  with  a  rich  fund  of  anecdotes,  which  he 
told  with  much  gusto.  Few  men  were  regarded  with  more  favor 
in  the  Legislature.  Withal,  his  habits  were  good,  rather  abste 
mious,  and  consistent  as  a  professor  of  religion,  which  brought 
about  him  the  respect  and  society  of  that  class.  From  1837  to 
1865  he  continued  in  retirement,  in  the  peaceful  pursuits  of  agri 
culture,  and  exerting  a  salutary  influence  upon  the  community  and 
section  in  which  he  lived.  That  year,  his  old  constituents  and 
their  descendents  called  him  to  a  seat  in  the  Constitutional  Con 
vention,  and  he  aided  in  framing  the  State  Constitution  of  1865. 
At  the  present  writing  (1870)  he  still  lives,  respected  for  his 
virtues,  and  venerated  for  the  past. 

JOHN  RAINS,  the  Senator  from  Marengo,  was  a  native  of  New- 
bern,  and  graduated  at  the  University  of  North  Carolina  in 
1823,  and  read  law  in  the  office  of  Judge  Gaston.  He  removed 
to  Alabama,  and  opened  a  law-office  at  Linden,  where,  by  his 
talents,  he  soon  rose  high  in  public  estimation.  Entering  the 
Senate  early  in  life,  he  was  made  Chairman  of  the  Judiciary  Com 
mittee  in  1837,  in  deference  to  his  service  in  that  body,  and  his 
acknowledged  abilities.  His  early  prospects  were  flattering,  with 
promise  of  much  usefulness  and  success;  but  he  too  soon  fell  a 
victim  to  the  influence  of  convivial  habits,  brought  about,  it  was 
supposed,  by  the  too  ardent  caresses  of  admiring  friends.  He  AVUS 
usually  quiet,  and  fully  up  to  his  business  in  the  Senate,  as  his 
reports  show.  He  was  a  Whig  in  the  political  classification,  and 
in  the  debate  on  the  financial  policy  of  the  Government,  made  a 
strong  argument  against  the  Sub-Treasury  scheme  of  the  Admin 
istration.  This  was  his  hist  speech  in  the  Senate,  and  in  a  few 


Reminiscences  of  Publw  Mm  in  Alabama.  57 

years  thereafter  he  died.  Mr.  Rains  was  a  modest  gentleman,  of 
quiet  address,  and  observed  the  strictest  rules  of  propriety  in  his 
deportment.  He  was  much  respected  by  men  of  all  parties. 

[NOTE. — On  reflection  by  the  author,  Mr.  Rains  did  not  retire  until  after  the 
session  of  1838.] 

MEMBERS   OF   THE    HOUSE. 

During  the  session,  one  member  died— Mr.  Dimklin  Sullivan, 
of  Perry — who  was  a  lawyer  of  respectable  character,  matured  by 
a  long  residence  in  the  State,  and  many  years  experience  in  the 
Legislature.  He  was  buried  with  the  honors  usual  on  such  occa 
sions.  An  appropriate  and  eloquent  address,  for  the  funeral,  was 
delivered  by  the  Rev.  D.  P.  Bestor,  a  member  from  Greene. 

ALFRED  V.  SCOTT. — Several  gentlemen  retired  from  legisla 
tive  service  at  the  end  of  this  session,  who  deserve  attention  in 
the  record  here  made  up  of  passing  events.  Col.  Scottr  of  Mont 
gomery,  had  served  a  number  of  sessions  in  the  House  of  Repre 
sentatives,  in  which  he  sustained  himself  as  a  well  informed, 
intelligent  gentleman.  He  was  a  son  of  Gen.  John  Scott,  formerly 
of  Milledgeville,  Georgia,  and  was  allied  with  a  large  and  influ 
ential  connexion  in  the  middle  and  southern  portions  of  the  State, 
He  was  highly  educated,  had  mingled  extensively  in  polite  circles, 
had  fine  taste,  which  was  cultivated  by  extensive  reading  and 
travel,  and  conversed  with  ease.  Modest  and  unpretending,  with 
little  inclination  for  public  employment,  he  still  drew  around  him 
in  his  public  position  a  large  number  of  admirers,  who  appreciated 
his  character  as  a  gentleman  of  the  highest  standard.  Retiring 
while  young,  comparatively,  he  devoted  himself  to  private  culture 
and  to  his  large  estates.  He  took  a  leading  part  in  the  session  of 
1837,  on  the  subject  of  the  banks  and  currency,  applying  his 
efforts  mainly  to  reform  the  errors  in  the  management  of  these 
State  institutions.  His  position  in  the  House  is  indicated  by  his 
being  a  member  of  the  Committee  on  the  State  Bank  and  Branches, 
and  next  to  Judge  Smith,  the  Chairman. 

JOHX  W.  WOMACK  had  been  several  years  a  member  from 
Butler,  and  had  established  a  character  for  intelligence  and  effi 
ciency  as  a  legislator.  He  entered  public  life  very  young — enthu- 


of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

siastic,  full  of  life  and  vim  and  humor.  His  social  qualities  were 
rarely  excelled — warm-hearted,  generous,  and  constant  in  his  friend 
ships,  forbearing  and  forgiving  to  the  infirmities  of  his  fellow- 
men.  He  was  truly  a  boon  companion,  the  center  of  the  circle, 
and  his  society  was  sought  by  many  who  admired  his  character. 
In  1836,  when  excited  by  the  political  questions  of  the  day,  in  a 
moment  of  conviviality,  he  addressed  a  letter  to  Gen.  Jackson,  as 
President  of  the  United  States,  returning  a  document  which  the 
President  had  franked  to  him  as  a  member  of  the  Legislature. 
The  letter  was  sharp,  stung  deeply,  and  was  very  unguarded  in 
the  language  used  to  so  eminent  a  person.  Many  of  his  political 
friends  condemned  it  as  impolitic.  Mr.  "Womack,  however,  was 
so  well  pleased  with  it  himself)  that  he  had  it  published  in  the 
Whig  paper  at  Tuskaloosa.  It  caused  a  mighty  stir  throughout 
the  State,  and  while  the  Democratic  papers  denounced  it  in 
unmeasured  terms,  the  Whig  papers  hesitated  in  defending  it. 
The  sensation  seemed  to  moderate,  and  Mr.  Womack  was  elected 
by  the  people  again  and  again.  For  a  few  years,  he  had  a  season 
for  "sowing  wild  oats,"  but  that  passed  away,  and  "Richard  was 
himself  again,"  in  all  the  attributes  of  a  man,  physicially  and 
mentally.  Nature  had  been  lavish  of  her  gifts  upon  his  person. 
He  was  tall,  without  being  attenuated,  well  developed,  straight  as 
an  Indian,  and  with  a  person  and  manner  at  once  dignified  and 
commanding — a  voice  deep,  sonorous,  and  Avell  modulated.  He 
had  a  fine  sense  of  the  ludicrous,  and  his  descriptions  of  scenes  of 
this  character  were  rich  and  racy.  In  1840,  he  married  a  lady  of 
wealth  in  Greene  county,  where  he  thenceforth  resided.  In  the 
meantime,  his  political  opinions  underwent  material  modifications^ 
so  much  so  that  he  was  soon  in  alliance  with  the  Democratic  party, 
and  in  1 844  took  the  stump  for  Mr.  Polk.  As  was  natural  to  any 
gentleman  of  his  endowments;  he  entertained  a  laudable  ambition 
for  high  places;  but  his  way  was  hedged  up  by  that  unfortunate 
letter.  Many  of  the  Democratic  party  never  forgave  him  for  it — 
improperly,  as  I  think  with  a  knowledge  of  the  facts.  But  in 
those  days  there  was  a  hard-shell  Jaekxon  Democracy  that  never 
relaxed — never  forgave;  still,  in  1847,  in  the  Congressional  Nom 
inating  Convention  at  Tuskaloosa,  over  which  Mr.  Womack  pre 
sided,  I  am  sure  that  he  could  have  been  nominated  with 


of  Public  J\fen  in  Alabama.  59 

unanimity  instead  of  Mr.  Samuel  W.  Inge;  and  he  was  impor 
tuned  to  accept,  but,  from  some  cause,  he  positively  declined. 
About  this  time,  Mr.  Womack  was  referred  to  in  a  complimentary 
manner  by  a  Democratic  editor,  as  likely  to  receive  a  foreign 
mission  of  high  grade  from  the  President.  He  continued  to 
occupy  the  relation  of  a  private  gentleman  and  citizen,  which  he 
filled  in  its  requirement. 

During  the  session  of  1851,  Col.  Judge  and  myself  were  return 
ing  together  from  the  Capitol  after  adjournment.  Just  before  we 
reached  the  Montgomery  Hall,  Mr.  Womack  advanced  from  the 
corner,  meeting  us.  After  a  cordial  shake  of  the  hands,  and  our 
expressions  of  pleasure  at  seeing  him  again,  he  made  no  reply,  but 
continued  looking. at  the  stream  of  members  coming  from  the 
Capitol,  saying,  "Where  is  this  man  Bulger?  I  have  come  all 
the  way  here  to  see  him;  the  name  strikes  me  as  having  some 
thing  in  it — show  him  to  me."  It  is  needless  to  say  he  was 
alluding,  in  a  vein  of  humor,  to  Gen.  M.  J.  Bulger,  of  Tallapoosa 
county,  on  account  of  some  peculiarity  in  the  name. 

Col.  Judge  told  me  that  when  he  first  commenced  the  practice 
of  law,  one  of  the  first  writs  he  issued  was  against  Pierce  A. 
Lewis,  in  which  the  word  "summon"  was  accidentally  omitted, 

thereby  commanding  the  Sheriff  to "  Pierce  A.  Lewis."     Mr. 

Womack,  who  was  a  great  friend  of  Col.  Judge,  entered  a  motion 
to  dismiss  the  writ  on  the  ground  that  it  required  the  Sheriff  to  do 
an  unlawful  thing,  nothing  less  than  to  pierce  A.  Lewis,  his  client. 
He  went  on  in  his  peculiar  vein  for  some  time,  showing  the 
enormity  of  the  action  commanded  to  be  done;  and  then  turned 
over  to  the  cause  of  action  indorsed  on  the  writ,  on  the  bottom 
of  which  Col.  Judge  had  signed  his  name,  with  initials  "P.  A." 
following,  for  "plaintiff's  attorney."  Mr.  Womack  read  it,  and 
noted  the  two  capital  letters,  saying,  "Now,  if  your  Honor  please, 
I  don't  know  what  these  letters  mean,  unless  it  be  to  pierce  him 
ayain"  The  young  attorney  who  brought  the  action  thought  his 
case  was  gone;  but  the  Court,  after  indulging  Mr.  Womack  in  his 
farce,  refused  the  motion. 

About  the  conclusion  of  the  war  between  the  States,  Mr, 
Womack  died  suddenly,  regretted  by  many  friends,  including 
those  of  thirty  years'  standing. 


60  Ifominvse-ences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

DANIEL  P.  BESTOR  also  terminated  his  connection  with  the 
Legislature  at  this  session.  He  was  a  gentleman  of  high  culture, 
extensive  reading,  and  a  minister  of  the  Baptist  Church.  He 
possessed  great  purity  of  character  and  moral  worth,  and  was 
more  at  home  in  the  pulpit,  and  in  the  atmosphere  of  literature 
and  religion,  than  in  the  Legislature.  Leaving  to  others  the  man 
agement  of  the  bank  questions,  he  addressed  himself,  early  in  the 
session,  to  a  measure  for  improving  and  equalizing  the  advantages 
of  common  schools.  The  better  to  succeed,  he  asked  the  House 
for  a  special  committee  on  the  subject,  which  was  granted,  and  he, 
of  course,  was  placed  at  its  head.  He  labored  much  and  patiently 
upon  his  favorite  scheme,  and  at  last  reported  it  to  the  House, 
where  it  at  once  encountered  the  opposition  of  Judge  Smith  of 
Madison,  Mr.  B.  G.  Shields  of  Marengo,  who  was  Chairman  of  the 
Committee  on  Education,  and  some  others. 

Mr.  Bestor  obtained  the  floor,  and  delivered  a  speech  in  support 
of  his  bill,  which  placed  him  at  once  in  the  front  rank  of  speakers 
in  the  House.  His  style  was  smooth  and  rich,  his  manner  grace 
ful,  and  his  delivery  fluent  and  agreeable.  Among  other  things, 
the  bill  contained  provisions  for  a  more  rigid  discipline  in  the 
common  schools,  and  this  was  one  of  the  points  on  which  it  was 
assailed.  In  reply  to  the  objections,  he  argued  to  show  the  neces 
sity  of  early  training  and  control,  not  only  in  the  schools,  but  also 
in  the  family;  and  Avhile  doing  so,  in  conclusion  upon  that  point, 
he  uttered  this  sentence:  "Let  a  young  man  grow  up  without 
restraint,  to  disobey  his  mother,  and  hector  it  over  the  servants  at 
home,  and  he  is  as  unfit  to  submit  to  proper  government  in  your 
higher  schools  and  colleges  as  the  wild  horse  of  the  prairies,  who 
.sunning  wind  in  the  pride  of  his  strength,  is  unfit  at  once  to  perform 
all  the  graceful  movements  of  the  equestrian  circus."  Notwith 
standing  this  effort,  the  bill  was,  a  few  days  after,  laid  upon  the 
table. 

In  1839  I  attended  a  Temperance  Convention  at  Tuskaloosa, 
during  the  session.  Mr.  Bestor  was  there,  active  in  his  efforts  to 
promote  so  good  a  cause.  A  proposition  was  made  to  memorialize 
the  Legislature  to  pass  a  restrictive  law,  as  an  adjunct  to  the  efforts 
of  the  society.  Mr.  Bestor  opposed  it  in  a  speech,  in  which,  among 
other  things,  he  said:  "  What  was  to  be  expected  upon  the  subject 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  61 

of  temperance  from  a  body  of  men,  a  majority  of  whom  were 
wafted  to  their  seats  upon  the  tide  of  ardent  spirits?"  Mr.  Bestor 
devoted  a  long  life  in  doing  good,  and  bore  the  character  of  an 
upright  Christian  gentleman.  He  died  in  Sumter  county  a  few 
years  ago. 

ROBERT  BROBXAX,  of  Clarke,  served  in  the  House  previous  to 
1837,  when  I  first  knew  him.  In  the  Whig  party,  and  as  an 
advocate  of  State  Rights,  he  was  a  master  spirit.  He  had  repre 
sented  Autauga  many  years.  He  afterwards  removed  to  Mobile, 
where  lie  established  a  commission  house.  Thence  he  went  to 
Cuba,  where  he  remained  two  years,  to  obtain  a  knowledge  how 
to  raise  the  Cuba  tobacco,  and  settled  in  Clarke  county,  where  he 
engaged  in  the  cultivation  of  that  plant. 

In  1860,  he  supported  Bell  and  Everett,  and  was  opposed  to 
secession;  but,  after  the  step  was  taken,  his  resistance  to  Northern 
aggression  was  intense.  In  1863,  he  was  elected  to  the  Senate, 
then  quite  an  old  man,  yet  exhibiting  the  traces  of  former  noble 
ness  and  command.  After  the  surrender  he  emigrated  to  Brazil. 

JOHN  A.  ELMOKE  was  a  native  of  South  Carolina,  and  son  of 
Gen.  John  Elmore,  who  removed  to  Alabama,  and  in  whose  honor 
a  county  has  been  named.  J.  A.  Elmore  commanded  a  company 
of  volunteers  in  the  Creek  war  of  1836,  and  has  since  been  gen 
erally  known  as  Captain  Elmore.  He  was  elected  to  the  Senate 
from  Lowndes  county,  in  1837,  and  took  an  active  part  in  giving 
strength  and  direction  to  the  State  Rights  party,  of  which  he  Avas 
a  member.  He  afterwards  removed  to  Montgomery,  where  he 
still  resides.  For  several  years  he  was  the  law  partner  of  the 
Hon.  William  L.  Yancey.  In  1865,  he  was  a  member  of  the 
State  Convention  which  formed  the  Constitution  of  that  year. 

As  a  lawyer,  Captain  Elmore  has  always  maintained  a  prominent 
rank.  In  all  the  relations  of  life  he  is  high-toned  and  agreeable, 
with  a  character  for  integrity  surpassed  by  that  of  no  citizen.  He 
is  now  considerably  advanced  in  years,  and  has  the  satisfaction  of 
looking  back  upon  a  useful  and  honorable  career. 

In  1860,  he  was  appointed,  by  Gov.  Moore,  Commissioner  to 
South  Carolina,  to  consult  with  the  authorities  of  that  State  upon 


62  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

the  political  situation.  In  early  life,  Captain  Elmore  married  Miss 
Martin,  of  his  native  State,  an  accomplished  lady,  who  was  con 
nected  with  the  large  and  influential  family  of  that  name. 

SAMUEL  B.  MOOKE,  of  Pickens,  as  President  of  the  Senate  in 
1830,  succeeded  to  Executive  functions  until  1831,  to  fill  the 
vacancy  -caused  by  the  resignation  of  Governor  Gabriel  Moore, 
who  was  elected  a  Senator  in  Congress.  In  1837,  he  again  served 
in  the  Senate,  and  then  retired  from  public  life. 

For  a  number  of  years  he  was  Judge  of  the  County  Court, 
which  office  he  filled  to  the  satisfaction  of  the  people.  He  was  a 
gentleman  of  fair  abilities  and  strength  of  character,  and  always 
enjoyed  the  confidence  of  the  people.  Judge  Moore  never 
married. 

The  two  Houses,  as  stated,  adjourned  the  day  after  Christmas  and 
the  members  returned  home  to  satisfy  their  constituents,  if  possible, 
and  to  prepare  for  the  coming  elections  in  August,  which,  in  those 
days,  were  annual,  a  provision  which  existed  in  the  Constitution 
from  the  organization  of  the  State  Government,  in  1819,  to  1845, 
when  it  was  amended  so  as  to  authorize  biennial  elections. 

In  the  meantime,  the  plan  of  the  Administration  to  divorce  the 
Government  from  the  banks  was  extensively  discussed  in  both 
Houses  of  Congress,  and  the  public  mind,  throughout  the  country, 
taking  up  the  arguments  used  and  disseminated,  drifted  into  posi 
tion.  In  the  Spring  of  1838  the  bill  passed  the  Senate,  but  failed 
in  the  House.  Mr.  Calhoun,  as  the  leader  of  the  State  Rights 
party,  advocated  the  measure,  with  what  was  then  known  as  the 
specie  feature,  requiring  all  public  dues  to  be  paid  in  coin. 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  63 


CHAPTER  IV. 

Progress — Session  of  1838. 

In  the  course  of  the  Spring  and  Summer  of  1838,  parties  were 
organized  mainly  upon  the  financial  questions,  and  upon  the  divorc 
ing  of  the  Government  from  the  banks.  Upon  this  issue  and  its 
influence  on  the  position  of  the  local  banks,  much  feeling  was 
elicited.  The  leaders  of  the  State  Rights  school  adopted  the 
policy  of  the  administration  upon  this  subject,  in  its  fullest  extent, 
to-wit:  an  entire  separation  of  the  government  and  banks,  in  the 
collection,  safe-keeping,  and  disbursement  of  the  public  money  in 
coin.  The  State  Rights  men  in  Alabama  generally  adopted  the 
views  of  their  leaders,  and  the  canvass  for  the  Legislature  this 
year  presented  a  coalescing  of  these  with  the  Democratic  party. 
In  many  counties,  the  entire  ticket  elected  was  taken  from  the 
State  Rights  party,  and  in  others  they  were  mixed  according  to 
elective  strength.  The  Democrats  had  a  large  majority  in  both 
branches  of  the  Legislature.  The  policy  of  the  State  in  relation 
to  the  banks,  as  generally  advocated,  was  to  resume  specie  pay 
ments  at  the  earliest  day  practicable.  And  there  were  not  a  few 
who  professed  to  be  well  versed  on  the  currency  question,  who 
were  confident  of  the  ability  of  the  banks  to  resume  specie  pay 
ments  during  the  Winter  of  1838-9,  with  the  use  of  the  appliances 
and  means  adopted,  looking  to  that  end.  At  the  previous  session, 
legislation  had  been  moulded  with  a  view  to  resumption. 

Although  the  action  of  the  State  Bank  in  the  effort  to  obtain 
specie  may  partially  appear  in  another  chapter,  when  the  condition 
of  the  banks  at  different  periods  is  particularly  noticed,  it  may  not 
be  amiss  to  go  somewhat  into  detail  in  reference  to  that  proceeding. 
The  directory  of  the  State  Bank,  in  August,  1838,  determined  to 
enter  the  cotton  market  as  one  of  the  best  means  of  accomplishing 
the  desired  object.  Agencies  were  organized,  post  notes  issued, 
and  advances  made  to  planters  on  the  cotton  crop  to  be  forthcom- 


64  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

ing  in  the  early  Fall,  to  be  shipped  abroad  as  a  bill  of  exchange 
to  procure  specie.  Thus  it  was  expected  that  the  planter  would 
be  aided  in  his  crippled  condition,  and  encouraged  in  raising  the 
staple,  whilst  all  the  substantial  interests  involved  would  be  pro 
moted.  The  scheme  was  plausible  enough,  and  for  a  time  gave 
fair  promise  of  realizing  the  cherished  object.  Newspapers  con 
tained  flaming  advertisements  of  "Cotton  Agents,"  and  "Agents 
for  Advancing  on  Cotton,"  etc.  Post  notes  were  issued,  and,  as 
well  as  the  ordinary  notes  of  the  banks,  used  by  the  hundred 
thousand;  proper  forms  for  receipts,  and  guaranties,  and  ware 
house  certificates  were  prepared.  The  agents  had  their  clerks, 
and  matters  were  conducted  with  form  and  ceremony. 

MEETING   OF   THE   LEGISLATURE. 

On  the  3d  day  of  December,  1838,  the  Legislature  met.  In 
the  Senate,  the  attendance  was  nearly  full,  and  Mr.  James  M. 
Calhoun,  of  Dallas,  was  elected  President  without  opposition. 
This  was  a  concession  by  the  Democratic  party,  not  only  of  Mr. 
Calhoun's  acknowledged  fitness  for  the  position,  but  as  a  recognition 
of  the  alliance  which  had  been  brought  about  under  the  force  of 
the  financial  question,  between  the  Democrats  proper,  and  the  ex 
treme  State  Rights  men.  Mr.  Jones  M.  Withers  was  elected 
Secretary;  Mr.  Thomas  B.  Childress,  Assistant  Secretary;  and  A. 
R.  Thomas,  Door-keeper.  While  some  change  was  made  in  that 
body  by  the  retirement  or  transfer  to  other  positions  of  several 
gentlemen,  there  was  in  some  cases  an  accession  of  strength,  and 
in  the  aggregate  this  Senate  was  equal  to  the  last.  Mr.  Calhoun 
took  the  place  of  Mr.  Beene ;  Mr.  Cottrell,  of  Mr.  Elmore ;  Mr. 
Green  P.  Rice,  that  of  Mr.  Rather;  Mr.  McClellan,  that  of  Mr. 
Arnold ;  Mr.  T.  L.  Toulmin,  that  of  Mr.  Roberts ;  and  Dr.  King, 
of  Pickens,  that  of  Mr.  Moore.  •  Mr.  Posey,  of  Lauderdale,  who 
at  the  previous  session  filled  the  seat  made  vacant  by  the  succession 
of  Mr.  McVay  to  the  Executive,  retired,  that  Mr.  McVay  might 
return  to  the  place  he  had  so  long  occupied. 

In  the  House,  ninety-two  members,  out  of  one  hundred,  an 
swered  to  the  call.  Mr.  McClung  and  Mr.  Shields  were  both 
members,  and  again  opposing  candidates  for  the  Speakership. 


Rem,iniscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  65 

This  contest  was  marked  with  more  spirit  than  that  twelve  months 
before.  The  uncertain  position  of  Col.  McCluiig  upon  the  engross 
ing  question  of  financial  policy  rendered  the  canvass,  for  a  while, 
doubtful;  but  the  result  was  in  favor  of  Col.  McClung,  48  to  42. 
William  Garrett  was  elected  Clerk,  over  P.  H.  May;  Joseph 
Phelaii,  Assistant  Clerk ;  Thomas  Price,  Engrossing  Clerk ;  John 
Tatom,  Door-keeper ;  and  James  Rather,  Messenger. 

The  House  contained  many  new  members,  prominent  among 
whom  may  be  mentioned,  John  P.  Booth  of  Barbour,  William  B. 
Martin  of  Bentoii,  Walter  H.  Crenshaw  of  Butler,  G.  W.  Creagh 
of  Clarke,  James  M.  Boiling  of  Conecuh,  Elisha  Young  of  Greene, 
Samuel  S.  Earle  of  Jefferson,  Henry  W.  Hilliard  and  George  D. 
Shortridge  of  Montgomery,  Blanton  McAlpin  and  Abner  S.  Lips- 
comb  of  Mobile,  William  E.  Blassingame  of  Perry,  James  Aber- 
crombie  of  Russell,  Felix  G.  McConnell  of  Talladega,  M.  M. 
Burke  of  Wilcox,  and  Mathew  W.  Lindsay  of  Morgan. 

GOVERNOR'S  MESSAGE. 

The  annual  message  of  Gov.  Bagby  was  delivered  to  the  two 
Houses  on  Tuesday.  In  it  he  presented  a  concise  view  of  the  ope 
rations  of  the  Government  for  twelve  months.  The  leading  topic 
of  the  message  was  the  State  Banks  and  Currency  in  reference  to 
the  pecuniary  condition  of  the  State.  He  alleged  many  defects  in 
the  system  under  existing  laws,  and  recommended  several  changes 
with  a  view  of  correcting  the  evils.  The  defective  organization  and 
management  he  considered  as  attributable  to  the  following  causes: 

1.  The  want  of  some  general  head,  or  controlling  principle. 

2.  The  frequent  election  of  numerous  Boards  of  Directors  by 
the  Legislature. 

3.  The  mode  of  compensating  the  directors  in  the  shape  of  dis 
counts  and  accommodations. 

4.  In  not  requiring  the  banks  to  keep  a  large  amount  of  specie 
in  their  vaults  in  proportion  to  their  circulation. 

5.  The  transaction  of  too  large  a  portion  of  their  business  on 
long  time.     Under  the  last  head  will  be  included,  of  course,  the 
unreasonably  large  sums  loaned  to  individuals. 

In  regard  to  the  election  of  directors,  he  recommended  that  the 
5 


66  Remmbcences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

number  be  reduced  to  six,  the  Governor  to  nominate  double  that 
number,  from  which  the  two  Houses  were  to  elect,  and  a  compe 
tent  salary  to  be  allowed  for  their  services. 

Relative  to  the  advances  made  upon  cotton  by  the  State  Bank, 
the  Governor  was  very  explicit  in  questioning  the  authority  for 
the  exercise  of  such  power,  as  well  as  the  policy.  He  used  this 
language : 

The  arrangement  entered  into  by  the  Bank  of  the  State  of  Alabama,  on  the  29th 
day  of  August  last,  to  make  advances  on  cotton,  has  been  brought  to  my  notice  in 
such  a  variety  of  ways  that  I  do  not  feel  at  liberty  to  avoid  submitting  a  remark 
upon  it.  Perhaps  there  is  no  principle  more  universally  recognized  than,  that 
corporations  possess  no  powers  except  such  as  are  conferred  upon  them  by  the  acts 
creating  them ;  and  that  they  are  not  at  liberty  to  undertake  to  promote  one  interest 
of  the  community,  or  any  portion  of  it,  to  the  exclusion  of  the  rest;  but  can  only 
do  such  things  as  they  are  authorized  to  do  by  the  acts  creating  them ;  and  they 
must  do  such  things  as  they  are  authorized  to  do  in  the  mode  pointed  out  by  the 
charter,  and  in  no  other  mode. 

It  is  readily  admitted  that  the  planting  interest,  which  this  arrangement  was 
evidently  intended  to  favor,  is  the  most  important,  and  that  the  planters  them 
selves  constitute  our  surest  and  safest  reliance  in  any  emergency.  But  they  are 
not  entitled  to  favors  to  which  other  classes  of  the  community  are  not  equally  enti 
tled,  and  upon  the  same  terms.  The  liberties  of  the  people  of  this  country  rest  on 
the  broad  platform  of  equal  rights,  and  any  attempt  to  discriminate  between  them, 
is  striking  at  the  foundation  of  our  political  system.  I  am,  therefore,  of  opinion 
that  this,  and  all  similar  arrangements  are  indefensible  in  principle  and  practice. 

The  two  Houses  proceeded  to  business  with  the  prospect  of  a 
long,  arduous  session,  rendered  the  more  certain  from  the  haste  of 
getting  through  the  previous  one,  in  which  many  important  matters 
of  public  interest  were  overlooked  and  postponed. 

In  the  Senate* Mr.  Riddle,  of  Greene,  continued  Chairman  of 
the  Committee  on  the  State  Bank  and  Branches;  and  in  the  House 
these  responsible  duties  were  imposed  upon  Dr.  David  Moore,  of 
Madison.  In  both  Houses  the  committee  was  composed,  in  the 
main,  of  strong  men  of  experience,  and  representing  the  various 
bunking  and  financial  interests  of  the  State. 

It  would  be  curious,  and  to  some  extent  interesting,  but  tedious, 
and  I  conceive  unnecessary,  to  note  the,  many  propositions  brought 
forward  hurriedly  by  members  in  relation  to  the  banks.  Their 
titles  WIMV  various,  and  generally  commendatory  of  the  patriotism 
and  sagacity  of  the  movers.  For  instance,  "A  bill  to  relieve  the 
people  and  sustain  the  banks."  This  was  considered  a  good  form 
tor  the  caption  of  a  bill,  without  much  regard  to  the  substance  of 
the  bill  itself;  and  so  they  came  in,  and  going,  as  fast  as  introduced 
to  the  Committee  on  the  State  Bank  and  Branches.  The  Bank 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  67 

reports  were  received,  additional  information  called  for  and  fur 
nished,  and  with  these,  and  the  Governor's  views,  the  committee 
went  to  work. 

STATE   PRISON. 

At  this  session  several  important  measures  were  adopted ;  among 
them,  the  establishment  of  a  penitentiary.  This  measure  had 
been  strongly  urged  by  Gov.  McVay,  in  his  annual  and  only  mes 
sage  in  1837;  but  the  recommendation  was  not  then  acted  upon. 
The  fact  that  the  adjoining  States  of  Tennessee  and  Georgia  had 
adopted  the  policy,  had  a  good  deal  of  weight  with  the  majority. 
But  the  bill  encountered  strong  opposition  in  both  Houses,  and 
passed  the  House  of  Representatives  by  a  vote  of  48  to  36,  and 
in  the  Senate  by  an  easy  majority.  The  bill  provided  that  the  rite 
of  the  institution  should  be  determined  by  a  majority  of  the  two 
Houses;  who  should,  also,  elect  three  commissioners  to  compile 
for  the  consideration  of  the  Legislature,  a  penal  code  adapted  to 
the  change.  Wetumpka,  Monte  vallo,  Centerville,  and  Marion 
were  placed  in  nomination  for  the  site,  and,  on  the  first  ballot, 
Wetumpka  was  elected.  Messrs.  William,  Hogan,  Malcolm  Smith, 
and  A.  M.  McWhorter  building  commissioners,  etc.  The  three 
Judges  of  the  Supreme  Court,  Collier,  Goldthwaite,  and  Ormond, 
to  prepare  a  penal  code. 

This  action  of  the  Legislature  was  an  onward  step  in  the  march 
of  jurisprudence,  and  in  keeping  with  the  spirit  of  the  age.  Man 
kind  had  already  begun  to  exhibit  those  new  traits  of  character  in 
cunning,  dishonesty,  and  villainy,  which,  in  every  age,  attend 
progress  and  development  of  the  productive  ability  of  a  people, 
and  especially  so  in  this  age.  The  expansion  of  paper  money  and 
credit  had  opened  a  new  era,  and  developed  new  features  of  char 
acter  requiring  a  diiferent  form  of  punishment,  and  with  greater 
certainty,  which,  more  than  anything  else,  deters  men  from  the 
commission  of  crime.  Under  the  trials  of  veteran  offenders,  and 
the  rigid  technicalities  of  the  law,  with  the  old  punishments  of 
hanging,  branding,  cropping,  whipping,  and  the  pillory,  but  few 
men  in  this  day,  whatever  the  enormity  of  the  crime,  could  be 
brought  to  punishment.  Public  opinion,  in  its  progress,  has  kept 


68  Reminwsences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

such  modes  of  penal  justice  in  the  back  ground,  as  the  relics  of  a 
barbarous  qge.  It  is  proper  to  say  that  the  Hon.  B.  F.  Porter  was 
the  author  of  the  measure  establishing  a  State  prison  and  peniten 
tiary  in  Alabama,  Subsequently,  his  efforts  in  the  Legislature 
went  to  the  extent  of  proposing  to  abolish  capital  punishment  alto 
gether,  and  substituting  therefor  solitary  imprisonment  for  life. 
His  speeches  on  this  subject  have  been  published  in  pamphlet 
form,  and  do  honor  to  the  goodness  of  his  heart,  if  not  to  his 
sagacity  as  a  statesman. 

CHANCERY  COURTS. 

At  this  session  the  first  separate  Chancery  Court  was  established 
in  Alabama.  Previously,  the  proceedings  in  equity  belonged  to 
the  Circuit  Courts,  and  were  generally  deferred  to  the  close  of 
each  term,  when  there  was  but  little  time,  or  inclination  by  the 
Judge  to  consider  bills,  interlocutory  decrees,  and  the  usual  mo 
tions  under  this  head.  The  consequence  was  that  many  cases  re 
mained  on  the  docket  for  years,  without  any  definite  action  by  the 
courts;  or,  if  decisions  were  made,  they  were  frequently  incorrect 
from  the  hurried  and  impatient  manner  in  which  argument  was 
heard  at  a  time  when  the  patience  of  the  Judge  was  exhausted  by 
the  labors  of  a  long  term,  or  he  had  special  inducements  for 
adjourning  the  court. 

An  amusing  story  was  told  in  those  days,  of  a  suit  in  chancery, 
which  I  will  relate.  Mr.  Joshua  L.  Martin  had  filed  a  long  bill 
in  an  important  case,  in  one  of  the  counties  embraced  in  the 

judicial  circuit  of  Judge  S.  L.  P The  Court  came  on,  and 

the  session  was  tedious  and  protracted.  At  length  the  time  for 
taking  up  the  chancery  docket  arrived,  and  Mr.  Martin,  anxious 
to  have  a  decree,  which  he  expected,  of  course,  to  be  favorable  to 
the  complainant,  pressed  the  consideration  of  the  cause,  and  his 
Honor  called  it ;  whereupon  Mr.  Martin  proposed  to  read  the  bill, 
which  was  quite  lengthy,  covering  nearly  a  quire  of  paper.  It 
had  become  "grog-time"  of  the  Court,  in  those  days,  and  the 
Judge  had  already  entered  upon  the  brief  holiday  recreation 
allowed  from  the  adjournment  of  a  court  in  one  county  to  the 
opening  of  one  in  another,  and  the  sight  of  a  pile  of  papers  was 


Reminisoefoces  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  69 

just  about  as  distasteful  to  him  in  that  stage,  as  a  cup  of  cold  water 
to  an  animal  laboring  under  the  first  symptoms  of  hydrophobia. 
He  inquired  of  counsel  what  that  was  he  had  in  his  hand?  With 
the  respect  and  suavity  of  manner  for  which  he  was  remarkable, 
Mr.  Martin  replied:  "If  your  Honor  please,  it  is  the  original  bill, 
which  I  propose  to  read  for  the  information  of  the  Court."  The 
Judge  interposed,  "You  need  not  read  the  bill.  I  shall  give 
judgment  against  you  and  dismiss  it.  The  Court  will  not  entertain 
a  bill  of  such  length,  and,  barring  an  accident,  ten  to  one  if  I  am 
not  right."  Mr.  Martin  tried  to  reason  and  persuade  him  out  of 
it;  but  his  orders  and  decrees  were  like  the  laws  of  the  Medes 
and  Persians,  at  least  in  this  case.  As  might  reasonably  be  ex 
pected,  the  counsel  was  dissatisfied  with  the  decision,  thought  it 
was  wrong,  and  appealed  to  the  Supreme  Court.  The  richest  of 
the  joke  was,  that  the  Supreme  Court  affirmed  the  decision  of 
Judge  P  . . . . !  But  this  was  claimed  to  be  an  accident,  and  did 
not  affect  the  merits;  still  the  manner  in  which  it  was  dismissed 
added  strength  to  the  argument  for  a  separate  chancery  court. 

The  bill  was  favored  by  most,  if  not  by  all,  of  the  lawyers  in 
the  Legislature;  but  met  with  decided  opposition  from  that  class 
of  men  who,  having  nothing  to  do  with  law,  thought  the  proposed 
system  unnecessary,  and  likely  to  entail  a  new  and  grievous  item 
of  expense  on  the  State.  Among  the  opponents  of  the  bill  were, 
Judge  William  Smith  and  Mr.  John  Vining  of  Madison,  and  Mr. 
Dixon  Hall  of  Autauga.  The  bill  passed  both  Houses  by  large 
majorities.  It  provided  for  two  Chancellors,  one  of  the  Northern, 
and  one  of  the  Southern  Division.  Judge  Anderson  Crenshaw, 
long  and  favorably  serving  on  the  circuit  bench  of  the  Sixth  Cir 
cuit,  was  elected  Chancellor  of  the  Southern  Division  over  his 
competitors,  E.  S.  Dargan,  R.  C.  McAlpin,  and  J.  B.  Clarke, 
Esquires;  and  Silas  Parsons,  Esq.,  of  Huntsville,  was  elected  Chan 
cellor  of  the  Northern  Division.  Mr.  Parsons  declining  to  accept, 
the  Governor  appointed  E.  Woolsey  Peck,  Esq.,  of  Tuskaloosa,  to 
fill  the  vacancy. 

The  election  of  Chancellor  Crenshaw  produced  a  vacancy  in  the 
Judgcship  of  the  Sixth  Circuit,  which  office  was  warmly  contested 
by  Messrs.  Henry  W.  Hilliard,  John  P.  Booth,  and  Nathaniel 
Cook,  as  candidates;  and  after  several  ballotings  Mr.  Booth  was 


70  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

elected.  Messrs.  Hilliard  and  Booth  were  members  of  the  House, 
and  Mr.  Cook  was  then  but  partially  known.  The  successful  can 
didate  had  figured  some  in  the  recent  Indian  difficulties  on  the 
south-eastern  frontier,  and  was  an  active  member  of  the  Demo 
cratic  party. 

Since  that  period  the  Chancery  Court  has  gone  forward,  per 
forming  its  work  as  one  of  the  judicial  departments  of  the  State, 
so  that  it  has  become  closely  and  materially  interwoven  with  the 
whole  system.  Attempts  have  been  made  at  every  session,  for 
years,  to  repeal  or  abolish  it,  without  success.  Fortunately  for  the 
system,  and  for  the  country,  the  chancery  bench  has  been  occu 
pied  by  men  of  unquestioned  talents  and  integrity,  who  have  left 
the  impress  of  purity  in  the  administration  of  the  Court. 

APPORTIONMENT   UNDER   THE   CENSUS. 

Another  important  measure  of  this  session  was  the  bill  to  appor 
tion  the  Senators  and  Representatives  according  to  the  census  of 
1838.  Under  the  Constitution,  this  occurred  every  six  years — the 
number  of  Representatives  one  hundred,  and  the  number  of  Sen 
ators  thirty-three.  This  was  the  first  apportionment  since  the 
settlement  of  the  counties  acquired,  by  treaty,  from  the  Creek, 
Cherokee,  and  Choctaw  Indians;  and  the  returns  of  the  census, 
showing  the  population  of  the  new  counties,  were  well  calculated 
to  produce  forebodings  among  the  many  aspirants,  in  the  older 
counties  that  had  before  enjoyed  a  large  representation  in  the 
House.  From  the  first  organization  of  the  Government,  the 
weight  of  political  power  was  on  the  north  side  of  the  mountain. 
It  was  compact,  united,  and  well  represented  in  the  character  and 
talent  of  the  State.  The  political  complexion  of  the  masses  in  all 
that  section  was  fixed  beyond  a  change;  and  while  it  was  no  un 
common  event  for  that  portion  of  the  State  to  send  Whigs  to  the 
Legislature,  it  was  regarded  as  a  compliment  to  the  personal  char 
acter  and  social  position,  or  something  so,  of  the  successful  one, 
who  considered  himself  powerless  to  carry  out  any  of  his  own  pecu 
liar  or  cherished  principles,  being  in  a  minority  in  the  Legislature. 

The  spirit  of  enterprise  and  emigration  produced  by  the  expan 
sion  and  its  influences,  in  1834-'5-J6,  moved  many  men  in  the 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  71 

older  and  worn-out  States  to  improve  their  condition  by  removing 
to  a  better  land.  The  counties  just  organized  in  the  Indian  country 
presented  fine  inducements  to  all  such,  and  they  embraced  the 
opportunity.  The  new  counties  filled  up  rapidly,  especially  the 
more  northerly  ones,  where  there  were  fewer  Indians  and  less 
difficulty  about  titles;  and  all  at  once  East-Alabama,  which  had 
no  existence  on  the  political  map,  became  a  power,  respected, 
courted,  and  dreaded.  This  portion  of  the  State  was  readily 
recognized  and  received  as  the  fourth  part  of  the  common  wealth  ? 
wanting  in  the  aggregation  of  limits  until  now.  To  show  what 
had  before  been  the  distribution  of  political  power,  we  have  only 
to  look  at  the  representation  under  the  apportionment  of  1832, 
when  those  counties  were  organized,  many  of  them  with  but  few 
white  inhabitants.  The  ratio  of  representation  was  raised  in 
accordance  with  the  increase  of  population,  and  was,  this  year, 
2,545,  and  under  its  operation  Jackson  county  lost  two  members; 
Madison,  Limestone,  Lauderdale,  Lawrence,  and  Morgan  one  each, 
that  number  being  added  to  East-Alabama,  which,  with  the  gains 
from  other  portions,  gave  prominence  to  the  political  position  of 
that  section. 

The  subject  of  Federal  politics  occupied  a  large  part  of  this 
session,  being  the  new  questions  which  had  arisen  touching  the 
finances  of  the  Government.  The  Whig  party  opposed  the  Inde 
pendent  Treasury  policy  of  Mr.  Van  Buren,  in  toto.  The  Demo 
cratic  party  supported  that  policy  unitedly,  except  as  to  the  "specie 
feature"  which  recognized  nothing  but  coin  in  the  transactions  of 
the  Government.  A  portion  of  the  party  advocated  the  receipt 
and  disbursement  of  the  notes  of  solvent  specie  paying  banks,  con 
vertible  into  gold  and  silver  at  the  will  of  the  holder.  The  oppo 
nents  of  this  specie  feature  were  backed  by  the  sympathy  and  sup 
port  of  the  local  banks,  who  were  struggling  for  an  existence,  and 
holding  out  the  idea  of  a  resumption  of  specie  payments  at  an 
early  day,  and  really  induced  the  "  Comer vatics"  (as  the  opponents 
of  the  specie  clause  of  the  Government  policy  were  then  called) 
to  believe  that  the  adoption  of  that  policy  by  the  Federal  Govern 
ment  would  postpone  resumption  to  a  distant  period,  and  continue 
the  ruinous  depreciation  and  scarcity  of  money  which  was  causing 
the  sacrifice  of  much  property. 


72  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

On  the  7th  December,  the  fourth  day  of  the  session,  Judge 
William  Smith,  of  Madison,  oifered  a  series  of  resolutions,  which, 
it  was  understood  were  to  constitute  the  platform  of  the  Democratic 
party,  under  the  union  with  the  State  Rights  men,  as  follows : 

There  are  now,  and  have  been  for  the  last  five  years,  two  great  political  ques 
tions  before  the  people  of  this  Union. 

The  first :  What  is  the  legitimate  currency  of  the  United  States  under  the 
Federal  Constitution  ? 

The  second :  To  whose  keeping  shall  the  public  revenue  be  entrusted  when  col 
lected  ? 

These  questions  have  been,  during  the  whole  period,  a  perpetual  source  of  ani 
mated  discussion  by  the  people,  in  their  primary  assemblies,  in  their  Legislative 
Assemblies,  and  in  their  Congress  Halls.  To  establish  what  is  the  legitimate  cur 
rency,  it  has  been  strenuously  urged  that  the  Constitution  has  conferred  on  Con 
gress  the  power  to  regulate  the  currency,  and,  under  that,  power  to  incorporate  a 
Bank  of  the  United  States,  as  the  only  means  of  reducing,  through  the  medium  of 
its  bank  bills,  the  currency  to  the  same  uniform  standard  throughout  the  several 
States.  This  power,  it  is  admitted  by  the  advocates  of  a  National  Bank,  is  not 
derived  from  any  express  words  in  the  Constitution  itself,  but  is  implied  from  the 
uniform  action  of  Congress  in  granting  successive  charters,  from  the  adjudication 
of  the  courts  of  justice,  and  from  the  current  of  public  opinion  in  its  favor. 

On  the  other  hand,  this  Legislature  considers  the  question  of  implied  powers 
put  at  rest  by  the  express  negative  in  the  tenth  amendment  of  the  Constitution, 
wherein  it  is  Provided,  That  the  powers  not  delegated  to  the  United  States  by  this 
Constitution,  nor  prohibited  by  it  to  the  States,  are  reserved  to  the  States  respect 
ively  or  to  the  people. 

This  reservation  of  undelegated  powers  is,  moreover,  put  beyond  a  doubt  by  the 
action  of  the  Convention  that  framed  the  Constitution,  in  their  negative  on  the 
proposition  to  grant  charters  of  incorporation ;  nor  has  the  Constitution,  in  any  por 
tion  of  it,  recognized  any  other  currency,  either  directly  or  impliedly,  but  gold 
and  silver ;  and  has  positively  declared  that  nothing  but  gold  and  silver  shall  con 
stitute  a  tender,  and  it  is  certainly  a  political  paradox  which  admits  of  no  solution, 
to  call  that  which  is  declared  by  the  supreme  power  of  the  Government  to  be  no 
tender,  the  currency  of  the  most  commercial  nation  in  the  world. 

In  whose  keeping  the  revenue  shall  be  intrusted  is  a  question  of  vital  impor 
tance  to  the  American  people,  and  the  great  contest  is,  whether  it  shall  be  confided 
to  the  keeping  of  the  agents  of  the  Government,  selected  from  the  great  mass  of 
the  community  for  their  good  morals,  high-standing  in  the  community,  immediately 
responsible  to  the  Government  under  all  the  obligations  it  may  think  proper  to 
exact,  and  all  the  penalties  it  may  think  proper  to  inflict ;  or,  to  that  of  the  banks 
of  a  thousand,  or  ten  thousand  stockholders,  whose  avowed  object  is  gainj  and 
whose  responsibility,  from  their  numbers,  their  perpetual  shiftings,  and  their  inde 
pendent  relation  to  the  Government — neither  appointed  by  it  nor  under  its  con 
trol — can  never  be  concentrated  nor  safely  relied  upon. 

From  a  full  view  of  these  facts,  this  Legislature  greatly  prefer  agents  selected 
by  the  Government  itself,  amenable  to  its  orders,  subject  to  its  immediate  control, 
punishable  at  its  discretion,  and  removable  at  its  bidding: 

Therefore,  be  it  rejoined  hi/  the  Senate  and  Hoiise  of  Represenlati^es  of  the  State  of 
Alabama,  in  General  Assembly  convened,  That  our  Senators  in  Congress  be  instructed, 
to  oppose  and  vote  against  the  recharter  of  a  Bank  of  the  United  States,  or  the 
establishment  of  any  bank  of  a  similar  character. 

Be  it  further  resolved  bi/  the  authority  aforesaid,  That  our  Senators  be  also  in" 
structed,  and  our  Representatives  requested,  to  support  and  vote  for  the  entire 
separation  of  the  public  revenue  from  the  keeping  or  control  of  any  bank  or 
banks  of  any  description  whatever. 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  73 

Be  it  further  resolved  by  Ike  authority  aforesaid,  That  since  the  Constitution  recog 
nizes  no  other  currency  than  gold  and  silver,  and  imperatively  requires  that  all 
taxes  be  uniform  and  equal  throughout  the  Union,  the  employment  by  the  Govern 
ment  of  the  paper  of  local  banks  in  the  collection  and  disbursement  of  its  revenue 
amounts  to  a  plain  and  undeniable  infraction  of  that  sacred  instrument,  which  no 
consideration  of  expediency  or  convenience,  or  no  force  of  precedence  ought  long 
to  excuse,  and  our  Senators  are  hereby  instructed,  and  our  Representatives  re 
quested,  to  support  and  vote  for  some  measure  or  scheme  of  policy,  the  object  of 
which  shall  be  to  heal  the  long-standing  breach  of  the  Constitution. 

And  be  it  further  resolved  by  the  authority  aforesaid,  That  Alabama  has  uniformly 
been  one  of  the  foremost  ^mong  the  sister  States  in  support  of  republican  princi 
ples,  and  her  citizens  hail  with  pride  the  bold  and  manly  stand  taken  by  the  Chief 
Magistrate  of  the  Union,  upon  the  finances  of  the  Government. 

And  be  it  further  rejoined,  That  the  Governor  is  hereby  requested  to  transmit  a 
copy  of  the  foregoing  preamble  and  resolutions  to  each  Senator  and  Representa 
tive  from  this  State  in  Congress. 

Mr.  Porter  moved  to  amend  by  striking  out  the  preamble,  and 
all  after  the  word  "resolved''  in  the  first  resolution,  and  inserting 
the  following: 

That  the  exaction  of  specie  in  payment  of  the  public  lands,  and  for  letter 
postage,  inasmuch  as  specie,  during  the  suspension  of  specie  payments  by  the 
several  banks  of  this  State  especially,  has  cost  the  citizens  of  this  State  a  pre 
mium  of  from  fifteen  to  twenty  per  cent.,  has  operated  as  a  heavy  oppression  upon 
the  people,  and  created  a  charge  upon  the  price  of  the  public  lands  and  the  rates 
of  postage,  to  the  extent  of  the  premium  payable  for  specie,  not  contemplated  by, 
but  in  palpable  violation  of  the  faith  guaranteed  by  the  several  acts  of  Congress 
affixing  the  value  of  those  lands,  and  the  rates  of  postage. 

Resolved,  That  the  paper  of  our  State  Bank  and  Branches,  while  the  faith  and 
credit  of  the  State  are  pledged  for  its  redemption,  is  a  fair  and  just  equivalent  for 
the  land  and  postage  of,  and  other  dues  to,  that  Government  likewise  sustained 
by  the  people,  and  should  be  receivable  by  them. 

Resolved,  That  a  general  bankruptcy  law,  as  recommended  by  President  Van 
Buren,  would  crush  our  State  Banks,  and  is  not  conformable  to  American  institu 
tions. 

Mr.  young-  offered  the  following  as  an  amendment  to  the  amend 
ment,  which  was  accepted  by  Mr.  Porter,  to-wit: 

Resolved,  That  it  is  the  deliberate  judgment  of  the  General  Assembly  of  the 
State  of  Alabama,  that  Congress  ought  to  pass  no  laws  prohibiting  the  reception  of 
the  notes  of  solvent  banks,  in  the  several  Skates,  after  they  shall  have  resumed 
payment  in  specie,  in  the  collection  of  all  dues  to  the  General  Government. 

Mr.  Moore,  of  Madison,  moved  to  postpone  the  further  consid 
eration  of  the  preamble  and  resolutions,  together  with  the  substi 
tute  offered  by  Mr.  Porter,  until  Monday,  the  17th,  and  that  two 
hundred  copies  thereof  be  printed  for  the  use  of  the  House,  which 
was  carried. 


74  Remin'tseences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

Before  that  period  arrived,  Mr.  H.  W.  Hilliard,  of  Montgomery, 
Whig,  submitted  a  preamble  and  series  of  resolutions,  directed 
mainly  against  the  specie  policy  of  the  Government  as  unwise, 
and  ruinous  to  the  commercial  interests  of  the  country.  Also,  Dr. 
David  Moore,  Democrat,  submitted  a  preamble  and  resolutions 
laudatory  of  Mr.  Van  Buren's  policy  for  separating  the  Govern 
ment  from  the  banks,  especially  from  the  Bank  of  the  United 
States;  but  declaring  it  the  true  policy  of « the  Government  to 
receive  and  disburse  the  notes  of  solvent  specie  paying  banks. 
These  were  all  ordered  to  be  printed,  and  their  consideration 
postponed  to  the  17th,  in  connection  with  those  offered  by  Judge 
Smith. 

THE   DISCUSSION. 

On  the  17th  December,  the  discussion  of  the  resolutions  com 
menced,  and  was  continued  for  several  days,  in  which  the  whole 
financial  policy  of  the  Government  passed  in  review.  Much  talent 
and  earnestness  were  displayed,  and  quite  a  number  of  gentlemen 
participated.  Judge  Smith  led  oft]  and  was  followed  by  Mr. 
Hilliard.  Dr.  Moore  came  next,  followed  by  Messrs.  Young  of 
Greene,  B.  McAlpin  of  Mobile,  Shields  of  Marengo,  Burke  of 
Wilcox,  Payne  of  Sumter,  Porter  of  Tuskaloosa,  Weisinger  of 
Perry,  W.  B.  Martin  of  Benton,  S.  McAlpin  of  Greene,  Aber- 
crombie  of  Russell,  and  Phillips  of  Dallas.  It  was  confidently 
expected  that  Judge  Lipscomb  would  address  the  House  on  the 
subject,  and  there  was  much  anxiety  to  hear  him;  but  he  had  little 
desire  to  do  so,  and  yielded  the  floor  to  others  until  so  much  dis 
cussion  had  taken  place  that  he  declined  altogether. 

An  amusing  circumstance  occurred  during  the  discussion.  Mr. 
Henry  T.  Jones,  a  Whig  member  from  Butler,  had  been  busy  for 
several  days,  taking  notes  and  hunting  up  authorities  for  his 
speech,  and  at  last  obtained  the  floor  just  before  the  end  of  the 
morning  session.  He  moved  an  adjournment  to  three  o'clock 
saying  that  he  was  prepared  and  wanted  to  make  a  speech.  The 
adjournment  was  voted,  and  before  the  assembling  at  three  o'clock 
a  negro  boy  came  from  Mr.  Jones'  boarding-house,  rolling  a  wheel 
barrow  pretty  well  filled  with  books,  which  were  carried  up  to 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  t5 

the  Hall,  where  Mr.  Jones  arranged  them  in  piles  on  the  top  and  in 
the  shelf  of  his  desk,  somewhat  in  the  order  in  which  he  expected 
to  use  them.  He  had  many  pages  of  manuscript  which  he  exam 
ined  and  laid  upon  the  desk,  and  seated  himself  to  await  the  call 
to  order.  Members  were  arriving-  and  talking  in  squads  upon  the 
floor,  and  among  them  was  Mr.  F.  G.  McConnell,  of  Talladega, 
always  ready  for  fun.  He  walked  to  Mr.  Jones'  desk,  and  leaning 
over,  commenced  talking  and  jesting,  at  which  Jones  laughed  im 
moderately,  rather  unusual  for  him.  Just  then,  McConnell  quietly 
pulled  away  his  manuscript  from  the  top  of  the  desk,  and  dropped 
it  on  the  shelf,  perhaps  covering  it  with  a  book,  and  then  carelessly 
returned  to  his  seat.  The  House  was  soon  called  to  order,  the 
Speaker  announced  the  subject  for  consideration,  and  that  the  gen 
tleman  from  Butler  was  entitled  to  the  floor.  Mr.  Jones  rose 
and  commenced  by  saying  that  he  had  long  desired  to  show  the 
Democratic  party  where  they  stood,  and  now  he  was  going  to  do 
it.  Then  he  cleared  his  throat  and  cast  his  eyes  upon  the  desk  in 
the  direction  of  his  notes.  Not  finding  them  he  repeated  what 
he  had  said  of  his  purpose,  and  continued  looking  for  his  notes. 
After  a  pause,  and  still  searching,  and  saying,  "the  Democratic 
party,  Mr.  Speaker  " — members  began  to  titter — and,  as  his  con 
fusion  increased,  and  he  repeated  again,  "the  Democratic  party, 
Mr.  Speaker,"  there  was  a  burst  of  laughter,  which  the  Speaker 
tried  in  vain  to  control.  Jones  could  stand  it  no  longer,  but 
yielded  the  floor  much  mortified,  saying  his  notes  were  misplaced, 
and  he  could  not  proceed.  Although  the  House  was  heartily 
tired  of  the  discussion,  in  which  the  subject  had  been  fully  exam 
ined,  it  did  appear  cruel  thus  to  defeat  the  purpose,  to  be  heard, 
of  one  whose  heart  was  set  on  making  a  speech,  and  who  had 
spent  several  days  in  preparing  himself. 

The  debate  upon  these  resolutions  was  probably  the  most  gen 
eral,  was  participated  in  by  more  gentlemen,  and  with  more  ability 
and  earnestness,  than  any  that  has  occured  since  on  party  abstrac 
tions.  Every  inch  was  disputed  in  the  contest  in  both  Houses. 
On  the  first  of  January,  1839,  there  was  a  strong  parliamentary 
fight,  iu  opposing  amendments  and  making  privileged  motions  to 
avoid  a  direct  vote.  Mr.  Payne  moved  an  amendment  in  the  shape 
of  sundry  resolutions,  very  objectionable  to  the  minority,  as  follows; 


76  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 


,  That  taxes  and  duties  ought  not  to  be  levied  and  collected  by  the  Gen* 
eral  Government  to  raise  money  to  be  lent  out  to  the  keepers  thereof,  whether 
public  officers  or  banks,  to  speculators  or  any  other  class  of  citizens  whatsoever; 
and  that  the  amount  raised  should  be  barely  sufficient  to  defray  the  expenses  of 
an  economical  administration  of  the  Government,  and  should  be  kept  to  be  applied 
to  that  object  and  no  other. 

Resolved,  That  the  General  Government  has  no  right  to  use  the  money  of  the 
people  for  banking  purposes,  and  consequently  any  attempt  on  the  part  of  Congress, 
by  the  means  of  a  bank  charter,  or  any  legislative  enactment  to  delegate  such 
power  to  others,  will,  as  heretofore,  meet  with  the  unceasing  opposition  of  the 
Democratic  and  State  Rights  Party  of  this  State. 

Resolved,  That  we  deprecate  the  evils  resulting  from  the  action  of  the  Govern 
ment  in  the  creation  of  bank  monopolies,  not  authorized  by  the  Constitution  ;  the 
effect  of  which  has  been  to  divert  the  commerce  of  the  South  from  its  direct  and 
natural  channel  to  its  present  circuitous  route. 

Resolved,  That  a  direct  trade  with  Europe  is  of  vital  importance  to  Alabama. 

Resolved,  That  the  present  administration  of  the  General  Government,  by  pro 
moting  the  interests  of  the  South,  and  guarding  our  institutions,  has  won  our  admi 
ration  and  secured  our  support;  and  that  we  deeply  deplore  the  course  of  such 
Southern  statesmen  as,  by  acting  in  concert  with  its  opponents,  are  aiding  to  place 
those  in  power  who  are  averse  to  the  rights  and  interests  of  the  South,  and  the 
great  principles  of  the  Democratic  Republican  Party,  as  illustrated  in  the  political 
life  and  writings  of  Thomas  Jefferson. 

These  were  fought  with  such  spirit  by  the  opposition  that  Judge 
Smith,  seeing  the  majority  favored  them,  accepted  them  as  a  part 
of  his  own.  Mr.  Weisinger,  of  Perry,  proposed  to  amend  Judge 
Smith's  resolutions.  Coming  from  so  prominent  a  State  Rights 
man,  the  proposition  attracted  a  good  deal  of  attention,  as  embody 
ing  the  views  of  that  class  of  politicians.  The  amendment  offered 
by  Mr.  Weisinger  is  in  the  following  words  : 

WHEREAS,  Two  great  political  questions  are  now  under  the  consideration  and 
pending  the  decision  of  the  people  of  the  United  States,  whether  the  powers  of 
the  General  Government  are  denned  and  limited  by  the  express  grants  of  the  Fed 
eral  Constitution,  and  whether  Congress  in  the  use  of  the  means  "necessary  and 
proper"  to  carry  into  execution  the  express  grants  of  the  Constitution,  is  not 
bound  to  select  those  which  are  most  simple,  and  which  most  immediately  and 
directly  accomplish  the  objects,  and  whether  the  Constitution  prohibits  anything 
but  gold  and  silver  in  payment  of  the  public  revenue  : 

Therefore,  be  it  resolved  by  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives  of  the  Stad  of 
Alabama,  in  General  Assembly  convened,  That  the  General  Government  was  estab 
lished  by  the  formation  and  adoption  of  the  Federal  Constitution,  and  that  it  has 
no  powers  but  such  as  are  specifically  granted  by  that  instrument. 

2.  Resolved,  That  Congress  has  no  power  to  establish  a  bank  to  aid  the  Govern 
ment  to  carry  into  execution  any  of  the  specified  grants  of  the  Constitution. 

3.  Resolved,  That  the  framers  of  the  Constitution  did  not  contemplate,  and  that 
the  Constitution  does  not  authorize,  the  reception  of  any  but  gold  and  silver  in  pay 
ment  of  public  dues. 

4.  Resolved,  That  the  most  simple  and  safe  mode  for  the  General  Government 
to  collect,  keep,  and  disburse  the  public  revenue  is  by  its  own  agents,  appointed 
by  and  amenable  to  itself,  under  high  moral  and  penal  sanctions,  and  not  to  dele 
gate  this  high  and  important  function  to  banks  created  by  the  States,  and  over 
which  the  Government  can  have  no  control  and  authority. 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  77 

5.  Resolved,  That  a  total  and  entire  separation  of  the  General  Government  and 
banks  according  to  the   Independent    Treasury    plan,    with  the   specie   feature, 
will  confer  much  less  power  on  the  President  or  on  Congress,  than  the  manage 
ment  of  the  fiscal  operations  of  the  Government  by  the  aid  of  a  National  Bank,  or 
banks  established  by  the  States,  or  by  any  other  plan  that  has  been  proposed. 

6.  Resolved,  That  the  receipt  of  the  bills  of  banks  whether  generally  deposited 
in  banks,  or  specially  deposited  in  banks,  or  the  Treasury,  will  confer  great  ben 
efits  on  those  sections  of  the  Union  where  the  public  money  is  principally  collected 
and  disbursed,  to  the  injury  in  the  same  ratio  of  other  sections,  and  in  violation 
of  that  clause  of  the  Constitution  which  says  that  no  preference  shall  be  given  by 
any  regulation  of  commerce  or  revenue  to  the  ports  of  one  State  over  those  of 
another. 

7.  Resolved,  That  the  South  [?]  which  furnishes  nearly  the  whole  of  the  exports 
of  the  United  States,  has  been  occasioned  by  a  connection  of  the  Government  and 
banks,  and  will  be  coexistent. 

8.  Resolved,  That  the  same  forced  rule  of  construing  the  Constitution  that  would 
establish  a  National  Bank,  would  also  establish  a  protective  tariff,  internal  improve 
ment,  surplus  revenue,  with  its  endless  train  of  corruption  and  abuse,  and  the 
abolition  of  slavery  in  the  District  of  Columbia,  the  Territories  and  States. 

9.  Reno/ml,  That  our  Senators  in  Congress  be  instructed,  and  our  Representa 
tives  requested,  to  use  their  best  exertions  to  effect  an  entire  separation  of  Govern 
ment  and  banks. 

10.  Resolved,  That  the  Governor  is  hereby  requested  to  transmit  a  copy  of  the 
foregoing  preamble  and  resolutions  to  each  of  our  Senators  and  Representatives 
in  Congress  from  this  State. 

By  a  vote  of  49  to  45,  it  was  laid  upon  the  table.  The  vote 
upon  this  motion  to  amend  exhibits  a  good  deal  of  policy  among 
the  friends  and  opponents  of  Judge  Smith's  resolutions.  There 
was  a  complete  mixture,  without  any  regard  to  political  status. 
No  doubt  there  was  parliamentary  policy  in  many  of  the  votes 
given — some  Whigs  voting  with  Mr.  Weisinger  and  his  friends,  as 
did  many  Democrats;  all  trying  to  keep  favor  with  the  State 
Rights  men. 

•  DEBATE  CLOSED. 

The  discussion  terminated  on  the  3d  of  January,  when  Mr. 
McConnell  moved  the  previous  question  upon  the  resolutions. 
Then  commenced  a  series  of  side  motions,  which  looked  as  though 
the  House  would  fillibuster;  but  they  soon  ceased.  The  call  for 
the  previous  question  was  sustained,  and  the  resolutions  were  voted 
upon  separately.  They  were  all  adopted  by  easy  majorities.  That 
upon  which  there  was  some  difference  among  Democrats,  requiring 
the  Government  to  adopt  the  specie  basis,  was  passed  by  a  vote  of 
51  to  40.  Among  the  nays  were  Messrs.  Baker  of  Franklin, 
and  Moore  of  Madison,  both  of  whom  were  soon  afterwards 
advanced  to  the  Speaker's  chair  by  the  Democratic  party. 


78  Reminiscences  of  Public  Mm  in  Alabama. 

The  resolutions  were  transmitted  to  the  Senate,  where  they 
were  subjected  to  a  short  but  animated  discussion,  by  Messrs. 
Terry,  Mays,  Calhoun,  (President,)  Cottrell,  and  Baylor,  in  favor, 
and  Messrs.  Rains,  Riddle,  Dent,  King,  Lea,  and  Watrous,  against 
them,  and  passed  by  a  large  majority. 

To  this  discussion  in  the  two  Houses  an  influence  was  imparted 
by  the  presence  of  a  large  number  of  gentlemen,  of  both  parties, 
who  were  in  attendance  on  the  political  conventions  held  at  the 
Capital.  Early  in  the  session,  delegates  representing  the  Demo 
cratic  party  convened  in  the  Hall  of  the  House,  to  consider,  and 
unite,  as  far  as  possible,  the  State  Rights  men  of  Alabama  with 
the  Democrats  in  support  of  Mr.  Van  Buren's  financial  policy, 
which  was  then  the  absorbing  issue — especially  the  specie  clause — 
which  was  regarded  by  many  of  the  party  a  hazardous  position,  as 
it  proved  to  be.  Philip  Phillips,  Esq.,  of  Mobile,^  was  elected 
President,  and  Col.  Richard  B.  Walthall,  of  Perry,  Vice-Presi 
dent,  and  P.  H.  May,  Secretary.  The  Convention  was  large  and 
respectable,  and  the  extreme*  State  Rights  men  and  Democrats 
harmonized  and  fraternized  in  council  as  they  had  not  done  before. 
Messrs.  HV  W.  Ellis,  John  D.  Phelan,  Walker  K.  Baylor,  W.  B. 
Martin,  George  W.  Gayle,  J.  L.  F.  Cottrell,  J.  M.  Calhoun,  F.  G. 
McConnell,  L.  A.  Weisiuger,  and  a  number  of  others,  participated 
in  the  debates.  Resolutions  were  adopted  pledging  support  to  the 
financial  policy  of  Mr.  Van  Buren,  etc. 

The  Whig  Convention  met  a  few  weeks  later,  and  was,  also, 
largely  attended,  and  respectable  in  talents  and  character.  Dr. 
Samuel  C.  Oliver,  of  Montgomery,  was  chosen  President.  Many 
able  speeches  were  made  by  such  men  as  Arthur  F.  Hopkins,  C. 
C.  Langdon,  H.  C.  Lea,  M.  M.  Burke,  Dr.  Oliver,  and  others. 
The  financial  policy  of  the  administration,  especially  that  portion 
which  required  the  public  moneys  to  be  collected  in  coin,  was  dis 
approved  by  a  vote  of  the  Convention.  Thus  the  issues  were 
firmly  made  up  for  the  Congressional  and  other  elections  in  1839, 
with  what  success  we  may  note  in  a  subsequent  chapter. 

ELECTION   OF    BANK    DIRECTORS. 

Toward  the  close  of  a  long  and  laborious  session,  the  two  Houses 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Mm  in  Alabama.  79 

elected  the  Presidents  and  directors  of  the  State  Bank  and 
Branches.  The  number  of  directors  for  each  bank,  as  previously 
remarked,  had  been  reduced  from  fourteen  to  six,  and  the  elections 
were  conducted  quietly.  Major  Hardin  Perkins  was  elected  Pres 
ident  of  the  State  Bank  over  Dr.  John  Marrast,  as  his  policy  for 
resuming  specie  payments  was  popular  with  the  Legislature.  He 
gave  a  grand  ball  on  the  first  of  January,  the  day  the  banks  nom 
inally  resumed  specie  payments,  and  his  tickets  of  invitation  were 
headed  "  Resumption."  This  was  a  captivating  motto,  and  although 
the  Major  was  a  very  decided  Whig,  many  Democrats  voted  for 
him  because  they  approved  his  policy.  The  following  gentlemen 
were  then  elected  Presidents  of  the  Branch  Banks,  viz:  John  B. 
JXTorris  of  Mobile,  John  Martin  of  Montgomery,  B.  M.  Lowe  of 
Huntsville,  and  James  S.  Sykes  of  Decatur. 

GEORGE  S.  GAINES. — This  year  Mr.  George  S.  Gaines,  who  had 
long  filled  the  office  of  President  of  the  Branch  Bank  at  Mobile, 
retired  on  account  of  ill  health  and  infirmities,  from  too  close  appli 
cation  to  business.  He  was  identified  with  Alabama  from  her  early 
history,  having  cast  his  lot  when  she  was  a  Territory.  He  was  a 
brother  of  the  distinguished  Major-General  E.  P.  Gaines,  of  the 
United  States  Army,  whose  deeds  in  war  had  secured  a  bright 
reputation  to  the  name.  Mr.  G.  S.  Gaines  was  extensively  known 
and  highly  appreciated  in  business  circles;  was  kind  and  amiable 
in  his  intercourse  with  men ;  too  much  so,  it  was  said,  to  manage  a 
bank,  wfcere  it  required  the  cold  blood  and  iron  will  to  say  "no." 
His  integrity  was  unquestioned,  and  his  honor  unsullied  during  a 
long  and  eventful  life. 

The  two  Houses  adjourned  sine  die  on  the  2d  of  February,  1839. 
Several  gentlemen  then  ceased  their  connection  with  the  Legisla 
ture,  and  with  public  life  in  Alabama,  of  whom  it  is  proper  to 
speak.  Among  them,  in  the  Senate,  were  Messrs.  Rains  of  Ma- 
rengo,  McClellan  of  Talladega,  Mays  of  Montgomery,  and  Smith 
of  Clarke.  A 'particular  notice  of  Mr.  Rains  has  already  been  given. 

Major  Hardin  Perkins  defeated  Dr.  John  Marrast  for  the  Pres 
idency  of  the  State  Bank;  but  the  next  year  the  latter  came  in 
without  opposition — Major  Perkins  declining  to  be  a  candidate  on 


80  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

the  eve  of  the  election.  Dr.  Marrast  continued  to  hold  the  posi 
tion  for  several  succeeding  years,  embracing  a  period  of  much 
labor  and  responsibility  in  the  process  of  winding  up  the  banks, 
and  conducting  the  very  extensive  correspondence  connected  with 
it.  He  brought  to  the  task  financial  skill  and  intelligence  of  a 
high  order,  and  a  character  formed  in  the  strictest  school  of  integ 
rity.  Of  French  descent,  and  well  educated,  he  conducted  the 
affairs  of  the  institution,  in  this  respect,  with  a  marked  degree  of 
simplicity  and  affability  which  made  him  popular  as  an  officer. 
He  still  lives  at  an  advanced  age  in  Tuskaloosa,  enjoying  the 
respect  of  the  community  in  which  he  has  resided  for  over  a 
quarter  of  a  century.  His  wife  was  a  daughter  of  the  late 
Rev.  Samuel  K.  Jennings,  M.  D.,  a  gentlemen  of  great  ability 
and  learning,  both  in  theology  and  Medicine,  and  formerly  Presi 
dent  of  the  Medical  College  in  Baltimore. 

JOHN  MARTIN  was  reflected,  without  opposition,  President  of 
the  Branch  Bank  at  Montgomery.  He  first  came  into  the  position 
in  1837,  and  held  it  by  successive  elections  until  his  death  in  1844. 

Captain  Martin  was  a  South  Carolinian,  but  settled  in  Mont 
gomery  at  an  early  period  of  its  history.  He  spent  the  days  of 
his  manhood  in  that  city,  filling  many  positions  of  public  trust 
with  efficiency  and  fidelity.  He  was  a  Democrat,  which,  with  a 
large  family  alliance,  with  the  Elmores,  Fitzpatricks,  and  Dixon 
H.  Lewis,  taken  in  connection  with  his  indomitable  energy  and 
quick  sagacity,  made  him  a  man  of  influence  and  note,  in  political 
as  well  as  social  circles.  He  died  of  chronic  diarrhoea  just  as  he 
had  attained  the  meridian  of  life.  But  he  lived  long  enough  to 
leave  the  impress  of  a  strong  character  upon  the  events  of  his 
day,  and  should  be  held  in  remembrance  as  a  man  of  mark  and 
energy.  He  was  a  brother  of  the  Hon.  Abram  Martin,  of  Mont 
gomery,  who  is  noticed  in  another  chapter.  Of  the  family  which 
he  left  was  an  accomplished  daughter,  who  married  Cyrus  Phillips, 
a  merchant  of  Montgomery,  and  died  a  few  years  ago.  Besides 
other  sons,  was  Gen.  Edmund  W.  Martin,  a  respectable  lawyer  of 
Conecuh  county.  The  widow  of  Captain  Martin  still  lives,  a 
member  of  the  Baptist  Church,  respected  by  all  for  her  elegant 
hospitality  in  former  days,  and  for  her  Christian  virtues. 


Reminiscence*  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  81 

BARTLEY  M.  LOWE  was  the  first  President  of  the  Pranch  Bank 
at  Huntsville,  and  held  the  place,  by  repeated  elections,  until  1844, 
when  he  voluntarily  retired. 

His  parents  were  from  Maryland,  of  an  old  family  that  came 
over  from  England  with  Lord  Baltimore.  Gen.  Lowe  was  born 
in  Edgefield,  South  Carolina;  but  soon  thereafter  his  father,  who 
had  been  a  Captain  in  the  Revolution,  removed  to  Florida,  and 
accepted  service  under  the  Spanish  Government,  for  which  he 
received  a  very  large  grant  of  land. 

Subsequently  Gen.  Lowe  cast  his  lot  in  Huntsville,  and  engaged 
in  mercantile  pursuits,  in  which  he  attained  to  eminence.  For 
many  years  his  position  was  that  of  a  "Merchant  Prince,"  with 
tact,  credit,  and  influence.  The  fame  of  his  mercantile  house 
went  abroad  into  all  the  surrounding  country;  but  the  financial 
revulsion  of  1837,  and  succeeding  years,  overtook  his  business  in 
the  vicissitudes  of  fortune.  He  was  elected  a  Brigadier-General 
of  militia,  which,  in  that  day,  was  considered  no  small  honor, 
especially  in  connection  with  such  a  Major-General  as  Benjamin 
Patteson,  who  filled  that  position  for  many  years,  and  was  called 
into  active  service  by  Gov.  Clay,  in  the  Indian  troubles  of  1836, 
in  deference  to  his  intellectual  and  military  qualifications.  For  a 
long  period  Gen.  Patteson  filled  the  office  of  Marshal  of  the 
Northern  District  of  Alabama,  with  a  fitness  peculiar  to  his  integ 
rity  of  character  and  high  sense  of  duty.  The  writer  had  occasion, 
upwards  of  thirty  years  ago,  to  visit  Huntsville  on  business  con 
nected  with  the  census,  then  under  the  direction  of  the  Marshal, 
who,  in  this  case,  was  Gen.  Patteson,  and  was  impressed,  not  only 
by  his  official  courtesy  and  affable  manner  in  the  dispatch  of  busi 
ness,  but  with  the  nobility  of  his  person  and  dignity  of  his  bearing, 
coupled  with  a  respectful  demeanor  in  intercourse,  which  made  a 
plain  man  feel  easy  in  his  company.  He  defeated  Col.  Nathaniel 
Terry  for  the  Major-Generalship,  after  a  most  animated  and  expens 
ive  contest,  and  wore  its  honors,  as  well  as  that  of  Marshal,  as  few 
have  done.  He  died  in  Huntsville,  a  few  years  ago,  at  a  ripe  old 
age,  leaving  the  savor  of  a  good  name  and  character,  of  which  his 
descendants,  and  the  community  of  Huntsville,  ought  to  be,  and  no 
doubt  are,  proud. 

Gen.  Lowe  was  fully  equal  to  the  position  occupied  by  him  as  a 
6 


82  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

general  officer ;  and  it  may  well  be  questioned  whether  any  locality 
in  the  State  has  been  able  to  boast  of  two  such  officers,  in  the 
strength  and  force  of  exalted  character,  and  the  personak  of  a  firm, 
noble,  courtly  bearing. 

After  his  pecuniary  reverses,  Gen.  Lowe  engaged  in  the  factorage 
and  commission  business  in  New  Orleans,  and  so  continued  until 
his  death,  several  years  ago.  Nature  made  him  a  gentleman,  an4 
his  early  advantages  and  intercourse  in  official  and  private  circles, 
only  added  to  that  exalted  standard  of  society  and  character  for 
Avhich  Huntsville  has  long  been  justly  famed. 

The  ..writer,  with  his  family,  in  April,  1848,  took  passage  on  a 
boat  at  Tuskaloosa  for  Mobile.  Among  his  fellow  passengers  was 
Gen.  Lowe  and  his  daughter,  Sophie,  a  young  lady  educated  and 
accomplished  in  the  more  solid  attainments  of  life,  in  that  day. 
He  was  impressed  with  the  bearing  towards  her  father,  which  was 
that  of  aifection  and  profound  deference.  She  brought  into  the 
social  circle,  during  that  trip,  much  of  the  means  that  contributed 
to  break  the  tedium  of  steamboat  traveling,  and  made  the  time 
pleasant  by  her  cheerfulness,  intelligent  conversation,  and  singing, 
in  all  of  which  she  was  well  gifted ;  so  that  she  was  justly  regarded 
the  life  and  center  of  our  steamboat  circle.  She  has  since  married 
Col.  Nicholas  Davis,  of  Huntsville,  where  she  now  resides  in  the 
place  of  her  nativity. 

Gen.  Lowe  left  three  sons:  Dr.  John  T.  Lowe,  who  was  the 
Chief  Surgeon  of  Gen.  Loring's  Division  of  infantry  throughout 
the  war ;  he  now  resides  at  Aberdeen,  Mississippi,  engaged  in  the 
practice  of  his  profession.  Robert/  J.  Lowe,  who  was  a  lawyer, 
and  a  Representative  in  the  Legislature  from  Madison  county,  in 
1859.  He  became  fired  in  the  cause  of  the  South  in  1860.  The 
writer  traveled  with  him  to  Baltimore,  and  remembers  how  decided 
and  fixed  his  convictions  were;  though  he  was  not  forward  in  ex 
pressing  them,  he  did  not  disguise  them.  He  entered  the  service 
of  the  Confederacy  in  the  first  company  raised  in  North-Alabama, 
and  was  attached  to  the  Fourth  Alabama  Regiment,  commanded 
by  Col.  EL  J.  Jones.  The  fatigue  and  exposure  of  the  forced 
march  to  Manassas  superinduced  camp  or  typhoid  fever,  of  which 
he  died..  It  is  seldom,  if  ever,  that  the  State  has  claimed  as  one 
of  her  sons,  a  more  brilliant,  promising  young  man  than  Robert  J. 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  83 

Lowe,  or  one  upon  whom  nature  was  more  lavish  in  noble  and 
commanding  physical  developments.  A  widow  and  two  sons  are 
left  to  testify  to  the  cruelties  of  war,  and  the  patriotic  devotion  of 
a  noble  son  of  the  South,  who  was  among  the  first  to  respond  to 
her  call  for  help  on  the  battle-field. 

Another  (and  younger)  son  of  Gen.  Lowe,  WILLIAM  M.  LOWE, 
while  he  separated  from  his  brother  in  political  action  in  1860, 
went  with  him,  readily,  into  the  field,  in  1861.  They  were  both  in 
the  same  regiment  and  company — Fourth  Alabama.  In  the  same 
encounter  with  the  enemy,  in  the  first  battle  of  Manassas,  while 
the  Colonel  was  mortally  wounded,  W.  M.  Lowe  was  wounded  in 
the  forehead,  which  shows  clearly  how  he  stood  in  the  fight.  From 
this  wound  he  did  not  recover  in  several  months.  Afterwards,  he 
was  appointed  Colonel  on  the  staff  of  Gov.  Shorter,  and  was  en 
gaged  in  organizing  companies  for  the  field.  Subsequently  ap 
pointed  to  a  Captaincy  on  Gen.  Withers'  staff)  in  active  service, 
he  went  through  the  Kentucky  campaign,  and  was  again  wounded 
in  front  of  Murfreesboro,  Tennessee.  He  was  afterwards  trans 
ferred  to  Gen.  Clan  ton's  staff,  at  his  special  request,  and  was  with 
him  in  Georgia,  Alabama,  and  Tennessee,  until  captured  at  the 
battle  of  Franklin.  He  was  thence  taken  to  Camp  Chase  and 
Fort  Delaware,  where  he  remained  as  a  prisoner  of  war  until  three 
months  after  the  surrender.  In  1865,  Col.  Lowe  was  elected  So 
licitor  of  the  Huntsville  Circuit,  a  position  he  held  creditably,  until 
superceded  by  the  reconstruction  measures.  The  strength  and 
decision  of  his  character  at  once  indicated  him  as  a  leader  of  the 
Democratic  and  Conservative  forces  in  North- Alabama,  and  in  1870 
he  was  elected  a  member  of  the  House  of  Representatives  from 
Madison  county,  and  soon  became  prominent  as  a  debater  and  man 
of  business.  He  is  young,  and  is  justly  regarded  as  one  of  the 
rising  nren  of  the  State,  having  already  demonstrated  his  ability 
for  service  in  the  battle-field  and  in  the  legislative  councils. 

General  JESSE  WINSTON  GAKTH  was  called  this  year,  (1838,) 
by  the  unanimous  vote  of  the  two  Houses,  to  the  Presidency  of 
the  Branch  Bank  at  Decatur,  bringing  to  the  management  of  that 
institution  much  experience  in  financial  affairs;  so  that  it  was  hoped 
he  would  rectify  many  of  the  disorders  then  existing.  But  the 


84  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

disease  was  too  deeply  seated  for  the  patient  to  be  saved  by  bring 
ing  in  a  new  physician. 

Gen.  Garth  was  born  in  Albermarle  county,  Virginia,  in  October, 
1788;  educated  at  the  school  of  Dr.  Waddel,  at  Hillsborough, 
North  Carolina;  studied  law,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  at  Char- 
lottesville,  Virginia,  in  1809;  was  a  cotemporary  with  Gen.  William 
F.  Gordon,  William  C.  Rives,  and  Valentine  Southall ;  served  in 
the  Virginia  militia,  on  the  coast,  in  the  war  of  1812;  was  elected 
to  represent  his  native  county  of  Albermarle  in  the  Legislature  of 
1815,  where  he  met  with  the  Hon.  John  Tyler,  between  whom, 
during  life,  existed  a  warm  personal  and  political  friendship. 

In  1817,  he  emigrated  to  St.  Louis,  Missouri,  carrying  with  him 
most  flattering  testimonials  of  esteem  and  confidence,  from  such 
men  as  Philip  P.  Barbour,  Gen.  Gordon,  Mr.  Carr,  and  Mr.  Jeffer 
son,  the  latter  of  whom,  in  a  letter  to  Gov.  Clarke,  of  Missouri, 
warmly  commended  him  as  a  young  man  of  uncommon  merit,  who 
had  been  tried  in  Avar,  in  the  Legislature  of  his  native  State,  and 
at  the  bar.  Owing  to  the  severity  of  the  climate  of  St.  Louis,  he 
remained  but  a  short  time,  and  removed  to  Alabama,  in  June,  1817. 
Locating  in  what  was  then  Cotaco,  now  Morgan  county,  he  engaged 
in  planting  and  in  the  practice  of  laAV.  He  continued  at  the  bar  of 
this  State  but  a  short  time,  and  thenceforward  devoted  himself 
mainly  to  agricultural  pursuits,  and  by  his  energy  and  sagacity  be 
came  one  of  the  largest  planters  in  the  State. 

Gen.  Garth  was  elected  a  Brigadier-General  of  militia  at  an 
early  period  of  the  history  of  the  State,  and  frequently  served  in 
the  Legislature,  in  both  branches.  He  was  defeated  for  Congress, 
in  1830,  by  the  Hon.  Samuel  W.  Mardis.  Physically,  Gen.  Garth 
was  a  splendid  type  of  the  Virginian — of  the  Piedmont  region — 
tall,  erect,  being  six  feet  four  inches  in  hight,  a  man  of  action 
rather  than  words ;  and  whilst  he  was  singularly  retiring  and  unob 
trusive  in  his  manners  and  habits,  there  were  few  men  so  positive 
and  self-reliant.  Deficient  in  those  little  arts  by  which  a  transient 
and  ephemeral  popularity  is  won,  he  commanded  the  entire  confi 
dence  and  esteem  of  all  with  whom  he  came  in  contact.  He  died  at 
Huntsville,  September  7, 1867,  in  the  seventy-ninth  year  of  his  age. 
He  raised  a  family  of  children,  some  of  whom  still  live  in  the 
Tennessee  Valley.  One  of  his  daughters  married  Dr.  Frank  W. 


Reminiseenees  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  85 

Sykes,  who  has  already  occupied  public  positions.  His  son,  J.  W. 
Garth,  Jr.,  was  elected  a  Representative  from  Morgan  county,  in 
1853;  and  another  son,  W.  W.  Garth,  Esq.,  is  a  lawyer,  of  Hunts- 
ville,  who,  although  he  has  never  filled  any  public  station,  is  justly 
regarded  as  a  gentleman  of  solid  attainments,  with  a  good  future  in 
the  legal  and  political  arena.  Gen.  Garth  was,  in  politics,  a  Whig, 
which,  no  doubt,  retarded  his  political  advancement  among  a  people 
so  decidedly  Democratic  as  were  the  citizens  of  North  Alabama  in 
his  day. 

General  WILLIAM  B.  McCLELLAX,  a  graduate  of  the  Military 
Academy  at  West  Point,  settled,  at  an  early  day,  in  Morgan  county, 
where  he  was  elected  Clerk  of  the  Circuit  Court.  He  was,  after 
wards,  by  repeated  elections,  Engrossing  Clerk  of  the  House  of 
Representatives  for  ten  years  in  succession,  and  retired,  voluntarily, 
from  that  position.  In  1837,  he  was  elected  a  Representative  from 
Talladega;  and,  in  1838,  was  elected  to  the  Senate,  from  the  dis 
trict  composed  of  Xalladega,  Benton,  and  Randolph.  In  the  mean 
time,  in  1836,  he  was  elected  Brigadier-General  of  the  Sixteenth 
Brigade.  After  closing  his  term  in  the  Senate,  he  remained  a 
private  citizen,  engaged  in  planting,  until  the  war  between  the 
States  commenced,  when  he  entered  the  service  of  the  Confederate 
States,  in  command  of  a  regiment;  but  his  age  and  infirmities 
obliged  him  to  desist,  and  return  home.  In  all  his  public  trusts, 
Gen.  McClellan  was  faithful,  attentive  to  his  duties,  and  affable  in 
his  address.  He  still  lives,  a  hale,  intelligent  gentleman,  and  a 
connecting  link  between  the  past  and  present  generations. 

THOMAS  S.  MAYS,  who  served  a  second  term  in  the  Senate,  was 
a  Polk  and  Dallas  Elector,  in  1844,  and  the  same  year  was  elected 
by  the  Legislature,  Judge  of  the  County  Court  of  Montgomery 
county,  which  office  he  held  for  a  few  years  and  resigned.  After 
wards,  he  succeeded  Mr.  George  C.  Ball  as  Clerk  of  the  Supreme 
Court,  and  while  holding  this  commission  he  died,  in  1853.  Judge 
Mays  was  a  lawyer  of  considerable  ability,  and  occupied  position 
in  professional  and  social  circles.  He  had  descended  from  good 
revolutionary  stock — the  Sumters  of  South  Carolina — of  which 
State  he  was  a  native.  He  belonged  to  the  State  Rights  school  of 
politicians. 


86  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 


CHAPTER  V. 

Sketches  of  Character — Retiring  Members  of  the  Legislature. 

The  preceding  chapter  concluded  with  a  brief  notice,  which  is 
here  continued,  in  relation  to  gentlemen  whose  service  in  the 
Legislature  terminated  with  the  session  of  1838-9. 

DR.  NEILL  SMITH,  of  the  Senate,  was  long  connected  with 
public  life ;  first  in  the  Legislature  of  North  Carolina,*  and  then 
in  that  of  Alabama,  and  occupied  a  medium  position  in  the  Senate 
of  the  latter  State.  He  was  defeated  in  1839  by  G.  W.  Creagh, 
who  succeeded  in  reading  him  out  of  the  Democratic  party  on 
account  of  his  vote  in  favor  of  the  constitutionality  of  the  Bank 
of  the  United  States.  Dr.  Smith  was  ambitious,  and  sought  the 
Presidency  of  the  Senate,  and  in  1836  came  near  compassing  his 
object,  which  would  have  made  him  Governor,  as  matters  turned 
out.  But  he  failed  on  this  wise :  He  had  succeeded  in  neutral 
izing  every  Democrat  who  had  any  pretensions  to  the  place,  by 
approaching  them  as  they  arrived  at  Tuskaloosa,  and  soliciting 
each  one  to  be  a  candidate  for  President  of  the  Senate.  Every 
one  in  turn  declined,  and  then  Dr.  Smith  would  tell  him  that  if 
he  did  not  want  it,  and  would  not  be  a  candidate,  he  would  like 
to  have  it  himself;  and  it  was  thus  an  easy  matter  to  get  gentle 
men  committed  after  such  a  flattering  oifer. 

Mr.  Hugh  McVay  had  not  yet  arrived,  and  Senators  found  out 
that  he  was  the  only  chance  to  defeat  the  plans  of  Smith.  To 
keep  Mr.  McVay  from  falling  into  the  trap,  watches  were  placed 
on  the  bridge  to  see  him  as  he  came  on,  advise  him  of  the  state 
of  things,  and  inform  him  that  he,, must  consider  himself  a  candi 
date.  This  was  done,  and  proved  a  palatable  message.  In  due 
time,  after  his  arrival  at  his  known  quarters,  Mr.  Smith  called, 

*Dr.  Smith  served  in  the  House  of  Commons,  from  Richmond  county,  in  the 
years  1810  and  1811. 


Meminwcences  of  Public  Mm  in  Alabama-.  87 

and,  after  the  usual  interchange  of  civilities,  told  McYay  that  he 
was  glad  he  had  arrived,  and  that  he  (Smith)  wanted  to  vote  for 
him  for  President  of  the  Senate.  McVay  thanked  him  for  his  good 
intentions  and  opinions,  and  told  him  he  was  a  candidate  for  the 
place,  and  should  esteem  it  a  singular  pleasure  to  receive  his  vote. 
This  was  more  than  was  expected  by  Smith,  who,  finding  himself 
fully  committed  at  his  own  game,  abandoned  the  canvass,  and 
Mr.  McVay  was  elected. 

Mr.  Smith  possessed  much  equanimity  of  feeling,  and  never 
allowed  himself  to  become  excited  or  vexed  amid  the  severe 
contests  in  which  he  was  frequently  engaged.  Gov.  Bagby  told 
me  an  anecdote  to  this  effect:  Smith  once  defeated  Mr.  James 
Dellet  for  the  Senate,  in  Monroe,  Clarke,  and  Washington,  so 
badly  that  Mr.  Dellet,  losing  his  patience  at  the  result,  and  the 
means  by  which  he  beliveed  it  had  been  brought  about,  fell  to 
abusing  Smith  the  day  after  the  election,  at  Claiborne,  telling  him 
how  meanly  he  had  acted,  how  base  he  was,  etc.  Smith  replied, 
in  the  presence  of  a  large  crowd — "  Mr.  Dellet,  what  do  you  sup 
pose  the  people  will  think  of  you,  if  I  am  the  man  you  say,  see 
ing  that  I  have  beaten  you  two  to  one  in  your  own  county?" 
This  was  said  so  good  humoredly  that  it  vanquished  Dellet. 

In  the  House,  the  following  gentlemen  ceased  their  connection 
with  the  Legislature,  viz:  John  P.  Booth,  of  Barbour;  Henry  T. 
Jones,  of  Butler;  Cornelius  Carmack,  of  Lauderdale;  A.  E.  Mills, 
of  Limestone;  B.  G.  Shields,  of  Marengo;  A.  S.  Lipsc-omb  and 
B.  McAlpin,  of  Mobile;  H.  W.  Hilliard  and  G.  D.  Shortridge,  of 
Montgomery;  L.  A.  Weisinger  and  W.  E.  Blassingame,  of  Perry, 
J.  M.  McClanahan,  of  Shelby;  W.  W.  Payne, of  Sumter;  Reuben 
Searcy>  of  Tuskaloosa,  and  M.  M.  Burke,  of  Wilcox.  All  of 
these  gentlemen  acted  prominently  in  the  debates  which  occurred, 
and  also  in  the  details  of  legislation*  Thomas  Price,  Engrossing 
Clerk,  also  retired. 

JOHN  P.  BOOTH  was  a  member  of  the  House  only  this  one 
session.  He  was  Major-General  of  the  6th  Division  of  Alabama 
Militia,  and  had  a  good  deal  to  do  in  the  Indian  troubles  of  1836,. 
which  bwught  him  prominently  forward.  He  took  a  leading 
position  at  once  in  the  House,  and  sustained  himself  so  well? 


88  Reminiscence  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

especially  with  the  dominant  party,  that  he  was  elected  Judge  of 
the  6th  Circuit  to  fill  the  vacancy  of  Chancellor  Crenshaw.  In 
terchanging  Circuits  in  the  ridings,  he  went  to  the  mountain 
country,  where  he  made  a  good  impression,  and  was  complimented 
in  the  papers  for  his  dignity  on  the  bench,  and  for  his  rapid  dis 
patch  of  business.  Thus  the  morning  of  his  judicial  administra 
tion  was  bright  and  promising ;  but  a  foe  lurked  in  his  path  more 
to  be  dreaded  by  men  of  his  social  habits  than  any  other.  Its 
effects  began  to  show  in  various  irregularities  in  his  administration 
of  justice,  and  at  length  broke  out  in  open  complaints  in  his  Cir 
cuit.  At  the  session  of  1842,  articles  of  impeachment  were 
moved  against  him  by  Mr.  Jackson,  a  Representative  from  Bar- 
bour;  but  a  majority  of  the  House  refused  the  investigation,  and 
in  a  short  time  Judge  Booth  resigned,  and  soon  afterwards  he 
died.  I  may  here  add  that  Judge  Booth  was  a  native  of  Georgia, 
and  was  the  second  of  Thomas  D.  Mitchell,  Esq.,  a  Solicitor- 
General  of  that  State,  who  was  killed  in  a  duel  by  Dr.  Ambrose 
Baber,  of  Macon,  in  1826.  His  nature  was  impulsive  and  emi 
nently  social,  and  his  address  agreeable,  easily  winning  confidence. 
But  he  disappointed  the  high  expectations  entertained  in  his  early 
career  by  friends  and  admirers,  and  his  fate  it  is  hoped,  may 
prove  a  warning  to  young  men,  to  avoid  the  seductions  which  led 
to  his  downfall. 

HENRY  T.  JONES  had  served  a  number  of  sessions  in  the 
House,  and  while  he  was  watchful,  and  particularly  attentive  to 
the  interests  of  his  constituents,  he  failed  from  some  cause,  proba 
bly  from  a  want  of  due  appreciation  by  others,  to  wield  much 
influence  in  the  House.  One  reason  no  doubt  was,  that  his  bitter 
hostility  to  the  Democratic  party,  which  exhibited  itself  upon  the 
slightest  occasion,  incurred  the  displeasure  of  that  party;  and  in 
his  own,  the  Whig  party,  his  leadership  was  ignored,  so  that  he 
was  kept  pretty  much  in  the  background.  The  consequence  was, 
he  became  to  some  extent  soured  and  isolated.  He  removed  from 
Butler  to  another  county  not  long  after  the  termination  of  the 
session. 

C.  CARMACK  had  long  represented  the  people  of  Lauderdale  in 
the  House,  and  with  such  acceptability  that  for  several  years  he 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  89 

had  desired  to  retire,  but  his  fellow-citizens  persisted  in  electing 
him.  He  told  me  in  1838  that  he  hoped  he  would  be  beaten  the 
ensuing  year,  as  then  he  would  have  a  good  excuse  to  decline  any 
further  attention  to  public  affairs,  which  did  not  suit  his  taste. 
Mr.  Carmack  was  a  plain,  unpretending  gentleman,  rather  re 
served  in  his  intercourse  with  the  members — investigated  closely 
all  the  subjects  upon  which  he  was  required  to  act  and  vote,  and 
took  his  course  from  the  stand-point  of  honest  conviction ;  and  this, 
once  determined  upon,  no  whispers  of  policy,  or  anything  short 
of  principle,  could  change  him.  He  was  much  respected  in  Legis 
lative  circles,  and  invited  frequently  to  the  social  meetings  of  his 
fellow-members.  Here,  while  his  strict  temperance  habits  were 
maintained,  he  would  relax  the  reserve  of  public  intercourse, 
and  enjoy  the  freedom  of  such  occasions  with  lively  jest  and 
anecdote.  Soon  after  this  year  he  removed  to  Mississippi,  where 
he  remained  in  private  life  until  1851,  when  the  State  called  a 
Convention  to  consider  the  political  questions  then  culminating. 
He  was  elected  as  a  Union  man,  and  on  the  assembling  of  the 
Convention,  he  was  made  its  President.  The  labors  of  this 
position  were  no  doubt  too  much  for  his  physical  ability,  which 
was  always  below  medium  condition,  and  on  his  way  home,  after 
the  adjournment,  sickened  and  died.  He  was  a  Democrat,  not 
because  anybody  else  was  or  had  been,  but  solely  from  principle, 
and  wherever  his  principles  led  him,  he  went.  This  course  of 
action  frequently  separated  him  from  friends  of  the  policy  school, 
but  did  not  on  his  part  produce  any  misunderstanding,  or  ill  blood. 
He  was  a  Christian  gentleman  without  austerity,  and  had  univer 
sal  charity  toward  his  fellow-beings. 

ARCHIBALD  E.  MILLS,  of  Limestone,  was  a  member  only  this 
session,  although  his  character  and  alliances  would  have  secured 
him  a  continuance  in  the  Legislature  had  he  desired  it ;  but  polit 
ical  life,  and  the  contests  attending  it,  did  not  suit  his  taste.  He 
was  well  educated,  had  studied  the  law  more  as  an  accomplish 
ment  than  a  pursuit;  for  he  was  a  wealthy  planter,  and  moved  in 
an  easy  circle.  Being  a  new  member,  he  participated  but  little 
in  the  debates,  and  was  highly  respected  for  his  intelligence  and 
gentle  bearing.  He  was  afterwards  President  of  the  Charleston 


90  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama: 

and  Memphis  Railroad;  in  which  capacity  he  exhibited  those  high 
business  qualities  which  a  few  years  developed.  He  died  several 
years  ago,  perhaps  while  President  of  the  Road. 

BENJAMIN  G.  SHIELDS  had  the  experience  of  several  years  in 
the  House.  His  election  in  Marengo  during  those  times  was  an 
evidence  of  his  personal  popularity,  inasmuch  as  the  county  was 
decidedly  Whig  in  politics,  while  Mr.  Shields  was  a  decided  and 
leading  Democrat  of  the  Jackson  school.  This  classification  con 
tributed  no  little  to  defeat  his  election  to  the  Speakership  at  this 
and  the  preceding  session.  In  1841  he  was  nominated  and  elected 
to  Congress  from  the  Mobile  District  upon  the  general  ticket,  and 
served  through  one  term  with  entire  satisfaction  to  his  friends. 
President  Polk  afterwards  appointed  him  United  States  Minister 
to  Venezuela,  in  South  America,  and  he  was  abroad  several  years. 
This  ended  his  connection  with  public  employments ;  but  his  rela 
tion  with  his  old  party  was  kept  up,  and  in  1851  he  was  incident 
ally  supported  for  Governor  in  opposition  to  Chief  Justice  Collier 
— receiving  5,747  votes.  This  resulted  not  so  much  from  any 
special  organized  candidacy  upon  the  part  of  Mr.  Shields,  as  a 
feeling  of  dissatisfaction  toward  Mr.  Collier,  and  the  identity  of 
Mr.  Shields  with  that  feeling.  It  cannot,  however,  be  justly 
regarded  as  a  test  of  his  strength;  for,  really,  he  was  in  favor  of 
the  Union,  which  was  the  main  issue  in  that  election,  which  the 
majority  decided  in  the  affirmative.  Had  the  movement  been 
made  at  an  early  day,  -so  as  to  secure  cooperation,  he  might  have 
given  Gov.  Collier  a  good  race,  though  there  was  but  little  prob 
ability  that  the  latter  could  have  been  defeated  by  this  or  any 
other  combination.  Not  long  after  this  period,  Mr.  Shields  re 
moved  to  Texas. 

When  the  writer  first  knew  him,  in  1837,  Mr.  Shields  belonged 
to  the  class  of  younger  men,  with  a  mind  well  matured,  and  well 
stored  with  information,  political  and  otherwise.  He  conversed 
with  ease  and  fluency,  his  address  was  courteous,  and,  altogether, 
he  was  an  agreeable  gentleman,  with  a  good  person,  a  well  rounded 
face,  piercing  dark  eye,  etc.  His  speeches  in  the  Legislature 
were  well  prepared,  and  addressed  generally  in  a  calm  and  dis 
passionate  manner;  but  on  some  occasions  he  was  more  excite^ 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Mm  in  Alabama.  91 

though  his  delivery  continued  to  be  clear  and  distinct,  and  his 
language  well  chosen.  He  was  a  member  of  the  legal  profession; 
and,  with  his  cast  of  mind,  had  his  energies  been  confined  in  that 
direction,  he  would  unquestionably  have  taken  high  rank  at  the 
bar;  but  politics  and  planting,  stimulated  by  the  expansion  of 
credit,  gave  a  different  scope  to  his  faculties. 

HON.  ABNER  S.  LIPSCOMB  was  a  Representative  from  Mobile 
this  session,  yielding  to  the  urgent  solicitations  of  the  people  that 
fie  would  serve  their  interests.  This  was  doubtless  a  sacrifice  on 
his  part,  as  he  had  filled  the  highest  judicial  position  in  the  State, 
from  which  he  had  retired  voluntarily,  and  had  at  various  times 
received  from  the  public  tokens  of  the  confidence  which  was 
reposed  in  his  ability  and  integrity.  He  occupied  but  little  time 
in  debate,  and  while  on  the  floor  spoke  pointedly,  and  in  rather 
in  advisory  tone.  He  had  more  influence,  especially  on  legal 
questions,  than  any  other  member.  An  instance  may  be  given: 
A  bill  was  on  its  passage  to  authorize  the  sale  of  lands  of  an 
estate,  and  was  about  to  go  through  without  an  objection,  when 
he  rose  and  requested  that  the  yeas  and  nays  might  be  taken,  that 
he  might  record  his  vote  against  it,  believing  that  it  was  unconsti 
tutional.  He  said  but  little,  and  that  in  a  quiet  way.  The  vote 
was  taken,  and  every  member  voted  against  the  bill — a  unanimity 
ind  force  of  compliment  never  before  paid  any  public  man. 

Judge  Lipscomb  was  identified  with  Alabama,  and  especially 
Mobile,  from  an  early  day,  and  devoted  his  great  mind  and  ener 
gies  to  the  development  of  the  judicial  system  of  the  one,  and  the 
social  and  commercial  interests  of  the  other.  The  leading  men  of 
the  State  knew  and  respected  him,  and  all  delighted  in  his  con 
versation  and  counsel,  which  was  pleasant,  profitable,  and  safe. 
A.S  a  Judge,  he  was  profound,  and  scrupulously  exact  in  holding 
the  scales  of  justice;  as  a  lawyer,  he  was  faithful  and  successful; 
is  a  citizen,  public-spirited,  sociable,  and  useful.  In  a  word,  he 
idorned  all  the  relations  of  life,  and  made  the  impress  of  his 
character  upon  all.  He  was  plain  and  unpretending,  and  far  from 
pedantry  and  egotism.  Alabama,  in  her  society  and  institutions, 
long  enjoyed  the  benefit  of  his  example. 

When  I  knew  Judge  Lipscomb,   in  1838,   he   was  somewhat 


9'2  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men,  in 

advanced  in  years.  His  black  hair  was  mixed  with  gray  or  white, 
but  his  step  was  firm  and  elastic;  his  person  well  developed,  a 
strong  and  stout  frame.  Indeed,  as  he  moved  about  the  House, 
in  his  quiet  attention  to  business,  one  was  impressed  with  the 
conviction  that  he  was  no  ordinary  man.  In  a  few  years  there 
after,  he  chose  the  new  Republic,  Texas,  as  his  residence.  There 
he  was  soon  called  to  the  head  of  the  State  Department,  where  he 
exhibited  those  strong  traits  of  character  required  at  that  time  for 
the  station.  After  receiving  many  testimonials  of  favor  from  his 
adopted  State,  he  died  several  years  ago. 

BLANTON  McALPiN  also  served  but  this  one  session.  He  was 
defeated  the  next  year,  and  subsequently  was  elected  Mayor  of 
Mobile — a  position  he  filled  with  energy,  and  to  the  satisfaction 
of  the  people.  He  was  a  Democrat  in  the  nill  sense  of  the  word, 
asking  and  giving  no  quarter  politically.  He  made  a  good,  work 
ing  member,  but  weakened  his  influence  by  too  much  speech- 
making,  and  the  display  of  more  or  less  bitterness  of  feeling, 
especially  on  political  questions.  When  the  resolutions  on  Federal 
policy  were  under  discussion,  he  took  the  floor,  and  signalized 
himself  by  the  indulgence  of  harsh  expressions,  and  by  vindictive 
assaults  on  the  motives  and  purposes  of  the  opposing  party,  which 
served  only  to  wound  without  benefiting  any  cause.  The  House 
was  worn-out  with  the  debate,  and  once  or  twice  he  addressed 
empty  benches.  This  greatly  mortified  him,  and  had  its  influence 
on  his  deportment  for  the  balance  of  the  session.  His  battle  of 
life  had  evidently  been  a  severe  one,  intensifying  his  feelings  to  a 
dictatorial  pitch,  nearly  akin  to  dcxpotmn,  in  his  contests  with  man. 
He  possessed  an  ability  and  influence  generally  successful  with 
the  masses,  and  he  had  some  good  traits  of  character.  However 
objectionable  his  bearing  on  political  occasions,  he  was  true  to  his 
principles,  and  defended  them  to  the  last  ditch.  His  influence  at 
the  polls  in  the  city  of  Mobile,  for  several  years,  was  potent, 
especially  with  his  party.  Years  ago  he  went  to  California,  and 
whether  he  is  now  living  or  dead,  is  a  fact  on  which  I  have  no 
information. 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  93 

HENRY  WASHINGTON  HILLIARD  was  born  in  North  Carolina 
in  1808.  In  1824,  he  graduated  at  Columbia  College,  South 
Carolina,  where  his  father  resided ;  and  after  pursuing  a  course  of 
legal  studies,  he  removed  to  Athens,  Georgia,  where  he  remained 
two  years,  and  wa>s  in  the  meantime  admitted  to  the  bar.  In  1831 
lie  was  elected  Professor  in  the  University  of  Alabama.  The 
author  has  before  him  a  pamphlet  of  ten  pages,  entitled,  "An 
Address  delivered  in  the  Representative  Hall,  before  the  General 
Assembly  of  the  State  of  Alabama,  and  the  Citizens  of  Tuska- 
loosa,  December  7,  1832,  in  Commemoration  of  the  Death  of 
Charles  Carroll,  of  Carrollton,  by  Professor  HILLIARD,  of  the 
University  of  Alabama." 

The  following  correspondence  appears  in  relation  to  the  address: 

REPRESENTATIVE  HALL,  December  14,  1832. 

The  REV.  H.  W.  HILLIARD — Dear  Sir:  In  accordance  with  a  resolution  adopted 
by  the  House  of  Repsesentatives,  instructing  the  Committee  of  Arrangements  to 
wait  on  the  orator  of  the  7th  instant,  and  tender  the  grateful  acknowledgements 
of  that  body,  and  respectfully  solicit  a  copy  of  the  address  for  publication,  we 
have  the  honor,  sir,  to  concur,  and  at  the  same  time  to  request  your  acquiescence. 
Your  Obedient  Servant,  P.  WALTER  HERBERT,  Chairman. 

UNIVERSITY  OP  ALABAMA,  December  16,  1832. 

P.  WALTER  HERBERT,  Esq.,  Chairman — Dear  Sir:  It  is  gratifying  to  learn  that 
the  address  delivered  on  the  7th  instant  was  satisfactory  to  the  honorable  body  at 
whose  request  it  was  prepared.  The  few  days  given  me  to  prepare  for  the  occa 
sion  were  so  occupied  with  other  pursuits,  that  I  am  conscious  it  has  many  imper 
fections.  Under  ordinary  circumstances,  I  should  not  consent  to  its  publication; 
but  regarding  it  as  an  humble  tribute  to  one  dear  to  us  all,  I  cheerfully  comply 
with  the  request,  so  politely  expressed  by  yourself,  as  Chairman  of  the  Committee. 
Your  Obedient  Servant,  HENRY  W.  HILLIARD. 

To  those  old  enough  to  remember  the  sensation  created  in  the 
public  mind  by  the  death  of  John  Adams  and  Thomas  Jefferson, 
on  the  4th  of  July,  1826,  just  fifty  years  after  they  had  signed  the 
Declaration  of  American  Independence — one  its  author,  and  the 
other  its  strongest  advocate  on  the  floor  of  the  Continental 
Congress — it  will  readily  occur  how  much  interest  was  felt 
in  Mr.  Carroll,  as  the  last  of  the  fifty-six  signers.  He  was 
born  in  1737,  in  Maryland,  and  died  in  that  State  in  1832,  at  the 
age  of  ninety-five  years. 

After  noting  the  thorough  education  of  Mr.  Carroll  in  the  first 
colleges  of  Europe,  his  return  to  America,  and  his  public  services 


94  Reminissences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

up  to  the  meeting  of  the  General  Congress,  of  which  he  was  a 
member,  in  1776,  Mr.  Hilliard  says: 

It  is  said  that  when  Mr.  Howard  asked  Mr.  Carroll  if  he  would 
sign,  he  replied,  "Most  willingly."  As  he  approached  the  desk 
of  the  Secretary  and  affixed  his  name  to  the  Declaration,  some 
one  in  the  lobby,  apprehensive  of  an  unfortunate  termination  of 
the  contest,  and  anticipating  the  confiscation  of  property  which 
must  follow,  exclaimed,  "There  goes  half  a  million  at  the  dash  of 
a  pen!"  But  no,  "there's  a  divinity  which  shapes  our  ends." 
True,  he  risked  much — more  perhaps  than  any  other  man — but 
he  lost  nothing. 

Mr.  Carroll  remained  in  Congress  until  1778,  when  he  returned 
home  to  give  his  services  to  his  native  State,  to  which  he  seems 
to  have  been  deeply  attached.  In  the  year  1788,  however,  we 
find  him  in  the  Senate  of  the  United  States,  immediately  after 
the  adoption  of  the  Federal  Constitution.  In  two  years  he  vacated 
his  seat,  and  retiring  once  more  to  his  native  State,  engaged  in 
local  politics  until  1801,  when  his  public  life  closed,  at  the  age  of 
sixty-three. 

The  remainder  of  his  life  was  passed  in  peaceful,  and  dignified, 
and  happy  retirement.  He  enjoyed  a  richer  reward  than  ordina 
rily  falls  to  the  lot  of  man.  He  lived  to  see  the  work  of  his 
hands  established;  he  received  the  best  of  all  rewards,  which 
Gray  describes  in  his  surpassingly  beautiful  Elegy  in  a  Country 
Churchyard.  It  was  his  lot — 

The  applause  of  listening  Senates  to  command; 

The  threats  of  pain  and  ruin  to  despise; 
To  scatter  plenty  o'er  a  smiling  land, 

And  read  his  history  in  a  nation's  eyes. 

He  saw  growing  up  around  him  a  great,  virtuous  and  happy 
family ;  he  saw  them  spreading  themselves  out  from  the  waves  of 
the  Atlantic  to  the  foot  of  the  Rocky  Mountains,  carrying  with 
them  the  arts  of  civilized  life,  and  laying  deep  the  foundations  of 
a  great,  and  good,  and  enduring  Government.  A  beneficent  Prov 
idence  lengthened  out  his  days,  and  permitted  him  to  survive  all 
who  acted  with  him  in  the  great  and  illustrious  scenes  of  his  life. 
He  saw  them  fall  around  him  one  by  one  until,  forsaken  by  those 
of  his  own  day,  he  found  himself  standing  in  the  midst  of  a  new 
generation.  Let  us  visit  him  at  his  fireside;  we  see  him  sur 
rounded  by  the  elegances  of  life,  receiving  the  caresses  of  his 
children,  and  his  children's  children,  whilst  brooding  over  the 
circle,  Religion  sheds  her  holy  light.  When  about  to  leave  the 
earth,  he  turned  his  face  for  the  last  time  upon  its  scenes — what 
was  the  sight  which  met  his  dying  vision?  Glorious  beyond 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  95 

description ;  he  saw  the  broad  lands  about  him  soon  covered  with 
smiling1  fields,  the  forest  giving  back  before  the  wave  of  popula 
tion;  tlf  e  institutions  of  his  country  striking  their  roots  deep,  and 
'•spreadir  ig  their  branches  wide;  he  saw  the  broad  banner  which 
he  had  <  stretched  out  his  hand  to  raise  in  the  dark  day  of  doubt  and 

•  clanger,   when  hostile  bayonets  bristled  all  around  it,  now  floating 
Ihigh  ab  ove  proud,  happy  and  free  States,  undimmed  by  the  smoke 
i  >f  war. ,  unstained  by  the  blood  of  battle,  but  covered  all  over 
\  vith  t\  le  blessed  light  of  peace. 

We  are  here  this  day  to  bid  a  last  farewell  to  the  Signers  of  the 
1  )ecla-  ration  of  Independence.  Henceforth,  they  are  not  associated 
with  the  scenes  of  earth;  their  deeds  have  passed  into  history; 
tliey  'belong  to  a  brighter  world.  Farewell,  illustrious  men.  You 
ci  in  o  ever  pass  from  our  hearts. 

The  love  where  death  has  set  his  heel,         * 
Nor  age  can  chill,  nor  rival  steal, 
Noiv.  falsehood  disavow. 

Le    t  us  cherish  their  memory.     When  a  truly  great  man  falls, 
the  n    ation  should  honor  him;    they  should  hang  their  garlands 
his  urn;  all  that  can  be  done  to  make  his  fame  enduring, 
be  done  freely.     The  memory  of  such  men  constitutes  the 
moral     property  of  the  nation,  and  when  her  fleets  and  armies  are 

*  -tt<*    ed  and  torn;  when  her  cities  are  levelled  with  the  dust; 

*n  •,  all  her  other  monuments  are  crumbling  beneath  the  march 

f  T    ?t  lie>  ^n   ^1G    momory    °*'  ^ie    £reat    ail(l  good  will  stand 
ed  amid  the  wrecks  around,  telling  to  all  generations  the 
unmo\        -  ]ier  greatness,  and  encouraging  men  throughout  all  timo 
story  oi         leeds 
to  good  L 

T    fill  t\       Xe  Chair  in  the  Faculty  of  a  College  as  Mr.  Hilliard 
^  of  twenty-three  years,  and  to  be  called  upon  by  a 
did,  at  the  SLI        .  , ,      T      .  ,  ,  „  „    J 

the  Legislature,  at  twenty-four,  to  perform  such  a 
Committee  of          ,  .  lr 

t  in  a  solemn  public  ceremony,  was  at  least  evidence 

'mprovement  in  the  morning  of  life  rarely  wit- 
of  ability  and  \  ., 

a      T    ,  .    «       it-ure  there  was  no  retrograde — no  susi)ension  of 
jiessea.     In  IIIH  IL  -,    , 

•tual  character, 
progress  in  mtellec  .      ,,      T)    r          ,  .      ,r 

fA  .  'ee  years  in  the  Professorship,  Mr.  Hilliard 

After  serving  thi         •     ir 

.        ,  ®  ,    ,         ]u  Montgomery  to  pursue  the  iiraotice  of  the 

resigned,  and  settled  .  .  , 

TT     ,    j  ,   '  »me  time  connected  with  the  itinerancy  of 

law.     He  had  been  sc        ,  n,       ,         ,    x.n 

„  ^     ,.  ,  -^  .   '  Church,  and  still  exercised  the  functions 

the  Methodist  Episcoptu  „ 

,.     T      ,      ...          VV          was  first  elected  a  Representative  in  the 
of  a  local  minister.     H£ 

T      .  ,  ,         n        M  iery  county,  in  1836,  and  airaiu  in  1838, 

Legislature  from  Mont^oix 


96  Reminiscences  of  PubRc  Men  in  Alabama. 

Mr.  Billiard  came  into  the  House  in  1838  with  a  reputation  for 
ability,  and  qualities  as  a  gentleman,  which  he  fully  sustained. 
Participating  in  the  debate  on  the  Sub-Treasury  resolutions  offered 
by  Judge  Smith,  he  replied  to  that  gentleman  in  a  speech  of  two 
days,  which  added  greatly  to  his  character  as  an  orator  and  states 
man.  He  was  a  Whig  of  the  State  Rights  school,  ardently 
devoted  to  the  interests  of  the  South,  yet  in  his  patriotism  em 
bracing  the  whole  country.  But  few  men  could  charm  an  audience 
by  the  gracefulness  of  manner,  ease  and  beauty  of  delivery,  and 
rich  imagery  of  conception,  more  than  Mr.  Hilliard.  He  was  a 
favorite  at  Tuskaloosa,  and  on  the  days  he  addressed  the  House 
in  reply  to  Judge  Smith,  the  lobby  and  gallery  were  crowded 
with  the  elite  of  the  city,  and  strangers  visiting  the  Capital. 
While  his  political  status  prevented  his  accomplishing  much  in 
his  attempt  to  carry  out  his  measures  of  policy,  he  established  a 
fine  reputation  among  men  of  all  parties  for  high-toned  bearing 
and  social  intercourse. 

Mr.  Hilliard  was  a  delegate  to  the  Whig  Convention  at  Harris- 
burg,  in  1839,  which  nominated  Gen.  Harrison  and  Mr.  Tyler, 
and  it  was  on  his  motion  that  the  latter  gentleman  was  placed  on 
the  ticket  for  the  Vice-Presidency.  After  Mr.  Tyler  succeeded 
to  the  first  office,  on  the  death  of  President  Harrison,  he  appointed 
Mr.  Hilliard  Charge  de  Affairs  to  Belgium,  where  he  remained 
until  the  election  of  Mr.  Polk.  In  1845,  he  was  elected  to  Con 
gress  from  the  Montgomery  District,  over  the  Hon.  John  Cochran, 
his  Democratic  competitor.  In  1847,  he  was  reflected,  and  again 
in  1849;  the  last  time  over  James  L.  Pugh,  Esq.,  of  Barbour 
county,  who  was  brought  forward  and  supported  as  the  Southern 
Rights  candidate.  The  meeting  between  these  two  gentlemen  at 
the  Court-House  in  Montgomery,  was  an  event  I  well  remember, 
for  I  went  there  determined  not  to  become  excited,  but  to  listen 
and  to  learn.  The  discussion  was  opened  by  Mr.  Pugh,  in  an 
attack  upon  Mr.  Hilliard's  record  in  Congress,  in  which  he  exhib 
ited  boldness,  and  an  intimate  knowledge  of  his  topic.  This  was 
presented  without  disguise  or  abatement,  arriving  at  the  conclu 
sion  that  the  interests  of  the  South,  in  those  critical  times,  were 
not  safe  in  such  hands.  Mr.  Hilliard's  reply  was  commenced 
under  the  influence  of  strong  feeling,  produced  by  the  attacks 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  97 

made  upon  him.  His  retorts  upon  Mr.  Pugh  were  scathing,  and 
elicited  rounds  of  applause ;  and  in  a  speech  of  one  hour  and  a 
half  (the  time  allotted  to  each)  he  vindicated  himself  to  the  sat 
isfaction  of  his  friends.  He  defeated  his  competitor  after  an 
exciting  contest.  At  the  end  of  this  term  in  Congress,  he  retired, 
and  resumed  the  practice  of  law  with  success ;  in  the  meanwhile, 
officiating  sometimes  in  the  pulpit  to  large  audiences  who  were 
attracted  by  his  eloquence.  For  several  years,  Mr.  Hilliard  was 
a  Regent  of  the  Smithsonian  Institute  at  Washington  City,  an 
honor  bestowed  by  Congress  only  on  gentlemen  of  acknowledged 
literary  attainments.  For  the  last  five  or  six  years  Mr.  Hilliard 
has  resided  in  Augusta,  Georgia.  His  career  of  six  years  in 
Congress  brought  him  into  association  with  some  of  the  ablest  men 
in  the  country,  and  secured  him  general  respect.  He  frequently 
engaged  in  the  debates  with  honor  to  himself  as  an  orator  and 
statesman.  A  volume  of  his  speeches  and  addresses  has  been 
published  by  the  Messrs.  Harper,  of  New  York.  Mr.  Hilliard 
commanded  a  Legion  in  the  late  war  between  the  States. 

GEORGE  D.  SHORTRIDGE  was  also  a  member  from  Montgomery 
county  at  this,  his  only  session.  Although  young,  he  came  with  a 
good  deal  of  prestige  as  a  rising  man.  He  participated  but  little 
in  debate,  but  was  an  industrious  and  useful  member.  He  had 
filled  the  office  of  Solicitor  of  the  8th  Circuit,  but  had  resigned 
on  his  election  to  the  Legislature.  In  1844,  he  was  elected 
Judge  of  the  3d  Circuit,  and  remained  on  the  Bench  for  ten 
years,  discharging  his  duties  satisfactorily  to  the  public.  In  1855, 
he  resigned,  and  accepted  the  nomination  of  the  American,  or 
Know-Nothing  party,  for  Governor,  in  opposition  to  Gov.  Wins 
ton.  The  contest  was  animated  and  exciting,  and  in  the  end 
became  bitter.  They  canvassed  together,  and  measured  strength 
upon  the  stump,  both  encouraged,  wherever  they  spoke,  by  ardent 
friends  in  the  multitudes  collected  on  such  occasions.  Gov.  Wins 
ton  was  reflected  by  some  ten  or  twelve  thousand  majority.  Mr. 
Shortridge  then  resumed  the  practice  of  the  law,  and  in  1861  he 
was  returned  as  a  member  of  the  State  Convention  which,  in 
January,  with  his  assistance,  passed  the  Ordinance  of  Secession. 
Since  then  he  has  been  engaged  in  private  pursuits.  It,  is  proper 


98  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

to  remark  that  he  was  a  son  of  the  Hon.  Eli  Shortridge,  who  was 
formerly  a  Judge  of  the  Circuit  Court  of  Alabama — a  gentleman 
of  the  greatest  urbanity  of  manner,  of  the  most  attractive  social 
qualities,  and  of  a  style  of  eloquence  before  a  Court  and  Jury 
rarely  excelled  in  sweetness,  polish,  and  beauty. 

L.  A.  WEISINGER,  of  Perry,  concluded  at  this  session  a  term 
of  several  years'  service  in  the  Legislature.  His  friends  were  of 
opinion  that  he  retired  too  soon;  for  while  the  State  was  deprived 
of  his  valuable  counsels,  it  was  generally  thought  he  had  before 
him  a  good  prospect  of  success.  He  was  a  gentleman  of  solid 
attainments,  with  a  fund  of  common  sense  that  fitted  him  well  for 
the  place  of  a  legislator.  A  State  Rights  man  of  the  strictest 
school,  he  came  into  cooperation  with  the  Democratic  party  on  the 
Sub-Treasury  question,  and  voted  with  that  party  upon  political 
issues.  He  investigated  for  himself  and  acted  upon  his  convic 
tions,  to  which  he  frequently  gave  utterance  in  resolutions  sub 
mitted,  and  in  speeches  upon  the  floor  of  the  House,  expressive 
of  his  views.  His  social  qualities  were  good,  and  he  was  esteemed 
as  a  gentleman  of  substantial  merit.  He  retired  in  the  vigor  of 
manhood. 

W.  E.  BLASSINGAME,  his  colleague,  served  only  this  session, 
when  he  was  quiet  in  his  manner,  but  attentive  to  his  duties. 
His  tastes  led  him  rather  into  the  field  of  literature,  having  the 
advantages  of  a  good  education  and  extensive  reading.  He  made 
a  good  impression  by  his  deportment,  and  modest,  gentlemanly 
bearing;  and,  had  he  continued  in  public  life,  he  would  no  doubt 
have  taken  a  high  position  in  the  councils  of  the  State.  He  was 
long  a  resident  of  Perry  county,  respected  for  his  probity,  and 
died  several  years  ago. 

JOHN  M.  MCCLANAHAN  served  through  the  sessions  of  1837 
and  1838,  a  young  man  of  modest  deportment,  amounting  almost 
to  timidity.  After  this,  he  engaged  earnestly  in  professional  pur 
suits  as  a  lawyer,  and  in  private  enterprises.  For  many  years  he 
was  Judge  of  the  County  and  Probate  Court  of  Shelby,  in  which 
office  he  gave  entire  satisfaction  to  the  people.  He  was  successful 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Mm  in  Alabama.  99 

in  the  acquisition  of  property,  and  the  war  found  him  well  to  do. 
He  went  into  the  Convention  of  1861  with  Judge  Shortridge,  as 
a  delegate  from  Shelby,  and  cooperated  with  the  majority.  After 
the  surrender,  he  removed  to  Louisiana,  where,  in  1867,  he  was 
killed  by  lightning.  He  was  a  gentleman  of  intelligence,  and  a 
valuable  citizen. 

WILLIAM  WINTER  PAYNE  was  first  elected  a  member  of  the 
House  from  Franklin  county,  in  1832,  when  a  young  man.  He 
afterwards  removed  to  Sumter,  from  which  county  he  was  elected 
successively  for  several  years.  In  1839  he  was  the  candidate  of 
the  Democratic  party  for  the  Senate,  and  was  beaten  by  Samuel 
B.  Boyd,  Esq.,  only  four  votes  out  of  2,500.  Conceiving  that  he 
had  grounds,  he  contested  Mr.  Boyd's  election,  which  brought  the 
matter  before  the  Senate  for  investigation.  The  result  was  that 
the  election  of  Mr.  Boyd,  the  sitting  member,  was  declared 
invalid,  and  another  election  was  ordered,  though  too  late  in  the 
session  for  any  practical  use,  and  it  went  over  to  the  regular  elec 
tion  in  1840,  when  Mr.  Payne  declined  the  contest.  In  1841,  he 
was  nominated  for  Congress  by  the  Democratic  Convention  of  the 
Tuskaloosa  District,  and  was  elected  on  the  general  ticket.  In 
1843,  he  defeated  Col.  Elisha  Young,  the  Whig  candidate  in  the 
District.  This  was  no  common  victory,  as  Col.  Young  was  intel 
lectually  a  strong  man,  of  finished  education,  and  powerful  in 
debate;  and  withal,  a  gentleman  of  high  character.  In  1845, 
Mr.  Payne  defeated  John  Erwiu,  Esq.,  who  was  before  the 
people  as  an  independent  candidate  for  Congress.  In  1847,  he 
was  superceded  by  Samuel  W.  Inge,  Esq.,  in  the  nominating  Con 
vention,  soon  after  which  he  ceased  to  be  a  citizen  of  Alabama, 
and  returned  to  Virginia,  his  native  State. 

Few  men  in  Alabama,  or  elsewhere,  possessed  more  decided 
traits  of  character,  or  more  self-reliance,  with  a  natural  ability, 
physical  and  mental,  to  command  success.  Mr.  Payne  was  an 
educated  man,  although  no  college  diploma  may  have  conferred 
that  title.  But,  whatever  his  opportunities  in  youth,  he  was  to 
all  intents  and  purposes  a  power  within  himself,  calculated  to 
bring  the  masses  into  subjection  to  his  logic  and  his  boldness.  In 
the  canvass  or  in  the  Legislature,  he  had  his  authorities  well 


100  Ifaniniwm'Cit  of  Public  Mini  in  Alabama 


tor  argument,  ami  whoever  faced  him  incurred  no  ordi 
nary  ha/ard,  as  what  he  lacked  in  the  strength  of  his  cause,  or  in 
his  preparation  to  support  it,  he  made  up  in  a  potency  of  voice 
well  managed,  and  by  emphatic  motions  of  his  head,  which  riveted 
his  own  ideas  on  the  audience,  while  it  rendered  those  of  his 
antagonist  exceedingly  feeble  in  the  comparison  of  vocal  thunder. 
Mr.  Payne  was  a  wealthy  planter,  and  had  leisure  to  improve 
his  mind  by  books,  and  by  the  study  of  mankind.  During  the 
six  years  he  was  in  Congress,  from  1841  to  1847,  he  established  a 
prominent  character  in  the  party  to  which  he  belonged.  By  no 
means  diffident,  he  was  often  on  the  floor,  as  his  numerous  speeches 
rejx>rted  in  the  "Congressional  Globe"  will  show,  all  marked  with 
ability,  if  not  with  liberality.  He  knew  the  prejudices  and  feel 
ings  of  the  people  in  common  life,  and  seldom  tailed  to  adopt  his 
political  music  to  their  sensations,  an  example  of  which  was  given 
in  his  speech  on  the  Tariff,  in  which  he  said  that  even  the  sugar 
in  which  a  mother  mixed  medicine  for  her  sick  babe,  was  taxed 
by  the  Government!  Such  was  the  fact,  however,  though  it  may 
not  have  railed  for  the  pathos  of  the  illustration.  But  being  a 
man  of  the  people,  and  striving  to  please,  Mr.  Payne  had  a  right 
to  express  his  sympathies  in  a  way  he  deemed  most  effectual  at 
the  ballot-box.  By  talents,  experience,  and  address,  he  was 
qualified  for  high  places,  to  which  his  ambition  was  directed. 
This  was  no  doubt  perceived  by  other  men  of  the  party,  who 
believed  that  Mr.  Payne  honestly  considered  himself  entitled  to 
a  life  estate  in  Congress,  or  in  whatever  station  he  might  prefer. 
At  all  event-,  by  the  machinery  of  a  convention,  he  was  put  out 
of  the  way  of  others,  perhaps  as  worthy,  and  the  chagrin  he  man 
ifested  by  leaving  Alabama,  showed  how  the  barb  quivered  in 
his  vitals.  He  ought  to  have  risen  superior  to  such  an  influence; 
for  he  had  a  weight  of  character  spotless  in  private  life,  and  solid 
for  public  service,  on  which  he  could  have  rested  in  tranquillity 
and  with  honor  the  balance  of  a  long  career.  He  has  been  heard 
to  ascribe  his  preservation  from  a  horrible  death  to  the  entreaty 
of  his  wife,  who  prevailed  on  him  not  to  form  one  of  the  official 
party  on  board  the  United  States  steamer  "Princeton,"  in  1844, 
when  the  big  gun  of  Com.  Stockton  bursted,  and  killed  Mr. 
Upshur,the  Secretary  of  State;  Mr.  Gilmer,  the  Secretary  of  the 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  101 

Navy;  Cora.  Kennon,  and  Col.  Gardner;  and  injured  others, 
among  whom  was  Col.  Benton.  Mr.  Payne  had  accepted  the 
invitation  to  be  present  at  the  trial  of  the  gun,  and  was  on  the 
point  of  going,  when  his  better  angel  interposed. 

DR.  REUBEN  SEARCY  was  a  member  this  year  only,  and  proved 
himself  an  efficient,  safe  legislator.  He  has  long  been  a  practi 
tioner  of  medicine  in  Tuskaloosa,  where  he  has  justly  attained  a 
high  rank  in  his  profession,  and  has  contributed  no  little,  by  his 
attentions  and  counsel,  to  the  inauguration  of  the  Lunatic  Asylum, 
of  which  he  lias  been  a  Trustee  or  Director.  He  was  held  in  high 
esteem  as  a  citizen,  and  member  of  the  Democratic  party. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

Sketches  Continued.— Elections  of  1839. 

MALCOLM  M.  BURKE,  of  Wilcox,  took  his  seat  in  the  House 
a  few  days  after  its  organization  in  1838,  and  immediately  entered 
into  the  debates  which  had  commenced.  A  Whig,  young,  bold, 
and  fearless,  and  rather  impulsive,  he  gained  attention,  and  soon 
became  a  prominent  actor  on  the  Whig  side  of  the  House.  His 
criticisms  and  arraignments  of  the  members  of  the  Democratic 
party,  produced  some  sparring  in  the  heat  of  discussion,  which, 
however,  passed  away  with  the  occasion.  For  one  so  young,  his 
person  was  well  developed,  large,  and  commanding,  with  a  broad 
chest,  eagle  eyes,  auburn  hair,  large  nose  and  mouth.  His  social 
qualities  were  of  a  high  order,  and  few  men  were  more  courted  in 
the  social  circle,  or  responded  more  gracefully  to  the  advances  of 
his  friends.  His  star  blazed  for  one  'session,  and  rose  rapidly 
toward  the  ascendant;  but  its  luster  was  obscured  by  death,  before 
another  meeting  of  the  Legislature.  If  I  mistake  not,  he  was 
reflected,  and  died  soon  thereafter. 


102  Reftiiniscmces  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

THOMAS  PRICE,  Engrossing  Clerk  of  the  House,  ceased  his  con 
nection  with  it  at  the  end  of  this  session,  and  justice  demands  a 
notice  of  him  at  my  hands.  He  had  been  Sheriff  of  Morgan 
county,  elected  when  quite  young,  and  discharged  the  duties  of  the 
office  with  credit.  In  1837,  he  was  elected  Engrossing  Clerk,  and 
again  in  1838.  His  clerical  abilities  were  not  of  a  high  order,  still 
he  kept  his  business  up,  and  got  along,  and  was  popular.  Indeed, 
his  popularity  wits  proverbial,  and  why  not?  Nature  had  blessed 
him  with  a  good  face,  upon  which  there  was  a  perpetual  smile  and 
sunshine,  emanating  from  a  good  heart,  which  prompted  him  to  be 
kind  and  accommodating  to  everybody,  whatever  the  relation.  In 
the  whole  course  of  an  extensive  acquaintance  with  men,  I  never 
knew  one  who  was  more  ready  to  forget  self  in  a  willingness  to 
serve  another.  He  was  a  boon  companion,  conversed  well  upon 
common  topics,  and  in  his  company  one  would  soon  forget  the  cares 
of  life,  in  the  pleasure  of  his  lively  anecdote  and  fun.  He  ranked 
as  a  Democrat,  but  knew  little  of  politics,  and  cared  less,  except 
so  far  as  was  necessary  to  keep  himself  in  line. 

In  1838,  while  the  canvass  for  the  organization  of  the  two  Houses 
was  going  on,  a  prominent  member  of  the  State  Rights  party  ap 
proached,  (I  was  then  a  candidate  for  Clerk  of  the  House,)  and 
asked  me  how  I  stood  upon  the  sub-treasury  question  ?  I  impressed 
him  that  I  was  in  favor  of  that  measure.  He  expressed  himself 
satisfied,  and  said  that  the  reply  would  control  the  votes  of  a  dozen 
gentlemen,  who  would  vote  for  no  man  unless  his  position  on  that 
subject  was  satisfactory.  He  then  inquired  if  I  knew  the  position 
of  Mr.  Price  upon  this  question,  saying  he  liked  his  fine  qualities 
as  a  man,  but  could  not  vote  for  him  unless  he  was  right.  I  knew 
that  Price  was  hard  up,  witR  a  strong  opposition  on  his  hands,  and 
desired  his  election.  I  informed  the  gentleman  that  I  had  never 
heard  Mr.  Price  say  anything  on  this  point,  but  had  no  doubt  that 
he  was  sound.  Just  then,  in  passing,  Price  came  near  the  place 
where  we  stood,  and  I  called  him  up.  Fearing  he  had  not  informed 
himself,  I  commenced  the  subject  by  alluding  to  the  inquiries  that 
had  been  made,  and  the  result  of  the  information  that  would  gain  a 
dozen  votes,  and  then  went  over  the  assurances  I  felt  authorized 
to  give  for  him,  etc.  While  this  was  going  On  he  looked  uneasy 
and  thoughtful.  At  the  conclusion  he  said,  of  course  he  was  for 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  103 

it,  with  all  his  heart.  The  member  expressed  himself  fully  satis-* 
fied,  and  said  that  he  and  his  friends  would  vote  for  him.  The 
conversation  was  kept  up  some  minutes  on  other  subjects,  during 
which  time  Price  was  shy,  silent,  and  uneasy/  As  soon  as  he  could, 
he  beckoned  me  aside  privately,  and  asked:  "What  is  this — what 
do  you  call  it — sub-treamvry,  that  he  was  talking  about?  I  never 
heard  of  it  before,  that  I  recollect;  but  look  here,  did  I  answer 
right  ?"  Being  told  that  he  did,  he  was  much  relieved,  and  then 
requested  me  if  there  were  any  more  of  these  new  questions  on 
hand,  to  let  him  know,  and  post  him;  for,  he  said,  if  this  thing  had 
not  been  managed  well  he  would  have  lost  a  dozen  votes.  tHe  was 
good  at  electioneering,  and  never  was  beaten,  though  engaged  in 
many  severe  contests  before  the  people  of  Morgan  county,  who 
elected  him,  and  reflected  him  Judge  of  the  County  Court,  and 
afterwards  Judge  of  Probate,  in  which  relation  he  died.  He  doubt 
less  dispensed  as  many  kind-hearted  favors  in  the  course  of  his  life 
as  any  other  man  in  his  sphere. 

RESULT   OP   THE   ELECTIONS. 

The  elections,  in  1839,  were  conducted  with  spirit  in  all  portions 
of  the  State  where  the  relative  strength  of  parties  would  justify 
it.  A  Governor,  Representatives  in  Congress,  one-third  of  the 
State  Senators,  and  all  the  members  of  the  House,  were  elected. 
Arthur  P.  Bagby  was  the  Democratic  candidate  for  reelection,  and 
was  elected  Governor,  there  being  no  organized  opposition,  though 
there  was  a  scattering  vote  in  favor  of  Arthur  F.  Hopkins,  decid 
edly  the  leader,  as  well  as  the  ablest  man  of  the  Whig  party  in 
Alabama.  For  Congress,  Reuben  Chapman,  in  the  Huntsvillc 
District;  David  Hubbard,  in  the  Florence,  and  Dixon  H.  Lewis,  in 
the  Montgomery  District — all  Administration  men — were  elected. 
In  the  Tuskaloosa  District,  George  W.  Crabb,  Whig,  was  elected 
over  H.  W.  Ellis,  Democrat;  and  in  the  Mobile  District,  James 
Dellet,  Whig,  defeated  ex-Governor  John  Murphy,  Democrat.. 
Both  branches  of  the  Legislature  were  largely  Democratic,  upon 
the  issues  made  the  Winter  before,  by  the  passage  of  Judge  Smith's 
resolutions. 


104  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

•  ORGANIZATION. 

The  two  Houses  of  the  General  Assembly  met  at  the  Capitol, 
on  the  2d  of  December,  1839.  In  the  Senate,  Judge  Green  P. 
Rice,  of  Morgan  county,  was  elected  President,  without  opposition. 
J.  M.  Calhoun,  Esq.,  was  President  at  the  preceding  session,  but 
was  superceded  this  session,  on  account  of  the  hostility  lingering  in 
the  minds  of  the  Democrats  of  the  Jackson  school  against  the  ex 
treme  State  Rights  men.  Pleasant  Hill  was  elected  Secretary; 
Hiram  Hemphill,  Assistant  Secretary;  and  Armstead  Thomas, 
Door-keeper. 

In  the  House,  John  D.  Phelan,  Esq.,  of  Tuskaloosa,  was  unani 
mously  elected  Speaker ;  William  Garrett,  Clerk ;  Joseph  Phelan, 
Assistant  Clerk;  M.  Priest,  Engrossing  Clerk;  John  Tatom,  Door 
keeper;  and  Lin  Taylor,  Messenger. 

The  political  contest  this  year  brought  forward  many  of  the  most 
talented  men  of  the  State,  a  good  number  belonging  to  the  class  of 
young,  active  ones,  who  could  conduct  a  canvass  with  spirit  and  en 
ergy  ;  but  there  was,  too,  a  large  amount  of  matured  character  and 
experience  in  the  two  Houses. 

In  the  Senate,  may  be  mentioned  James  Hill  of  Bibb,  G.  "W. 
Creagh  of  Clarke,  J.  M.  Calhoun  of  Dallas,  Thomas  Riddle  of 
Greene,  Joseph  P.  Frazier  of  Jackson,  Hugh  McVay  of  Lauder- 
dale,  W.  J.  Alston  of  Marengo,  Samuel  C.  Oliver  of  Montgomery, 
Nathaniel  Terry  of  Limestone,  T.  L.  Toulmin  of  Mobile,  G.  P. 
Rice  of  Morgan,  Peyton  King  of  Pickens,  William  Wellborn  of 
Barbour,  Daniel  C.  Watrous  of  Shelby,  F.  G.  McConnell  of  Talla- 
dega,  and  Dennis  Dent  of  Tuskaloosa. 

The  House  presented  a  strong  array  of  men  who  had  long  par 
ticipated  in  the  councils  of  the  State,  and  the  names  of  others  just 
entering  upon  a  course  that  was  to  lead  on  to  high  promotion  in 
the  future,  as  Dixon  Hall  and  John  W.  Withers  of  Autauga,  J. 
W.  A.  Pettit  of  Barbour,  Thomas  A.  Walker  and  John  Cochran  of 
Benton,  Mace  T.  P.  Brindley  of  Blount,  James  M.  Boiling  of 
Conecuh,  Daniel  H.  Norwood  and  William  H.  Norris  of  Dallas, 
R.  A.  Baker  and  Benj.  Reynolds  of  Franklin,  Solomon  McAlpin 
and  Elisha  Young  of  Greene,  Thomas  Wilson  and  R.  T.  Scott  of 
Jackson,  Samuel  S.  Earle  of  Jefferson,  T.  W.  Walker  and  O.  H. 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  105 

Bynum  of  Lawrence,  H.  D.  Smith  of  Lauderdale,  Elbert  H. 
English  of  Limestone,  William  Smith,  Jeremiah  Clemens,  David 
Moore,  and  John  Vining,  of  Madison;  Milton  McClanahan  and 
C.  E.  B.  Strode  of  Morgan,  Percy  Walker,  Isaac  H.  Erwin,  and 
C.  C.  Langdon,  of  Mobile ;  Joseph  J.  Hutchinson  of  Montgomery, 
Lorman  Crawford  of  Monroe,  A.  B.  Moore  and  John  Barron  of 
Perry,  J.  E.  Pearson  and  Nathan  Smith  of  Pickens,  James  Aber- 
crombie  of  Russell,  James  H.  Nabors  and  Wade  H.  Griffin  of 
Shelby,  W.  P.  Chilton  of  Talladega,  M.  D.  Williams,  John  D. 
Phelan,  and  B.  F.  Porter,  of  Tuskaloosa. 

The  House  contained  in  it  more  elements  of  future  promotion 
and  success,  among  the  young  men  who  took  their  seats  as  members 
for  the  first  time.  One  of  them,  Mr.  Moore,  of  Perry,  rose  to  the 
Executive  of  the  State ;  another,  Mr.  Clemens,  went  to  the  Senate 
of  the  United  States ;  two  others,  Messrs.  Chilton  and  Phelan,  sat 
upon  the  bench  of  the  Supreme  Court;  another,  Mr.  Walker,  of 
Mobile,  was  elected  to  Congress ;  another,  E.  H.  English,  removing 
to  Arkansas,  graced  the  Supreme  Court  bench  of  that  State  many 
years  ago,  first  giving  to  the  State  an  admirable  digest  of  the  laws. 
Three  others,  T.  A.  Walker,  John  Cochran,  and  Nathaniel  Cook, 
occupied  places  for  years  on  the  Circuit  bench,  the  former  filling 
the  chair  of  President  of  the  Senate ;  another,  Mr.  Strode,  of  Mor 
gan,  became  Solicitor  of  the  Seventh  Circuit;  and  another,  C.  C. 
Langdon,  filling  the  high  position  of  Mayor  of  Mobile,  and  was 
elected  to  Congress  in  1865.  Of  the  older  members,  one,  Mr. 
Porter,  went  to  the  Circuit  bench  by  election,  and  Mr.  Baker  and 
Dr.  Moore  were  destined  to  preside  over  the  deliberations  of  the 
House  as  Speaker.  One,  Mr.  Abercrombie,  was  twice  elected  to 
Congress;  whilst  another,  Mr.  Hutchinson,  became  a  prominent 
minister  in  the  communion  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church, 
South ;  and  many  others,  not  here  named,  were  promoted  to  seats 
in  the  Senate,  where  they  aided  by  the  counsels  of  experience  in 
advancing  the  interests  of  the  State.  Seldom  has  Alabama  con 
tained  so  much  of  future  service  and  distinction  in  a  House  of 
Representatives. 


106  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama* 

THE   MESSAGE. 

i  <T 

The  Governor's  message  was  delivered  on  Tuesday,  by  Mr. 
Tunstall,  Secretary  of  State.  It  was  long,  and  the  reading  con 
sumed  some  time.  It  presented  a  full  and  comprehensive  view  of 
the  "situation."  On  the  subject  of  Internal  Improvements,  the 
Governor  reiterated  the  sentiment  which  was  still  uppermost  in 
the  minds  of  the  public  men  of  Alabama,  that  water  communica 
tion  was  that  upon  which  we  must  rely.  But  it  will  be  better  for 
the  Governor  to  speak  for  himself: 

If  it  should  be  said  we  are  behind  other  States  in  this  respect,  it  may  be  replied 
that  if  we  are  destitute  of  those  ready  and  agreeable  means  of  intercommunication, 
which  abound  and  greatly  facilitate  traveling  and  transportation  in  some  of  the 
States,  we  are  at  least  free  from  the  weight  of  those  monumental  debts,  that  have 
been  contracted  to  carry  on  their  works  of  internal  improvement.  Indeed,  it 
seems  to  be  impossible  that  the  people  of  this  State  can  suffer  very  great  inconveni 
ence  or  difficulty  in  getting  their  produce  to  market,  when  it  is  recollected  that 
this  State  is  irrigated  by  three  of  the  finest  rivers  in  the  world.  And  I  avail  myself 
of  this  occasion,  to  express  my  decided  and  clear  preference  for  the  opening  and 
improving  the  navigation  of  our  rivers,  over  every  other  description  of  internal 
improvement.  It  is  but  improving  the  advantages  of  nature,  with  which  a  benefi 
cent  Providence  has  favored  us,  and  while  these  beautiful  streams,  with  which  our 
State  is  so  freely  favored,  continue  to  roll  their  ceaseless  tributes  to  the  ocean, 
every  improvement  made  upon  them  will  continue  to  increase  in  value  and  impor 
tance.  I  continue  to  be  deeply  impressed  with  the  importance,  and  adhere  to  the 
determination  of  effecting  some  permanent  connection  between  tke  waters  of  Mo 
bile  Bay  and  the  Tennessee  River ;  but  circumstances  seem  to  forbid  our  engaging 
in  it  at  present. 

\ 

The  State  was  launched  upon  this  plan ;  for  Congress,  in  the  act 
providing  for  its  admission,  proposed,  among  other  things,  to  give 
jive  per  cent,  of  the  proceeds  of  public  lands  sold  in  Alabama,  two- 
fifths  of  which  was  to  be  used  in  constructing  roads  leading  to  the 
State,  under  the  direction  of  Congress,  and  -three-fifths  to  the  im 
provement  of  rivers  and  roads  in  the  State,  under  the  direction  of 
the  Legislature.  Railroads  were  not  talked  of  then,  and  at  the 
date  of  this  message  there  was  but  one  railroad  enterprise  in  Ala^- 
bama — that  from  Decatur  to  Tuscumbia — which,  like  all  pioneer 
movements  of  the  sort,  had,  in  a  measure,  failed,  and  seriously  em 
barrassed  many  worthy  gentlemen  in  the  section  where  it  was 
attempted.  Every  Governor,  and  most  of  the  leading  men  were 
impressed  with  the  importance  of  connecting  North  and  South- 
Alabama  by  a  system  of  improvement  that  would,  in  effect,  break 
down  the  mountain  barriers  between  them ;  but  few  had  advanced 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  107 

beyond  a  water  line.  At  the  next  session,  1840,  Judge  John  S. 
Hunter,  of  Lowndes,  a  gentleman  of  enlarged  experience  and  in 
formation  upon  subjects  of  State  policy,  was  placed  at  the  head  of 
the  Internal  Improvement  Committee,  and  made  a  labored  report, 
which  was  entered  on  the  Journals  of  that  session,  valuable  as 
presenting  a  view  of  the  general  subject,  in  which  the  committee 
gave  preference  to  the  water  line,  as  the  following  extract  will  show : 

The  attention  of  the  committee  has  been  drawn  to  the  Macadamized  mode  of 
reading,  and  of  it,  so  far  as  the  connection  of  North  and  South  is  concerned,  in 
matters  of  commerce,  they  are  disposed  to  think  unfavorably  thereof. 

They,  in  the  first  place,  think  that  such  a  road  would  not  divert  the  commerce 
of  the  North  from  its  now  accustomed  channel.  That,  secondly,  it  would  be  almost 
as  costly  as  a  railroad,  because  of  the  impracticability  of  obtaining,  with  sufficient 
facility,  the  proper  rock;  the  sand-stone,  as  we  are  informed,  not  being  suitable 
thereto,  and  the  lime-rock,  which  is  preferred,  not  to  be  had. 

The  view  of  the  committee  was,  however,  not  confined  to  roads,  and  they  beg 
leave  to  suggest  a  mode  of  effecting  this  communication  by  a  water  route,  with  the 
exception  of  a  few  miles,  that  intelligent  gentlemen  view  as  entirely  practicable. 

It  is  proposed  to  ascend  the  Tennessee  to  the  mouth  of  the  Hiwassee,  from  the 
town  of  Decatur,  about  two  hundred  miles ;  a  portion  of  this  river,  the  suck  ex- 
cepted,  said  to  be  equal  to  any  other  of  like  extent  for  steamboat  navigation,  and 
the  suck  formidable  only  in  low-water.  Ascend  the  Hiwassee  three  miles,  to  the 
Chilhowie  mountains;  at  that  point  on  said  river,  a  railroad  maybe  constructed 
over  a  perfect  plain,  of  not  more  than  twelve  miles,  to  the  Connesauga  Creek;  de 
scend  this  creek  to  the  Easternawla  River,  and  this  river  into  the  Coosa,  thence 
into  the  Alabama  River.  That  there  are  impediments  your  committee  can  not 
doubt;  they  may,  however,  be  of  a  character  not  to  require  the  same  expenditure 
for  removal  thereof,  as  would  the  construction  of  the  railroad  herein  alluded  to. 

A  large  portion  of  the  message  was  devoted  to  the  banks,  their 
condition,  and  the  pecuniary  distress  of  the  country,  with  sundry 
recommendations  to  improve  their  management.  The  resumption 
of  specie  payment  the  Winter  previously,  in  which  the  State  Bank 
took  the  lead,  was  of  short  duration,  as  the  wants  and  absolute  de 
mand  for  a  circulating  medium  among  the  people,  required  heavy 
discounts  of  notes  and  bills,  thereby  increasing  instead  of  dimin 
ishing  the  circulation. 

The  year  1839  will  be  remembered  for  the  intense  drouth  which 
prevailed  over  the  South,  from  the  first  of  August  to  the  termina 
tion  of  January  following.  The  navigable  waters  were  lower  than 
they  had  ever  been  before,  putting  a  stop  to  transportation.  This 
year,  too,  the  city  of  Mobile  \^is  visited  with  that  terrible  scourge, 
yellow  fever,  attended  by  the  torch  of  the  incendiary.  So  appalling 
was  the  state  of  things  produced  there,  that  the  Governor,  in  his 
annual  message,  brought  the  subject  to  the  notice  of  the  Legislature, 


108  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

On  the  first  day  of  the  session,  and  before  the  delivery  of  the 
message,  Judge  B.  F.  Porter  submitted  a  preamble  and  series  of 
resolutions,  in  reference  to  the  calamitous  condition  of  that  suffer 
ing  city  and  people,  accompanied  with  very  suitable  remarks.  He 
was  followed  by  Mr.  Percy  Walker,  one  of  the  Representatives 
from  that  city,  in  a  speech  of  thrilling  interest.  It  was  his  maiden 
effort  before  the  Legislature,  and  I  have  often  thought,  taken  alto 
gether,  it  was  the  best  of  his  life,  and  few  men  have  made  better 
speeches  than  Percy  Walker.  The  occasion — the  pestilence  with 
its  frightful  ravages ;  the  daily  and  hourly  funeral  processions ;  the 
blazing  fires  which  at  midnight  consumed  the  best  portion  of  the 
city;  widowhood  and  orphanage,  in  their  sufferings  and  wailings, 
and  want;  were  depicted  by  him  who  had  witnessed  the  scenes, 
and,  as  a  physician,  had  participated  in  measures  of  relief  to  the 
sick,  as  few  could  do  it.  He  was  young,  buoyant,  sympathetic,  and 
eloquent.  Seldom  has  a  body  of  men,  come  together  with  so  little 
knowledge  of  the  subject-matter  of  the  speech  before  it  was  deliv 
ered,  been  more  deeply  moved,  including  the  large  audience  in 
the  lobby  and  galleries.  This  speech  was  never  published,  as  it 
should  have  been,  and  preserved  as  a  description  of  the  terrible 
times  in  Mobile,  in  1839,  as  well  as  to  perpetuate  the  dedication 
of  Mr.  Walker's  first  effort  to  the  interests  of  his  suffering  constitu 
ency.  This  speech  placed  Mr.  Walker  at  once  in  the  front  rank 
among  members,  and  here  he  commenced  a  career  that  it  will  be 
seen  hereafter  in  these  pa^es,  was  highly  creditable  alike  to  his 
State  and  to  himself. 

The  first  business  which  engaged  the  attention  of  the  Senate 
was  a  contested  election  from  Sumter  county,  in  which  Mr.  Payne 
canvassed  the  right  of  Samuel  B,  Boyd,  the  sitting  member,  to  a 
seat,  on  account  of  illegal  voting.  The  contest  in  that  county  at 
the  August  election,  was  very  animated ;  party  spirit  was  fully  up 
to  fever  heat.  The  vote  of  the  county  was  large — upwards  of 
2,500 — and  a  mixed  ticket  was  elected  to  the  House,  so  closely 
were  parties  balanced.  Mr.  Boyd  held  the  Sheriff's  certificate  of 
election  upon  a  majority  of  seven  vot^.  The  papers  were  referred 
to  the  proper  committee,  who,  after  close  investigation,  reported 
in  favor  of  Mr.  Payne,  by  a  majority  of  six.  But  there  was  a  mi 
nority  report  opposing  the  conclusion  of  the  majority,  and  rather 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  109 

favoring  Mr.  Boyd's  right.  After  several  days  discussion,  the  Sen 
ate  voted  the  seat  vacant — neither  gentleman  entitled  to  it — and 
referred  the  whole  matter  to  the  people.  Mr.  Boyd  was  beaten  the 
next  year,  by  Mr.  John  E.  Jones,  in  a  regular  hand-to-hand  con 
test,  four  votes.  This  concluded  Mr.  Boyd's  connection  with  public 
life  in  Alabama.  He  was  a  Tennesseean,  and  had  settled  in  Liv 
ingston  a  few  years  before,  in  the  practice  of  the  law.  He  had 
the  capacity,  had  his  mind  been  fully  applied  in. that  direction,  to 
attain  eminence  at  the  bar;  but  he  suffered  himself  to  be  drawn 
into  the  whirlpool  of  politics  at  an  unpropitious  time.  The  results 
of  the  canvass  in  1839-'40  had  a  material  influence  on  his  spirits, 
and  in  1846  he  returned  to  his  old  home  in  Knoxville,  East-Ten 
nessee.  His  political  ambition  had  been  excited,  and  he  yielded 
to  the  solicitation  of  his  friends,  and  became  a  candidate  for  the 
Senate  there,  but  was  defeated.  Soon  thereafter  he  was  elected 
Judge  of  the  Circuit  Court,  and  died  while  holding  that  honorable 
commission.  Mr.  Boyd  was  a  Whig  of  very  decided  convictions. 
He  was  a  Christian  gentleman  of  unblemished  character,  and  of 
high  social  and  moral  qualities.  His  career  was  chequered  with 
success  and  failure ;  very  different,  probably,  from  his  early  antici 
pations.  But,  after  all  his  mixed  experience,  his  memory  is  entitled 
to  the  highest  public  respect. 

» 

ELIGIBILITY  TO  OFFICE. 

A  constitutional  question  was  sprung  in  both  Houses  at  an  early 
part  of  the  session.  It  had  been  the  practice  for  years  for  gen 
tlemen  to  occupy  seats  who  were  Judges  of  the  County  Court, 
Bank  Attorneys,  or  filling  other  official  stations  until  after  they 
were  elected,  and  then  resign.  Many  such  cases  were  presented 
at  this  session.  The  practice  alluded  to  had  grown  to  such  an 
extent,  that  the  question  was  referred  to  the  Judiciary  Committee 
in  each  House,  to  report  whether,  under  the  Constitution,  any 
person  holding,  at  the  time  of  his  election,  any  one  or  more  of 
the  following  offices  was  eligible  to  a  seat : 

1.  Attorney  for  the  State  Bank,  or  any  of  its  branches. 

2.  Solicitors  of  the  different  Judicial  Circuits, 

3.  Trustees  of  the  State  University. 


110  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

4.  Reporter  of  the  decisions  of  the  Supreme  Court. 

5.  Agent  or  Attorney  for  the  Trustees  of  the  University. 

6.  Judge  of  the  County  Court. 

7.  Secretary  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  the  University. 

8.  Directors  of  the  State  Bank  and  Branches. 

The  inquiry  in  each  House  was  the  same,  and  the  reports  of 
the  Committees  agreed  in  the  conclusion  that  none  of  the  persons 
holding  either  one  of  the  offices  at  the  time  of  election  was  eligi 
ble  to  a  seat  in  either  House.  Under  this  decision,  several  vacan 
cies  were  declared  to  exist.  In  the  Senate,  Mr.  Green  P.  Rice, 
of  Morgan,  and  Mr.  J.  "W.  Townsend,  of  Pike,  who  each  held 
the  office  of  Judge  of  the  County  Court  at  the  time  of  his  elec 
tion,  retired.  Out  of  respect  to  the  position  of  Mr.  Rice,  who 
was  President  of  the  Senate,  a  decision  was  delayed  until  the  day 
before  the  final  adjournment,  when  his  place  was  vacated,  and 
ex-Gov.  McVay,  of  Lauderdale,  was  elected  his  successor. 

In  the  House,  the  following  gentlemen  retired,  as  ineligible, 
viz :  M.  D.  Williams,  of  Tuskaloosa,  and  Josiah  Jones,  of  Coving- 
ton,  Judges  of  the  County  Court;  Thomas  A.  Walker,  of  Benton, 
Solicitor,  and  Percy  Walker,  of  Mobile,  Bank  Director.  Mr. 
Robert  T.  Scott,  of  Jackson,  who  held  the  office  of  Clerk  of  the 
Circuit  Court,  was  also  ejected.  In  the  discussion  of  these  ques 
tions,  the  legal  talent  of  the  two  Houses  was  enlisted,  and  exhib 
ited  with  marked  credit  to  the  profession.  Among  those  who 
took  part^  in  the  debate  were  Messrs.  Clemens,  Chilton,  Phelan, 
Pettit,  Cochran,  Erwin  of  Mobile,  Langdon,  Smith  of  Lauder 
dale,  Hutchinson,  Moore  of  Cherokee,  Boiling,  Baker,  and  others 
in  the  House ;  and  Messrs.  Calhoun,  Lea,  Alston,  Riddle,  McCon- 
nell,  Watrous,  and  Hudson,  in  the  Senate.  A  more  special  notice 
of  several  gentlemen  who  acted  a  prominent  part  in  the  Legisla 
ture  of  1839,  will  appear  in  the  succeeding  chapter. 

In  passing,  it  is  necessary  to  notice  briefly  two  political  Conven 
tions  held  at  the  Capitol  in  the  Winter  of  1839.  That  of  the 
Democratic  party  was  presided  over  by  Jesse  Beene,  Esq.,  of 
Dallas,  whose  speech  on  taking  his  seat  was  so  violent  and  ferocious 
as  to  be  objectionable  to  many  of  his  Democratic  friends.  Wil 
liam  Garrett  was  appointed  Secretary.  Among  the  delegates  who 
acted  a  conspicuous  part  in  the  Convention  were  Judge  Smith, 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  Ill 

Dr.  David  Moore,  and  William  Acklin,  of  Madison;  Harvey  W. 
Ellis,  and  John  D.  Phelan,  of  Tuskaloosa;  Col.  Richard  B.  Wal- 
thall,  of  Perry,  and  William  L.  Yancey,  and  B.  C.  Yancey,  of 
Coosa.  The  main  object  of  the  Convention  was  to  indicate  the 
choice  of  the  Democracy  of  Alabama  for  President  and  Vice- 
President  of  the  United  States,  and  to  organize  for  the  success  of 
the  ticket  which  might  be  nominated  by  a  National  Convention. 
There  was  much  unanimity  as  to  Mr.  VanBuren  for  the  first  office, 
but  there  was  some  division  as  to  the  Vice-Presidency.  The 
name  of  Col.  Thomas  H.  Benton  was  brought  forward  in  the  most 
respectful  terms  for  the  latter  office;  but,  after  mature  consulta 
tion,  it  was  decided  to  recommend  Col.  William  R.  King,  and  to 
present  him  as  the  choice  of  the  Democratic  party  of  Alabama  for 
Vice-President  of  the  United  States.  The  resolutions  adopted 
were  in  favor  of  Mr.  Van  Btiren  and  Col.  King.  An  Electoral 
Ticket  was  formed  with  Col.  Benjamin  .Fitzpatrick  at  the  head, 
and  delegates  appointed  to  the  National  Convention. 

The  Whig  Convention  was  organized  by  the  election  of  Dr. 
Samuel  C.  Oliver,  of  Montgomery,  as  President,  and  Hiram 
Hemphill,  Esq.,  as  Secretary.  Among  the  leading  delegates  were 
the  Hon.  A.  F.  Hopkins,  H.  I.  Thornton,  ex-Gov.  John  Gayle, 
James  Abercrombie,  C.  C.  Langdon,  and  Robert  Thorington.  As 
a  political  body,  the  Convention  was  distinguished  for  the  ability 
and  experience  of  its  members.  They  passed  resolutions  declar 
atory  of  the  principles  of  the  Whig  party,  and  appointed  dele 
gates  to  the  Whig  National  Convention,  which  assembled  at 
Harrisburg  in  the  Spring  of  1840. 

While  referring  to  political  contests,  it  may  be  as  well  to  ob 
serve  at  this  point  as  any  other,  that  in  June,  1840,  the  Whigs  of 
Alabama  held  a  State  Mass  Convention  at  Tuskaloosa,  of  which 
the  Hon.  John  S.  Hunter  was  President,  and  Hiram  Hemphill  and 
John  C.  Bates  were  Secretaries.  It  was  a  large  assemblage;  with 
all  the  emblazonry  of  coon  skins,  log  cabins,  and  hard  cidor,  which 
excited  considerable  enthusiasm.  The  Hon.  Thomas  F.  Foster, 
of  Georgia,  Judge  Hopkins,  Judge  Thornton,  Mr.  Hilliard,  Judge 
Porter,  John  Morrisette,  and  other  Whigs,  made  speeches  on  the 
occasion.  A  committee  was  appointed  to  prepare  resolutions  ratify 
ing  the  nomination  of  Gen,  Harrison  and  Mr.  Tyler  for  President 


112  Reminiscences  of  PitJblw  Men,  in  Alabama. 

and  Vice-President,  and  providing  a  ticket  of  Electors  for  the 
State.  A  pamphlet  of  some  forty  pages,  prepared  by  the  com 
mittee  of  which  the  Hon.  A.  F.  Hopkins  was  a  working  member, 
was  published,  including  the  proceedings  of  the  Convention,  a 
history  of  the  public  services  and  opinions  of  Gen.  Harrison,  and 
an  address  to  the  people  of  Alabama,  urging  the  election  of  the 
Whig  candidates  for  President  and  Vice-President,  as  likely  to 
afford  relief  to  the  country  by  a  change  of  Administration. 

In  a  few  weeks  thereafter,  the  Democrats  held  a  State  Conven 
tion  in  the  Capitol,  of  which  the  Hon.  William  R.  King  was 
President.  The  usual  committees  were  appointed,  and  a  number 
of  able  speeches  were  made  on  the  occasion.  Among  the  gentle 
men  who  addressed  the  Convention  were  Gov.  Bagby,  Isaac  W. 
Hayne,  William  L.  Yancey,  and  others,  all  resulting  in  the 
utmost  harmony.  The  declaration  of  principles  went  before  the 
people,  and  after  a  spirited  canvass,  in  which  many  of  the  Elec 
tors  took  the  stump  with  a  zeal  and  earnestness  unprecedented  in 
Alabama,  the  vote  in  November  was  largely  in  favor  of  Mr. 
Van  Buren.  The  Democratic  Electors,  therefore,  cast  the  vote  of 
the  State  in  favor  of  Martin  Van  Buren  for  President,  and  Rich 
ard  M.  Johnson  for  Vice-President. 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  113 


CHAPTER  VII. 

Retiring  Members — Eligibility,  etc. 

Hon.  WILLIAM  SMITH  was  a  Representative  in  Congress  from 
his  native  State,  South  Carolina,  in  1796,  and  voted  with  Gen. 
Andrew  Jackson  on  the  resolutions  approving  the  administration 
of  President  Washington.  He  is  mentioned  in  the  annals  of  that 
day  as  an  active,  efficient  member  of  Congress,  probing  questions 
to  the  bottom,  and  much  in  the  habit  of  consulting  the  public 
records  for  precedents,  and  for  evidence  to  support  or  defeat  any 
measure,  as  his  judgment  might  determine.  His  talents  and  en 
ergy  of  character  were  manifested  at  an  early  stage  of  his  public 
life.  In  his  profession  as  a  lawyer,  he  stood  in  the  front  rank  for 
ability  and  success.  He  was  elected  a  Judge  of  the  Superior 
Court,  which,  in  those  days,  was  a  high  judicial  honor,  never  be 
stowed,  except  upon  those  worthy  of  the  ermine. 

In  1816,  Judge  Smith  was  appointed  Senator  in  Congress  to  fill 
a  vacancy,  and  in  1817,  he  was  elected  by  the  Legislature  to  the 
same  station,  to  serve  the  unexpired  term,  and  also  for  a  new  term 
of  six  years,  to  March  4,  1823,  as  successor  of  Gov.  John  Taylor. 
In  1826,  he  was  again  elected  Senator,  for  a  period  of  five  years, 
in  room  of  the  Hon.  John  Gailliard,  deceased,  who  had  been  Pres 
ident  of  the  Senate.  During  all  this  service,  he  was  one  of  the 
leading  men  of  Congress,  and  a  leader  of  public  opinion  in  his 
own  State.  In  proof  of  the  high  estimation  in  which  he  was  held, 
the  Presidential  Electors  of  the  State  of  Georgia,  in  1828,  cast 
the  vote  of  the  State  for  him  as  Vice-President. 

Judge  Smith  and  Mr.  Calhoun  did  not  concur  in  their  political 
sentiments,  especially  when  the  latter  gentleman  began  to  unfold 
his  State  remedy  by  nullification,  for  the  unconstitutional  acts  of 
Congress.  To  place  himself  beyond  the  reach  of  the  troubles 
likely  to  arise  from  the  practical  enforcement  of  this  doctrine, 
Judge  Smith  removed,  with  his  large  property,  to  Alabama,  in  1833, 
8 


114  Reminiscences  of  PitMic  Men  in  Alabama. 

and  settled  at  Huntsville.     In  1835,  he  was  elected  a  Represent 
ative  in  the  Legislature,  from  Madison  county,  and  reflected  in 
1836,  1837, 1838,  and  in  1839.     His  course  in  that  body  has  been 
traced  with  more  or  less  minuteness  in  preceding  pages.     He  was 
a  Democrat  of  the  most  rigivl  school — bold  in  policy,  clear  in  the 
presentation  of  his  views,  and  a  hard  worker  in  support  of  all  the 
measures  he  espoused,  whether  of  National  or  State  origin.     As  a 
speaker,  he  was  animated  and  forcible;  and  although  nearly  four 
score  years  of  age,  he  had  the  fire  and  sensibility  of  a  youthful 
aspirant,  when  addressing  the  House.    He  allowed  no  one  to  allude 
to  him  as  the  "  venerable  gentleman  from  Madison/7  "  my  venera 
ble  friend  from  Madison,"  or  to  apply  any  other  epithet  or  term 
to  signify  advanced  age.     He  would  instantly  rebuke  any  such 
freedom  in  friend  or  opponent.     He  gave,  as  a  reason,  privately, 
that  the  common  opinion  was  that  after  sixty  or  seventy  a  man's 
intellect  had  in  a  measure  failed,  and,  of  course,  less  respect  was 
entertained  for  his  judgment.     So  far  from  his  long  experience 
leading  to  that  result,  he  was  all  the  time  adding  to  his  stores  of 
observation  and  knowledge,  which  he  could  turn  to  useful  account. 
The  character  of  Judge  Smith  was  of  the  highest  type  for  intel 
lectual  force  and  firmness.     As  a  proof,  President  Jackson,  in  1836, 
offered  him  the  place  of  Associate  Justice  of  the  Supreme  Court 
of  the  United  States,  which  he  declined  to  accept;  perhaps  the 
only  instance  on  record  where  such  an  honor  had  been  refused 
after  being  tendered.     But  he  was  no  seeker  of  place  to  build  up 
a  reputation,  or  to  gratify  pride.     He  was  far  above  any  such 
necessity.    His  fame  as  a  jurist  and  statesman  had  been  recognized, 
and  his  influence  was  felt  and  admitted.     As  to  wealth,  it  was 
counted  by  millions.     He  owned  large  plantations  in  Alabama,  in 
Mississippi,  and  in  Louisiana,  on  which  cotton  and  sugar  were  the 
abundant  crops  he  consigned  to  his  factors.     His  only  heir  was  a 
grand-daughter,  Avho  married   Meredith   Calhoun,  Esq.     Judge 
Smith  died  at  Huntsville,  in  1840,  aged  about  80  years.     His  like 
may  ne'er  be  seen  again. 

JOHN  D.  PHELAN,  when  quite  a  young  man,  represented  Madison 
county,  1833,  at  which  time  he  was  editor  of  the  Huntsville  Dem 
ocrat.  In  1836,  he  was  elected  Attorney-General,  and  removed 


fkminixcences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  115 

to  Tuskaloosa  and  resigned  the  office  in  1839,  which  year  he 
was  elected  a,  Representative  in  the  Legislature,  from  Tuskaloosa 
county,  and  was  unanimously  chosen  Speaker  of  the  House. 
As  a  presiding  officer,  he  sustained  him  'If  well;  to  the  satisfaction 
of  all  parties.  In  tendering  his  acknowledgements  for  the  flatter 
ing  vote  of  thanks  accorded  him  at  the  close  of  the  session,  his 
address  deeply  touched  the  sympathies  of  the  House,  and  many 
tears  flowed  when  he  pronounced  the  final  adjournment. 

In  1841,  Gov.  Bagby  appointed  Mr.  Phelan  Circuit  Judge, 
which  office  was  renewed  by  election  until  1851,  when  he  was 
transferred  to  the  Bench  of  the  Supreme  Court,  then  consisting  of 
five  Judges.  On  the  reorganization  of  that  tribunal,  in  1853, 
reducing  the  number  of  Judges  to  three,  he  was  beaten  by  Samuel 
F.  Rice,  Esq.;  and  the  death  of  Thomas  S.  Mays,  Esq.,  Clerk, 
occurring  about  the  same  time,  Judge  Phelan  was  immediately 
appointed  Clerk  of  the  Supreme  Court,  to  fill  the  vacancy.  He 
held  this  office  until  18(53,  when  he  was  again  placed  on  the  Bench 
of  the  Supreme  Court,  where  he  remained  until  1865.  He  was 
then  displaced,  on  the  reorganization  of  the  Court  under  the  Pro 
visional  Government,  and  was  again  appointed  Clerk,  the  duties 
of  which  office  he  continued  to  exercise  until  1868,  when,  by  the 
reconstruction  measures  of  Congress,  he  became  disqualified. 

Judge  Phelan  is  now  connected  with  the  University  of  the  South 
at  Suwanne,  Tenn.,  under  the  patronage  of  the  Episcopal  Church. 
He  is  the  Law  Professor  in  that  rising  institution,  well  qualified 
by  talents,  culture,  and  elevated  sentiments,  to  discharge  the 
duties  of  his  station,  than  which  no  labor  can  be  more  respected 
or  useful.  His  sagacity  and  boldness,  more  than  twenty  years  ago, 
pointed  out  and  advocated  the  construction  of  a  railroad  as  a  State 
measure,  from  North  to  South-Alabama,  on  the  very  line  since 
adopted.  For  this  unpopular  movement,  at  the  time,  Judge  Phelan 
lost  the  nomination,  by  his  party,  for  Governor,  in  1857,  and  with 
it  his  last  opportunity  to  fill  the  highest  office  in  the  State,  for 
which  his  distinguished  abilities,  great  political  and  literary  attain 
ments,  the  integrity  of  his  character  and  his  virtues  as  a  man,  so 
well  qualified  him.  Of  late  years  he  has  suffered  much  affliction; 
but  in  all  his  trials  he  is  the  same  Christian  gentleman,  with  a 
patience  and  urbanity  that  exert  a  good  influence  on  society 


116  Reminisveiwcs  of  Pvblw  Men  in  Alabama. 

wherever  he  is  known.  Perhaps  there  is  no  gentleman  now  living 
in  Alabama  who  has  been  longer  or  more  favorably  identified  with 
the  interests  of  the  State. 

A  few  words  may  properly  be  added  on  the  domestic  relations 
of  Judge  Phelan.  His  wife,  Mrs.  Mary  Ann  Phelan,  was  a  daugh 
ter  of  Gen.  Thomas  K.  Harris,  sometime  member  of  Congress 
from  the  Sparta  District,  Tennessee,  and  grand-daughter,  on  the 
mother's  side,  of  Rev.  John  Moore,  one  of  Bishop  Asbury's  earliest 
ordained  Methodist  preachers  in  Virginia,  who  died  at  the  ven 
erable  age  of  ninety-two  years  in  Limestone  county,  Alabama.  I 
make  mention  of  this  lady  because  I  knew  her  well,  and  in  all 
that  constitutes  true  womanhood,  she  was  one  of  the  foremost 
women  of  Alabama.  She  was  extensively  known  in  the  State, 
and  beloved  wherever  she  was  known,  for  her  genial  and  unselfish 
spirit;  and  for  her  gentle,  yet  thoroughly  energetic  Christian  char 
acter. 

WILLIAM  P.  CHILTON  is  a  native  of  Kentucky,  brother  of  the 
Hon.  Thomas  Chilton,  who  was  a  Representative  in  Congress  from 
that  State,  in  1827,  and  whose  celebrated  Retrenchment  Resolu 
tions,  and  eloquence  in  their  support,  drew  from  Mr.  Randolph  a 
complimentary  notice.  Mr.  W.  P.  Chilton  settled  in  Talladega 
for  the  practice  of  the  law,  in  1834,  and  in  1839  was  elected  as  a 
Whig,  with  William  McPherson  his  Democratic  colleague.  He 
at  once  took  high  rank  as  a  debater  and  ready  business  man,  and 
was  considered  the  most  rising  young  character  in  the  House.  In 
the  Presidential  canvass  of  1840  and  1844,  he  was  active  in  the 
support  of  Gen.  Harrison  and  Mr.  Clay,  often  addressing  large 
assemblages  of  the  people  at  mass  meetings,  and  in  Tippacanoe 
and  Ashland  Clubs.  In  this  field,  he  was  a  power  within  himself; 
eloquent,  logical,  and  abounding  in  anecdote  and  humor.  In  1843, 
he  opposed  Gen.  Felix  G.  McConnell  for  Congress,  whose  personal 
popularity,  added  to  the  large  Democratic  majority  in  the  district, 
prevailed  in  the  contest.  In  1848,  Mr.  Chilton  was  elected  a  Judge 
of  the  Supreme  Court;  and  in  1849,  on  the  resignation  of  Judge 
Collier,  he  succeeded  to  the  rank  of  Chief  Justice,  which  he  re 
tained  for  several  years.  In  1859,  he  was  elected  a  Senator  from 
Macon  county,  and  took  a  leading  part  in  the  measures  of  that 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  117 

period.  His  acknowledged  abilities  and  ripe  experience,  made 
him  a  principal  figure  in  any  deliberative  body  of  which  he  was  a 
member. 

In  1861,  Judge  Chilton  was  a  member  of  the  Provisional  Con 
gress;  then  a  Representative  in  the  Confederate  Congress,  and 
was  reflected  in  1863.  He  served  on  the  most  important  com 
mittees  with  his  usual  diligence,  and  exerted  himself  as  best  he 
could,  to  serve  the  cause  with  which  he  was  identified  as  a  South 
ern  patriot  and  statesman.  He  was  connected,  officially,  with  the 
Confederate  Government  from  its  inception,  at  Montgomery,  in 
1861,  to  the  surrender  of  its  armies  in  1865. 

It  is  only  just  to  say,  that  Judge  Chilton,  throughout  a  long 
career  in  his  profession  and  politics,  has  always  been  distinguished 
for  honor  and  kindness.  Many  young  men  have  been  aided  and 
brought  forward  by  him,  to  public  usefulness,  whose  merit  might 
otherwise  have  been  overlooked.  His  person  is  of  the  noblest 
mold,  always  commanding  attention  by  his  presence.  He  now  re 
sides  at  Montgomery.  Time  has  dealt  gently  with  him,  and  his 
sixty  years  seem  as  though  forty  still  lingered  in  his  face  and  in 
his  movements. 

The  above,  as  written,  was  published  in  a  Montgomery  paper 
in  November,  1870.  In  January,  1871,  Judge  Chiltou  was  se 
verely  injured  by  a  fall,  from  which  his  strength  never  rallied. 
The  following  official  communication  announced  the  sad  result : 

STATE  OF  ALABAMA,  EXECUTIVE  DEPARTMENT,      \ 
MONTGOMERY,  January  21,  1871.  J 
Gentlemen  of  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives: 

It  is  with  feelings  of  sorrow  and  regret  that  I  inform  you  of  the  death  of  the 
Hon.  W.  P.  Chilton,  of  the  city  of  Montgomery.  This  event  occurred  last  night 
about  the  hour  of  eleven. 

Judge  Chilton  was  one  of  our  best  beloved  citizens,  eminent  as  a  jurist,  and 
the  people  of  Alabama  had  often  honored  him  with  their  public  esteem  and  confi 
dence.  As  a  member  of  the  Legislature,  as  a  member  of  Congress,  and  as  Chief 
Justice  of  our  Supreme  Court,  he  discharged  his  duties  with  devotion  and  zeal. 

In  the  Halls  of  Legislation,  he  was  a  statesman,  and  he  adorned  the  Bench  by 
his  integrity  and  learning.  The  loss  of  such  a  man  is  a  public  calamity,  and  it  is 
fit  that  the  departments  of  the  Government  of  a  State  he  loved  so  well,  should  pay 
a  tribute  to  his  memory. 

ROBERT  B.  LINDSAY,  Governor  of  Alabama. 

Unusual  honors  were  paid  to  his  memory  by  the  Legislature, 
the  Bar,  and  by  the  fraternity  of  Masons,  of  which  he  was  Grand 
Master  and  High  Priest.  In  his  connection  with  this  respectable 


118  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

order,  he  had  long  exerted  a  large  and  beneficent  influence,  always 
bringing  to  his  labors  as  a  finished  workman,  intelligence  and  zeal. 
In  his  youth,  Judge  Chilton  was  happily  married  to  Miss  Mary 
Morgan,  the  accomplished  daughter  of  Mr.  George  Morgan,  a  re 
spectable  merchant,  and  citizen,  then,  of  Athens,  Tennessee;  who, 
by  her  knowledge  of  domestic  duties,  acquired  under  the  training 
of  a  mother  of  superior  worth,  aided  him  no  little  in  laying  that 
broad,  solid  foundation  upon  which  he  reared  such  a  noble  struc 
ture  of  mind  and  character.  His  brother-in-law,  General  John 
T.  Morgan,  who  has  already  attained  to  eminence  at  the  bar,  was 
brought  forward  under  his  legal  teachings.  His  son,  Thomas 
Chilton,  a  young  gentleman  of  noble  promise  to  society  and  to  the 
legal  profession,  married  Miss  Lavinia  Bradford,  a  daughter  of 
Mr.  Joseph  H.  Bradford,  of  Coosa  county,  a  lady  of  very  rare  ac 
complishments  of  mind  and  culture,  who  was  left  a  widow  several 
years  ago,  by  his  premature  death,  and  is  now  devoting  her  talents 
to  the  education  of  Southern  young  ladies.  His  son,  William  P. 
Chilton,  a  lawyer  of  Montgomery,  has  the  endowments  and  train 
ing  to  follow  in  the  footsteps  of  his  distinguished  father,  and  it 
vmay  be  hoped  that  he  will  fully  justify,  in  the  future  annals  of 
the  State,  his  name  and  heritage. 

JAMES  M.  BOLLING,  of  Conecuh,  came  forward,  in  1838,  as  a 
Representative  in  the  Legislature,  an  active  member,  and  a  young 
lawyer  of  fine  promise.  He  became  a  general  favorite  in  the 
House,  especially  in  1839,  as  his  good  qualities  were  more  fully 
developed  and  better  known.  He  afterwards  married  a  daughter 
of  the  Hon.  Reuben  Saffold,  Judge  of  the  Supreme  Court,  and 
settled  at  Hayneville,  Lowndes  county,  where  he  acquired  dis 
tinction  at  the  Bar.  He  died  several  years  ago. 

JAMES  W.  WADE,  of  Butler,  served  only  at  the  session  of  1839. 
He  was  a  planter,  of  middle  age,  of  great  respectability  in  talents, 
and  social  worth.  Soon  thereafter,  lie  removed  to  Mississippi, 
where  lie  was  elected  to  the  Legislature,  since  which  time  I  have 
lost  sight  of  him. 

ROBERT  A.  HIGH,  of  Limestone,  was  a  native  of  North  Carolina. 
At  the  sessions  of  1838  and  1839,  he  served  as  a  Representative 


Iteminiscmees  of  Public  Mm  in  Alabama.  119 

in  the  Legislature  of  Alabama.  Ho  had  acquired  a  large  prop 
erty,  and  was  a  zealous  advocate  of  common  schools.  At  the 
time  he  served  iu  the  Capitol,  hu  was  a  dashing  widower,  seeking 
his  fourth  wife.  His  head  was  a  little  bald,  which  fact  he  took 
great  pains  to  conceal.  He  was  restless  in  his  movements,  and 
generally  had  a  supply  of  apples  and  </oo6e/'-peas  in  his  hands, 
while  he  passed  most  of  his  time  iii  the  lobby,  and  was  seldom 
present  when  his  name  was  called.  He  had  a  special  dislike  to 
0.  C.  Langdon,  Esq.,  a  member  from  Mobile,  and  always  made  it 
a  point  to  vote  contrary  to  him  on  every  question,  without  regard 
to  its  merits.  It  frequently  happened  that  Mr.  High  came  in 
after  the  vote  of  the  House  had  been  taken,  but  before  it  was 
announced  by  the  Chair,  and  claimed  the  privilege  to  vote.  In 
such  case  lie  would  inquire  how  Mr.  Langdon  voted,  and  on  being 
informed,  he  would  direct  his  vote  to  be  recorded  on  the  opposite 
side  of  the  question.  This  practice  involved  him  in  trouble  with 
his  constituents.  Although  Mr..  Langdon  was  a  Whig — for  which 
cause  alone  he  was  hated  by  Mr.  High — no  man  in  the  House 
gave  sounder  votes  on  questions  of  State  policy,  or  general  welfare. 
When  his  votes  on  some  of  these  were  brought  against  him  in  the 
canvass,  Mr.  High  found  it  impossible  to  extricate  himself  from 
censure,  in  the  face  of  the  Journal,  and  he  was  thus  beaten  for 
reelection.  At  all  events,  he  filled  a  large  space  in  society  at  Tus- 
kaloosa,  and  succeeded  in  marrying  before  his  term  of  service  ex 
pired — an  ample  compensation,  it  is  hoped,  for  his  subsequent  de 
feat  as  a  legislator. 

NATHANIEL  COOK,  of  Lowndes,  served  only  during  the  session 
of  1839.  He  was  a  sound  lawyer,  modest  and  able.  He  at  once 
took  a  high  position  as  a  debater,  and  commanded  general  respect. 
His  character  had  just  then  began  to  unfold  itself,  and  was  but 
little  known  to  the  public.  At  the  first  session  of  the  Legislature 
at  Montgomery,  in  1847,  he  was  elected  Judge  of  the  Circuit 
Court  over  Judge  Pickens,  the  incumbent.  He  remained  on  the 
Circuit  Bench  many  years,  giving  satisfaction.  He  thought  deeply 
and  soundly,  and  I  have  often  concluded  in  my  own  mind  that  his 
real  worth  was  never  fully  understood  or  appreciated  by  the  public. 
After  the  war,  he  removed  to  Texas,  and  is  now  engaged  in  the 
practice  of  his  profession  in  the  city  of  Galveston. 


120  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

LORMAN  CRAWFORD,  of  Monroe,  was  a  Representative  at  the 
sessions  of  1838  and  1839,  and  afterwards  Trustee  of  the  Uni 
versity.  He  was  liberally  educated,  possessed  a  lofty  tone  of 
mind,  and  was  devoted  to  the  cause  of  popular  education.  He 
was  neat  and  commanding  in  his  personal  appearance,  and  very 
refined  in  his  habits  and  tastes.  He  died  before  his  faculties  had 
attained  their  full  development,  and  his  bright  career  was  sud 
denly  brought  to  a  close.  His  brother,  David  Crawford,  Esq., 
the  distinguished  young  lawyer  of  Mobile,  died  in  1834,  in  the 
morning  of  life,  just  as  fame  began  to  dawn  upon  his  character. 
How  melancholy  the  fate  of  two  such  brothers,  and  yet  how 
beautiful  their  memory ! 

MARMADUKE  WILLIAMS  was  a  Representative  in  Congress 
from  North  Carolina,  from  1803  to  1809,  during  the  administra 
tion  of  President  Jefferson,  of  which  he  was  a  warm  supporter. 
He  moved  to  Alabama  while  it  was  a  Territory,  and  settled  at 
Tuskaloosa.  At  the  first  election  for  Governor,  in  1819,  he  was  a 
candidate  in  opposition  to  William  W.  Bibb,  formerly  a  Senator 
in  Congress  from  Georgia,  who  was  elected  by  a  majority  of  1,202. 

The  following  is  the  official  vote,  as  it  appears  in  the  House 
Journal,  p.  37 : 

Counties.  Bibb.  Williams. 

1.  Autauga 440 6 

2.  Baldwin 126 11 

3.  Blount Ill 722 

4.  Cahawba*. . . , 350 73 

5.  Clarke 543 274 

6.  Conecuh 460 139 

7.  Cotacof 195 454 

8.  Dallas 647 115 

9.  Franklin 161 387 

10.  Lauderdale 144 355 

11.  Lawrence 493 297 

12.  Limestone 906 191 

13.  Madison 1225 1244 

14.  Marengo 184 405 

15.  Marion 83 225 

16.  Mobile 172 83 

17.  Monroe 650 634 

18.  Montgomery 440 350 

19.  Shelby 278 96 

20.  St.  Clair 350 178 

21.  Tuskaloosa 123 824 

22.  Washington 257 322 

Total..  .  8,542..  7,140 


*Now  Bibb.     fNow  Morgan. 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  121 

Mr.  Williams  had  a  brother  who  was  appointed  by  the  Presi 
dent  Governor  of  the  Mississippi  Territory. 

The  character  and  qualities  of  Judge  Williams  (for  by  that  title 
he  is  best  known)  were  a  little  peculiar.  When  I  first  knew  him, 
in  1837,  he  was  considerably  advanced  in  years,  and  had  fre 
quently  been  a  member  of  the  Legislature  from  Tuskaloosa 
county.  He  was  a  lawyer  by  profession,  but  in  a  measure  had 
withdrawn  from  the  practice,  except,  perhaps,  that  portion  which 
might  be  done  in  his  office  as  counsellor  and  conveyancer.  He 
was  rather  diffident  in  his  address,  and  slow  of  speech.  By  no 
means  could  he  be  called  an  animated  or  rapid  talker.  He  was  a 
Whig  in  politics,  and  was  quite  ready  on  all  occasions  to  advise 
and  to  act  for  the  success  of  his  party.  His  reading  was  some 
what  extensive,  and  his  writing  was  marked  by  good  sense  and 
fair  scholarship.  In  the  Legislature  he  was  much  respected  by 
all  parties  for  his  inoffensive  deportment,  and  business  qualifica 
tions.  He  served  for  the  last  time  at  the  session  of  1839,  at  the 
close  of  which  he  was  declared  ineligible  to  a  seat,  as,  at  the  time 
of  his  election,  he  held  the  office  of  Judge  of  the  County  Court. 
He  continued  in  this  office  for  several  years  thereafter,  until  reach 
ing  the  age  of  seventy,  when,  by  the  Constitution,  he  could  hold 
it  no  longer. 

Judge  Williams  was  a  good  man,  and  was  social  and  kind,  enlist 
ing  many  friends  in  his  unpretending  way,  and  retaining  a  strong 
hold  on  their  affections.  One  of  his  daughters  married  Dr.  James 
Guild,  of  Tuskaloosa,  a  skillful  physician,  and  one  of  the  best 
citizens  of  Alabama.  Judge  Williams  died  about  the  year  1850, 
leaving  many  descendants  and  friends  to  cherish  his  memory. 

GEN.  WILLIAM  WELLBORX,  of  Barbour,  was  a  Georgian,  and 
completed  his  third  session  in  the  Senate  of  Alabama  in  1839. 
He  was  a  Major-General  in  command  of  the  State  troops  in  the 
Indian  war  of  1836,  and  acquired  much  reputation  and  popularity 
for  his  skill  and  courage  in  fighting  the  savages.  He  possessed 
strong  traits  of  character,  and  a  fine  degree  of  intelligence  in 
public  affairs.  In  1840,  he  removed  to  Texas,  where  he  died 
many  years  ago. 


Reminissences  of  PitJblic  Men  in  Alabama. 

JOHN  VINING  was  a  planter,  and  for  many  years  represented 
Madison  county  in  both  branches  of  the  Legislature,  at  different 
periods.  He  possessed  a  lively  flow  of  spirits,  and  was  an  enter 
taining  companion,  wielding  considerable  influence.  He  was  a 
little  past  middle  age,  tall  in  person,  and  dressed  neatly,  carrying 
himself  well  on  all  occasions.  He  was  believed  to  be  the  strong 
est  man  with  the  people  in  his  county.  Pie  removed  to  Kentucky, 
where  he  died. 

SAMUEL  D.  J.  MOORE  was  a  nephew  of  ex-Gov.  Gabriel 
Moore,  and  a  graduate  of  the  Military  Academy  at  West-Point, 
where  he  was  highly  educated.  He  first  settled  in  the  Cherokee 
region  of  Alabama  for  the  practice  of  the  law,  and  then  removed 
to  Tuskaloosa  county.  He  entered  public  life  under  favorable 
»  circumstances,  as  a  Representative  from  Cherokee  in  1839.  He 
participated  freely  in  the  debates  of  the  session,  with  bright  pros 
pects  of  future  usefulness.  His  service  in  the  Legislature  was 
brief,  as  he  was  soon  elected  Judge  of  the  County  Court,  which 
office  he  resigned  in  1847,  to  compete,  unsuccessfully,  with  Gen. 
Dent  for  the  Senate.  With  the  scientific  and  literary  culture 
which  he  received  in  early  life,  it  was  possible  for  him,  by  a  dili 
gent  use  of  his  advantages,  to  have  occupied  a  space  before  the 
public  of  which  he  seems  not  to  have  availed  himself.  Judge 
Moore  was  an  affable  gentleman  and  was  connected  with  a  large 
family  influence. 

ARNOLD  SEALE  was  a  member  only  this  session  (1839),  elected 
from  Chambers  county  as  a  Democrat.  Although  he  possessed  a 
good  share  of  intelligence  and  practical  knowledge  in  the  business 
details  of  life,  Mr.  Scale  did  not  seek  for  position  on  the  floor, 
and  seldom  occupied  the  time  of  the  House.  His  nature  was 
active,  however,  and  prompted  him  in  the  faithful  discharge  of 
his  duties  as  a  public  servant,  in  the  investigations  and  committee- 
work  of  that  day.  He  was  a  Georgian,  and  exhibited  through 
life  the  active,  go-ahead  character  which  has  long  distinguised  the 
men  of  that  State.  He  was  a  diligent  trader  among  the  Indians, 
and  bought  of  their  lands;  but  it  was  upon  the  principles  which 
governed  him  in  his  dealings,  of  strict  integrity  and  justice.  He 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  123 

was  clear-headed  and  decided  in  his  business  transactions,  and  a 
man  of  energy.  He  practiced  the  direction  of  the  wise  man— 
"Whatever  thy  hand  tindeth  to  do,  do  it  with  all  thy  might." 
Sanguine,  cheerful,  and  hopeful,  he  went  forward  in  the  business 
of  life  to  do  his  duty,  and  receive  his  part  of  the  profits  of  well 
directed  effort,  and  honest,  fair  dealing.  His  acquisitions  were 
large  in  the  course  of  a  long  life  of  health  and  vigor,  and  his 
benefactions  to  public  and  private  uses  were  ilot  stinted. 

In  the  construction  of  railroads,  of  one  of  which  he  was  Presi 
dent  before  the  war,  Mr.  Seale  displayed  his  usual  energy.  When 
the  war  came  on,  at  an  advanced  age,  when  gray  hairs  and  a  worn- 
out  frame  should  have  induced  him  to  seek  repose  at  home,  he 
threw  himself  into  the  contest  with  the  enthusiasm  of  youth,  and 
went  about  the  raising  of  a  regiment  for  the  service,  in  which  he 
expended  liberally.  But  in  this  he  exemplified  the  truth  of  the 
Scripture  which  says,  "The  spirit  truly  is  willing,  but  the  flesh  is 
weak,"  and  he  was  obliged  to  desist  from  a  work  in  which  his 
heart  was  deeply  enlisted.  Here  is  Southern  patriotism  and  valor 
of  which  Alabamians,  especially  the  o/r/  men,  may  well  feel  proud, 
and  should  enshrine  the  memory  of  Mr.  Seale  in  the  hearts  of 
his  countrymen  as  long  as  patriotism  is  a  virtue.  It  is  fit  and 
meet  that  the  citizens  of  Russell  county,  where  he  spent  much  of 
his  active  life,  have  perpetuated  his  name  in  their  court-house 
town,  which  was  long  known  as  "Seale  Station,"  on  the  Girard 
and  Mobile  Railroad. 

After  a  long  life  of  activity  and  usefulness  in  public  offices,  in 
society,  and  in  the  Church  of  which  he  was  a  member  (Metho 
dist),  and  after  witnessing  the  reverses  which  have  come  over  his 
native  land,  in  material  and  governmental  interests,  CY>1.  Seale 
died  a  few  years  ago,  leaving  a  character  and  example  worthy  of 
preservation  and  imitation. 

Gen.  JAMES  G.  CARROLL,  though  not  a  member  of  the  Legis 
lature,  is  entitled  to  a  passing  notice,  especially  as  at  this  session 
(1839)  he  was  reflected  Adjutant  and  Inspector  General  of  the 
State.  At  an  early  day  he  came  from  North  Carolina,  and  settled 
in  Madison  county,  which  he  represented  one  year  in  the  Legis 
lature.  In  1831  he  was  first  elected  to  the  military  office  referred 


124  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

to,  for  a  term  of  four  years,  and  in  1835  and  1839  his  commission 
was  renewed  by  reelection.  In  1843  he  was  defeated  by  Gen. 
James  W.  Lang,  of  Mobile.  In  1847,  the  office  was  restored  to 
Gen.  Carroll  over  his  immediate  predecessor.  At  the  election  in 
1851,  Gen.  Carroll  was  defeated  by  Gen.  James  Wickler,  of 
Lowndes  county,  formerly  of  South  Carolina,  and  died  suddenly 
at  Montgomery  in  1854. 

Gen.  Carroll  possessed  traits  of  character  which  made  him  a 
man  of  mark,  if  not  of  great  intellectual  prominence,  at  least  an 
agreeable  companion  and  faithful  officer.  He  never  married. 
His  nature  was  convivial,  abounding  in  wit  and  humor.  Hundreds 
of  original  and  amusing  anecdotes  might  be  related  of  him,  show 
ing  a  keen  sense  of  the  ludicrous,  and  the  wisdom  of  a  close 
observer.  Whenever  he  felt  disposed  to  give  the  rein  to  his 
peculiar  faculty,  he  created  mirth  and  enjoyment  in  the  circle  by 
which  he  might  be  surrounded.  His  criticisms  on  character  were 
extremely  diverting.  In  a  single  sentence,  with  the  most  natural 
simplicity,  he  .could  express  the  whole  of  an  individual,  as  the 
world  considered  him.  Those  who  knew  him  will  long  remember 
his  sharp  and  quaint  observations  in  this  line. 

The  heart  of  Gen.  Carroll  was  all  kindness  and  sympathy.  He 
never  refused  to  succor  distress  when  he  had  the  ability.  And 
such  was  the  contagious  mood  of  his  charities  that  he  seldom 
failed  to  enlist  others  in  behalf  of  any  proper  object  when  he 
desired.  He  was  quite  a  business  man,  and  during  a  portion  of 
the  time  he  resided  in  Tuskaloosa,  he  was  a  partner  in  a  commis 
sion  house,  and  often  acted  as  auctioneer,  in  which  capacity  he 
attracted  crowds  by  his  wit,  and  made  his  snuff-box  perform  a 
very  signal  part  during  the  pauses  between  bids.  The  habit  of 
taking  snuff,  and  the  graceful  tender  of  his  box,  paved  the  way 
to  many  cordial  friendships,  and  to  general  popularity.  As  a 
master  of  ceremonies  on  public  occasions,  such  as  the  inauguration 
of  a  Governor,  and  as  Grand  Marshal  of  the  day,  he  acted  his 
part  well.  He  could  form  processions  with  skillful  address, 
securing  order  by  a  discicipline  peculiarly  his  own,  and  pleasing  all 
by  his  gentle  commands.  He  was  an  original,  of  which  no  dupli 
cate  has  been  left  to  the  world. 


Reminiwcneex  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  125 

WILLIAM  HAWN  came  from  Virginia  to  Alabama.  In  April, 
1840,  he  resigned  the  office  of  State  Treasurer,  to  which  he  had 
been  elected  in  1 835,  and  was  appointed  Cashier  of  the  State 
Bank,  in  which  capacity  he  served  until  the  institution  was  wound 
up  under  an  act  of  the  Legislature  putting  the  State  Bank  and 
Branches  in  the  hands  of  Trustees  for  final  liquidation.  He  was 
polite  and  attentive  in  the  several  offices  which  he  filled,  and  was 
generally  esteemed.  He  had  married  a  sister  of  the  Hon.  John 
D.  Phelan,  and  her  fine  Christian  character  no  doubt  exerted  a 
good  influence  on  him  while  she  lived.  After  her  death  he 
appeared  desolate,  and  gradually  yielded  to  irregular  habits. 
Much  of  his  time  he  suffered  from  acute  rheumatism,  and  allow 
ance  should  be  made  for  the  irritability  of  temper  which  increased 
upon  him  in  his  latter  days. 

Mr.  Hawn  was  a  gentleman  who  had  many  friends,  who  felt 
deeply  interested  in  his  welfare  and  happiness,  and  who  sympa 
thized  in  the  trials  through  which  he  was  called  to  pass.  What 
ever  darkness  may  have  settled  on  his  spirits,  or  on  his  fortunes, 
it  should  be  remembered  to  his  credit  that  in  many  respects  his 
life  had  been  exemplary,  and  that  he  was  an  honorable  man.  Ho 
has  been  dead  a  number  of  years. 

JONES  M.  WITHERS  was  a  graduate  of  the  United  States  Mili 
tary  Academy  at  West-Point,  and  a  native  of  Virginia.  In 
addition  to  his  own  personal  merits,  he  was  supported  by  strong 
family  influences.  He  was  the  brother  of  Mrs.  Gov.  Clay,  and 
had  married  a  daughter  of  Major  Daniel  M.  Forney,  an  officer  in 
the  War  of  1812,  and  formerly  a  Representative  in  Congress  from 
North  Carolina. 

In  1838,  Mr.  Withers,  then  residing  in  Madison  county,  was 
elected  Secretary  of  the  Senate.  In  1839,  he  was  a  candidate 
for  Attorney-General,  and  was  defeated  by  Matthew  W.  Lindsay, 
Esq.,  his  competitor.  Having  removed  to  Tuskaloosa,  Mr.  With 
ers  was  elected  a  Director  of  the  State  Bank.  Afterwards  he 
changed  his  residence  to  Mobile,  where  he  established  a  commis 
sion  business,  and  was  elected  a  Director,  and  appointed  Attorney 
for,  the  Branch  Bank.  When  political  parties  assumed  a  new 
aspect  in  1855,  by  the  organization  of  the  American,  or  Know 


126  Reminiscences  of  PuLlio  Men  in  Alabama, 

Nothing  party,  he  was  elected  a  Representative  in  the  Legisla 
ture  on  the  American  ticket.  While  serving  at  Montgomery,  he 
was  elected  Mayor  of  Mobile,  which  office  lie  accepted,  but 
resigned  it  the  next  year,  when  the  Democratic  party,  his  first 
love,  brought  forward  Mr.  Buchanan  for  President.  Such  was 
the  respect  entertained  for  his  character,  without  regard  to  party 
distinctions,  that  he  was  immediately  reflected  Mayor. 

When  the  war  between  the  North  and  South  commenced,  in 
1861,  Mr.  Withers  tendered  his  services  to  the  Confederate  Gov 
ernment,  and  received  a  commission.  In  the  course  of  the  war, 
he  was  promoted  to  the  rank  of  Major-General,  and  commanded 
a  Division  in  Gen.  Bragg's  army,  while  the  latter  was  operating 
in  Tennessee  and  Kentucky.  After  the  war  closed,  Gen.  Withers 
was  again  elected  Mayor  of  Mobile,  in  which  office  he  continued 
until  he  was  displaced  by  the  Federal  authorities  commanding  in 
Alabama,  under  the  Reconstruction  Acts  of  Congress.  As  evi 
dence  of  the  great  fevor  with  which  Gen.  Withers  was  regarded 
by  the  people  of  Mobile,  the  fact  may  be  stated  that  he  procured 
a  residence  beyond  the  corporate  limits  of  the  city,  which  made 
him  ineligible  to  the  office  of  Mayor,  to  remove  which  obstacle, 
an  amendment  of  the  charter  was  obtained,  and  he  was  thereupon 
again  elected  to  the  Mayoralty,  the  duties  of  which  office  he 
faithfully  discharged  throughout  his  several  terms.  In  personal 
appearance,  Gen.  Withers  is  attractive,  and  he  is  now  devoting 
his  varied  culture  and  experience  to  the  public  good  as  Editor  of 
the  "Mobile  Tribune." 

MATTHEW  W.  LIXDSAY  came  from  Tennessee,  and  was  a  Rep 
resentative  from  Morgan  county  in  1835,  1836,  and  1838.  He 
married  a  daughter  of  Constantine  Perkins,  the  late  Attorney- 
General,  deceased,  whose  gallant  behavior  at  the  battle  of 
Emuckfaw,  under  the  command  of  Gen.  Jackson,  in  loading  the 
cannon  with  his  musket  a<*  a  ramrod,  and  firing  it  upon  the 
Indians  just  in  time  to  drive  them  back,  had  secured  historic 
celebrity.  The  acquaintance  Mr.  Lindsay  had  formed  with  mem 
bers  at  preceding  sessions  which  he  served,  enabled  him  to  com 
pete  successfully  for  the  office  of  Attorney-General,  in  1839,  after 
which  he  removed  to  Tuskaloosa. 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  127 

In  1840,  Mr.  Lindsay  identified  himself  with  the  "Whig  party, 
and  took  an  active  part  for  Gen.  Harrison,  by  addressing  Tippa- 
canoe  Clubs,  and  other  public  assemblages,  throughout  the  cam 
paign.  He  was  a  fluent  speaker,  and  possessed  fair  abilities, 
which  he  displayed  to  considerable  advantage  by  his  perfect  self- 
reliance  in  every  forum  in  which  he  appeared.  He  was  extremely 
bland  and  courteous  in  his  deportment;  but,  from  what  cause  I 
know  not,  he  always  seemed  to  me  a  little  short  of  his  proper 
destiny.  He  afterwards  removed  to  Aberdeen,  Mississippi,  where 
he  died. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

Parties  in  1840 — Excitement  in  the  Legislature,  etc. 

The  Presidential  canvass  of  1840  was  remarkable  as  the  fiercest 
contest  ever  waged  in  the  State.  When  the  Legislature  met,  on 
the  2d  day  of  November,  the  elections  had  not  been  held  in  the 
different  States;  and  while  the  Democrats  had  always  possessed  a 
majority  in  Alabama,  the  Whigs  were  buoyant  with  hope,  and 
even  enthusiastic  to  carry  the  State  for  General  Harrison,  and 
thereby  compel  the  majority  in  the  Legislature,  under  the  doctrine 
of  instruction  from  the  people,  to  conform  their  action  to  the  pop 
ular  will,  and  thus  elect  a  Whig  Senator  to  Congress  for  the  term 
of  six  years  from  the  4th  of  March,  1841,  in  the  event  that  Ala 
bama  voted  for  the  Whig  candidate  for  President.  Of  course,  it 
was  desired,  by  those  who  advocated  this  policy,  to  postpone  the 
election  for  Senator  until  the  Presidential  issue  was  decided.  On 
this  point  a  parliamentary  struggle  took  place  within  the  first  week 
of  the  session,  which  was  carried  to  great  extremes  on  both  sides, 
and  was  distinguished  for  the  tact  and  ability  with  which  the  whole 
proceeding  was  conducted.  As  forming  a  portion  of  the  history 
of  the  times,  a  somewhat  particular  notice  is  here  given,  of  the 
exciting  topics  and  measures  of  the  session  of  1840.. 


128  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

The  talent,  in  both  branches,  this  year  was  decidedly  above  the 
average,  and  much  of  it  was  of  a  very  high  order.  Without  in 
tending  to  discriminate  in  any  offensive  spirit,  some  of  the  promi 
nent  names  in  the  Senate  are  here  introduced : 

William  J.  Alston,  of  Marengo; 

Jefferson  Buford,  of  Barbour; 

Gerard  W.  Creagh,  of  Washington  ; 

J.  L.  F.  Cottrell,  of  Lowndes; 

Dennis  Dent,  of  Tuskaloosa; 

Dixon  Hall,  of  Autauga; 

Benjamin  Hudson,  of  Franklin ; 

John  Edmund  Jones,  of  Sumter; 

Peyton  King,  of  Pickens; 

Felix  G.  McConnell,  of  Talladega; 

Hugh  McVay,  of  Lauderdale ; 

William  S.  Phillips,  of  Dallas; 

George  Reese,  of  Chambers; 

Green  P.  Rice,  of  Morgan; 

Nathaniel  Terry,  of  Limestone; 

Harry  I.  Thornton,  of  Greene; 

Theophilus  L.  Toulmin,  of  Mobile; 

Daniel  B.  Turner,  of  Madison; 

Thomas  Wilson,  of  Jackson; 

Daniel  E.  Watrous,  of  Shelby. 

For  the  organization  of  the  Senate,  Mr.  Cottrell  was  elected 
President  without  opposition,  he  having  received  29  votes,  being 
all  that  were  cast.  Pleasant  Hill,  of  Bibb,  received  30  votes,  and 
was  elected  Secretary,  without  opposition.  Six  ballotings  took 
place  for  Assistant  Secretary — Madison  Gordon,  Spartan  Allen, 
George  G.  Lyon,  and  Andrew  B.  Stephens,  being  the  candidates. 
On  the  last  ballot  Mr.  Gordon  received  17  votes,  and  was  declared 
elected  Assistant  Secretary  of  the  Senate. 

In  the  House  of  Representatives,  about  ninety  gentlemen  an 
swered  when  the  roll  was  called,  some  of  whose  names  are  fur 
nished  as  among  the  ablest  debaters  and  most  active  business 
members  of  the  House : 

Robert  A.  Baker,  of  Franklin; 

John  Barron,  of  Perry; 


jReminisoenoes  of  Public,  Men  in  Alabama,  129 

Joseph  Bates,  of  Mobile; 
A.  Q.  Bradley,  of  Perry; 
Robert  B.  Campbell,  of  Lowndes; 
Jeremiah  Clemens,  of  Madison ; 
Walter  H.  Crenshaw,  of  Butler; 
James  M.  Davenport,  of  Marengo; 
Jonathan  Douglass,  of  Lauderdale; 
George  Hill,  of  Talladega; 
Samuel  S.  Houston,  of  Washington; 
John  S.  Hunter,  of  Lowndes; 
Joseph  J.  Hutchinson,  of  Montgomery; 
William  M.  Inge,  of  Sumter; 
Robert  Jemison,  Jr.,  of  Tuskaloosa; 
Charles  C.  Langdon,  of  Mobile; 
Blake  Little,  of  Sumter; 
Solomon  McAlpin,  of  Greene; 
Milton  McClanahan,  of  Morgan; 
Charles  McLemore,  of  Chambers; 
David  Moore,  of  Madison; 
William  B.  Moors,  of  Marengo; 
William  W.  Morris,  of  Coosa; 
William  M.  Murphy,  of  Greene; 
William  H.  Norris,  of  Dallas; 
Daniel  H.  Norwood,  of  Dallas; 
Hardin  Perkins,  of  Tuskaloosa; 
Thomas  M.  C.  Prince,  of  Mobile; 
Benjamin  Reynolds,  of  Franklin; 
Green  P.  Rice,  of  Morgan; 
Samuel  F.  Rice,  of  Talladega; 
Oran  M.  Roberts,  of  St.  Clair; 
James  E.  Saunders,  of  Lawrence; 
Henry  D.  Smith,  of  Lauderdale; 
Jeptha  Spruill,  of  Pick  ens; 
Charles  E.  B.  Strode,  of  Morgan; 
Samuel  Walker,  of  Madison; 
Tandy  W.  Walker,  of  Lawrence ; 
Thomas  A.  Walker,  of  Benton ; 

Etheldred  W,  Williams,  of  Jackson; 
9 


130  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

John  Anthony  Winston,  of  Sumter; 
William  O.  Winston,  of  DeKalb; 
Elisha  Young,  of  Greene. 

In  the  first  election  which  took  place,  that  for  Speaker  of  the 
House,  party  lines  were  drawn  with  the  utmost  rigor,  as  may  be 
seen  from  the  several  ballots: 

For  Speaker Samuel  Walker,  Democrat. .  49  votes. 

Elisha  Young,  Whig 41  votes. 

For  Clerk William  Garrett,  Democrat .  51  votes. 

Hiram  Hemphill,  Whig. .  ..41  votes. 
For  Assistant  Clerk . .  Joseph  Phelan,  Democrat . .  51  votes. 

George  B.  Saunders,  Whig .  41  votes. 

A  number  of  ballotings  took  place  for  the  subordinate  officers 
of  the  House,  all  resulting  in  the  election  of  Wilson  C.  Bibb  En 
grossing  Clerk;  John  Tatom,  Door-keeper;  and  James  EL  Owen, 
Messenger. 

The  message  of  Gov.  Bagby,  which  was  of  considerable  length, 
was  delivered  the  next  day.  A  great  portion  of  it  referred  to 
Federal  policy,  to  financial  matters  at  home,  and  to  the  criminal 
code  prepared  by  the  Judges  of  the  Supreme  Court,  adapted  to 
the  Penitentiary  form  of  punishment.  The  main  topic,  however, 
most  earnestly  dwelt  upon,  was  the  establishment  of  the  General 
Ticket  in  the  election  of  Kepresentatives  in  Congress,  in  room  of 
the  District  System  then  existing.  In  regard  to  internal  improve 
ment,  the  Governor  recommended  the  construction  of  some  work 
connecting  the  Tennessee  with  the  navigable  waters  of  Mobile 
Bay ;  and  of  the  three  only  modes,  viz :  canal,  railway,  or  McAd- 
amized  road,  he  preferred  the  latter,  for  "cheapness  in  construc 
tion  and  repairs,  greater  practicability,  less  liability  to  accidents, 
and  greater  adaptation  to  the  convenience  of  the  great  body  of 
the  people," 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  131 

UNITED   STATES   SENATOR. 

On  the  second  day  of  the  session,  immediately  after  the  Gov 
ernor's  message  was  read,  Mr.  Terry  offered  the  following  resolution 
in  the  Senate : 

Resolved,  By  the  Senate,  and  with  the  concurrence  of  the  House  of  Represent 
atives,  the  two  Houses  will  assemble  in  the  Hall  of  the  House,  on  Thursday,  the 
5th  instant,  at  twelve  o'clock,  noon,  for  the  purpose  of  electing  a  Senator  in  the 
Congress  of  the  United  States,  occasioned  by  the  expiration  of  the  constitutional 
term  of  the  Hon.  Win.  R.  King,  on  the  4th  of  March  next. 

The  vote  on  this  resolution  showed  the  political  status  of  Sen 
ators,  and  their  names  are  here  given  for  that  purpose — those  in 
the  affirmative  were  Democrats,  and  those  voting  to  the  contrary 
were  Whigs — 19  to  9  on  this  first  trial  of  strength.  Five  Senators 
were  absent,  allowing  all  of  whom  to  be  Whigs,  the  complement 
in  a  full  Senate  would  be  19  Democrats  to  14  Whigs,  which  is 
about  the  true  classification.  Those  who  voted  for  the  resolution 
were — 

Messrs.  President,  Clarke,  Creagh,  Dailey,  Farrar,  Hudson,  Hall,  Jones,  Loyd, 
McAllister,  McVay,  Reese,  Rice,  Rodgers,  Smith,  Terry,  Touliuin,  Turner,  and 
^Wilson  of  Jackson — ID. 

Those  who  voted  against  the  resolution,  were — 

Messrs.  Alston,  Andress,  Buford,  Dent,  King,  Lea,  Oliver,  Thornton,  and 
Womack— 9. 

The  resolution  was  adopted  on  the  3d  of  November,  and  on 
the  following  day  was  transmitted  to  the  House.  Here  the  par 
liamentary  fight  commenced. 

Mr.  Young  moved  to  lay  the  resolution  of  the  Senate  on  the 
table,  when,  the  hour  of  12  o'clock  having  arrived,  Mr.  Strode 
moved  to  suspend  the  order  of  the  day,  so  as  to  act  on  the  resolu 
tion  of  the  Senate,  which  motion  prevailed  by  a  vote  of  48  yeas 
to  44  nays. 

The  motion  of  Mr.  Young  being  under  consideration,  Mr.  Bates 
moved  that  the  House  adjourn  until  10  o'clock  the  next  morning — 
yeas  42,  nays  51.  After  some  discussion,  Mr.  Bates  renewed  his 
motion  to  adjourn,  which  was  carried. 


132  Reminiscences  of  Public  Mm  in  Alabama. 

On  the  5th  November,  the  hour  of  12  o'clock  having  arrived, 
Mr.  Rice  moved  to  suspend  the  order  of  0  the  day  to  enable  him  to 
offer  a  resolution.  Here  a  series  of  motions  rapidly  followed : 

1.  By  Mr.  R.  Fitzpatrick,  that  the  House  adjourn  until   10 
o'clock  the  next  day,  which  was  lost.     Yeas  45,  nays  50. 

2.  By  Mr.  Perkins,  to  adjourn  until  9  o'clock. 

3.  By  Mr.  Bates,  to  adjourn  until  half-after  9  o'clock,  which 
latter  motion  was  lost.     Yeas  44,  nays  50. 

4.  By  Mr.  Perkins,  to  adjourn  until  half-past  9  o'clock. 

5.  By  Mr.  Hutchinson,  to  adjourn  until  45  minutes  after  9 
o'clock.     Yeas  45,  nays  49.     The  question  recurring  on  the  motion 
of  Mr.  Perkins,  it  was  decided  in  the  negative.     Yeas  44,  nays  49. 
By  leave  of  the  House  Mr.  Rice  withdrew  his  motion  to  suspend 
the  order  of  the  day. 

It  is  necessary  to  say  that  Thursday,  5th,  was  the  day  fixed  in 
the  resolution  of  the  Senate,  for  the  election  of  Senator,  at  noon ; 
and  that  the  motions  to  adjourn  and  the  calls  for  the  yeas  and  nays 
were  made  by  the  Whigs  to  consume  time,  so  as  to  defeat  the  elec 
tion  at  the  early  day  appointed.  That  object  having  been  attained, 
the  House  proceeded  to  other  business. 

On  the  6th,  Mr.  McClanahan  offered  a  resolution  to  bring  on 
the  election  of  Senator  on  Saturday,  7th,  at  noon.  On  motion  of 
Mr.  Rice,  the  House  resumed  the  consideration  of  the  Senate's 
resolution  for  this  object;  whereupon,  Mr.  Young  withdrew  his 
motion  to  lay  it  on  the  table. 

Mr.  Moors  moved  to  strike  out  all  after  the  word  "resolved," 
with  a. view  to  substitute  the  preamble  and  four  resolutions  which 
he  offered  referring  to  the  fact  that  the  election  of  President  of 
United  States  would  take  place  on  Thursday,  9th  instant,  and  that 
the  voice  of  the  people  then  expressed  should  govern  in  the  elec 
tion  of  Senator.  The  fourth  resolution  is  in  the  following  words : 

Resolved,  That  as  after  the  Presidential  election  shall  have  taken  place,  we  will 
be  much  better  prepared  to  represent  the  will  and  wishes  of  the  people  of  Ala 
bama,  and  believing  in  the  correctness  of  the  republican  doctrine  that  it  is  the 
duty  of  the  representative  to  obey  the  will  of  his  constituents,  an  additional  rea 
son  is  therefore  presented  to  us  why  we  should,  for  the  present,  postpone  the  elec 
tion  for  Senator. 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  133 

Mr.  Morris  moved  to  amend  the  substitute  by  striking  out  all 
after  the  first  resolution,  with  a  view  to  insert  the  following: 

Be  it  further  resolved,  That  the  interest  of  the  State  requires  that  we  now  go  into 
the  election  of  a  Senator  to  represent  this  State  in  the  United  States  Senate,  for 
the  following  reasons : 

1.  That  it  will  in  no  wise  violate  the  principle  of  the  right  of  instruction; 
should  there  be  a  change  in  public  opinion,  it  will  be  competent  for  this  body  to 
instruct  said  Senator  in  accordance  with  the  then  will  of  the  people. 

2.  Because  the  exciting  question  is  now  pending,  having  been  transmitted  to 
this  House  from  the  Senate,  and  the  sooner  disposed  of  and  the  local  business  of 
the  State  entered  upon,  the  better  for  the  people. 

Resolved,  That  we  fully  recognize  the  old  republican  doctrine,  the  right  of  in 
struction,  and  in  disposing  of  this  question  now,  we  do  not  violate  or  infringe  the 
right  of  the  people  to  rule. 

Resolved,  That  said  election,  with  the  concurrence  of  the  Senate,  do  take  place 
in  the  Representative  Hall,  on  to-morrow,  at  12  o'clock,  and  that  the  best  interest 
of  the  State  will  thereby  be  promoted. 

Then  followed  a  series  of  motions,  and  much  animated  skirmish 
ing,  amid  violent  uproar,  and  the  wildest  confusion  at  times,  which 
lasted  until  past  midnight  on  Saturday  morning.  A  scene  of 
greater  tumult  and  excitement  was  never  before  witnessed  in  the 
Legislature.  The  object  of  the  Whigs  was  to  produce  delay,  so 
as  to  prevent  definite  action  on  the  resolution  to  bring  on  the  elec 
tion  of  Senator,  until  the  hour  had  expired  for  the  meeting  of  the 
two  Houses  on  joint-ballot.  Some  idea  may  be  formed  of  the 
temper  and  tenacity  of  members  of  both  political  parties  by  the 
entries  on  the  Journal,  of  which  an  abstract  is  submitted : 

Immediately  after  Mr.  Morris  had  offered  his  amendment,  Mr. 
Langdon  moved  that  the  House  adjourn  until  ten  o'clock  next 
morning;  which  motion  was  lost.  Yeas  46,  nays  49. 

Mr.  Hutchinson  called  for  a  division,  which  was  first  ordered  on 
striking  out.  Mr.  Bates  moved  for  a  call  of  the  House,  which 
wa.s  lost.  Yeas  41,  nays  49.  Mr.  Hall  then  moved  that  the  House 
adjourn  until  10  o'clock  the  next  morning,  which  was  also  lost. 
Yeas  44,  nays  49. 

The  motion  of  Mr.  Morris  to  strike  out  being  still  under  con 
sideration,  Mr.  Shanks,  of  Barbour,  moved  that  the  House  adjourn 
to  10  o'clock  the  next  morning.  Yeas  42,  nays  44.  Mr.  McAlpin 
then  made  a  similar  motion,  which  was  lost.  Yeas  41,  nays  47. 

Mr.  Bates  moved  that  the  House  adjourn  until  the  next  morning, 
59  minutes  after  9  o'clock.  The  Speaker  (Mr.  Young  in  the 
chair)  decided  that  a  motion  to  adjourn  was  always  in  order.  From 


1 34  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabaiw. 

this  decision  Mr.  Baker  appealed  to  the  House ;  and  the  question 
being  stated — "Shall  the  decision  of  the  Chair  stand  as  the  judg 
ment  of  the  House?"  it  was  voted  in  the  negative.  Yeas  44, 
nays  48. 

The  amendment  of  Mr.  Morris  being  yet  under  consideration, 
Mr.  Little,  of  Suinter,  moved  that  the  House  adjourn  until  10 
o'clock  the  next  morning.  The  Chair  (Mr.  Young  presiding)  pro 
nounced  the  motion  out  of  order  under  the  decision  of  the  House 
just  made.  Mr.  Little  appealed  to  the  House,  and  the  last  decis 
ion  of  the  Chair  was  sustained.  Yeas  51,  nays  32. 

The  calls  for  yeas  and  nays  on  points  of  order,  and  on  motions 
to  adjourn,  will  appear  by  the  following  summary,  the  whole  taking 
place  at  a  very  late  hour  of  the  night : 

1.  By  Mr.  Little,  that  the  House  adjourn  until  10  o'clock  the 
next  morning — ruled  out  of  order  under  the  decision  of  the  House 
just  made.     On  appeal,  ijie  last  ruling  of  the  Chair  was  sustained. 
Yeas  52,  nays  34. 

2.  By  Mr.  Inge  of  Sumtcr,  that  the  House  adjourn  until  10 
o'clock  next  morning — ruled  out  of  order;  and,  on  appeal  by  Mr. 
Hutchinson,  the  Chair  was  sustained — 49,  36. 

3.  By  Mr.  Bates,  to  adjourn  to  the  same  hour — ruled  out  of 
order;  and,  on  appeal  by  Mr.  Hutchinson,  the  Chair  was  sus 
tained— 50,  35; 

4.  Mr.  Bates  again  moved  that  the  House  adjourn  to  the  same 
hour.     Mr.  Speaker  Walker  having  resumed  the  chair,  decided 
the  motion  to  be  in  order.     The  House  refused  to  adjourn.    Yeas 
45,  nays  46. 

5.  Again  by  Mr.  Bates,  to  adjourn  to  the  same  hour.     Yeas  45, 
nays  47. 

6.  By  Mr.  Hutchinson,  to  adjourn  until  the  next  morning  at  45 
minutes  after  9  o'clock,  which  motion  was  lost — 46,  47. 

7  By  Mr.  Jemison,  to  adjourn  to  40  minutes  after  9  o'clock, 
which  v;as  refused  by  a  vote  of  46  to  47. 

8.  Again  by  Mr.  Jemison,  to  adjourn  to  35  minutes  after  9  o'clock, 
which  was  lost  by  a  tie  vote — 47  to  47. 

9.  By  Mr.  Little,  to  adjourn  until  10  o'clock  the  next  morning. 
i,ost— 42  to  47. 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  135 

The  resolution  from  the  Senate,  and  the  amendment  of  Mr. 
Morris  to  the  amendment  of  Mr.  Moors  being  still  under  consid 
eration,  Mr.  McClanahan  moved  to  lay  it  on  the  table,  which  mo 
tion  prevailed. 

Mr.  Hutchinson  then  moved  that  the  House  adjourn  until  10 
o'clock  next  morning,  which  was  refused — 41  to  48. 

At  this  stage  of  the  question,  after  the  members  were  exhausted 
by  a  continuous  session  of  eighteen  hours,  in  a  parliamentary  con 
test  by  the  Democrats  to  bring  on  the  Senator's  election  on  the  7th, 
and  by  the  Whigs  to  prevent  the  election  at  the  time  appointed 
in  the  resolution,  Mr.  Reynolds,  of  Franklin,  took  the  floor  and 
appealed  to  his  Democratic  co-laborers  to  yield  the  mere  question 
of  time,  as  the  result  would  be  the  same  whenever  the  election 
for  United  States  Senator  took  place.  Just  previously,  and  after 
the  House  had,  on  his  motion,  laid  the  resolution  of  the  Senate  on 
the  table,  Mr.  McClanahan  prepared  to  offer  an  original  resolution 
to  bring  on  the  election  of  Senator  at  the  time  indicated  in  Mr. 
Morris'  amendment,  in  which  it  was  known  that  the  Senate  would 
concur  in  accomplishing  the  object  in  view.  When  this  step  was 
perceived  by  the  Whig  minority  in  the  House,  Mr.  Bates,  of  Mo 
bile,  in  his  bold  and  fearless  manner,  denounced  it  as  a  trick,  a 
snap-judgment,  to  overslaugh  the  Whigs  under  false  pretences,  and 
he  called  upon  his  political  friends  to  leave  the  House  in  a  body, 
from  self-respect,  and  what  was  due  to  the  dignity  of  legislation. 
This  course  was  about  to  be  taken,  when  Mr.  Reynolds,  whose 
frankness  and  liberality  commanded  the  respect  of  all  parties,  in 
terposed  his  conciliatory  influence.  He  did  only  justice,  he  said, 
in  confessing  his  admiration  of  the  ability,  perseverance,  and  tact 
with  which  the  minority  had  acted  their  part  in  resisting  what  ap 
peared  to  them  a  somewhat  coercive  and  dictatorial  step  on  the 
part  of  the  majority,  to  make  their  power  felt  in  such  mode  as  best 
suited  their  caprice.  He  would  deeply  regret  to  see  such  knightly 
combatants  retire  from  the  Hall,  with  the  conviction  that  their 
rights  had  been  trifled  with  by  the  majority  who  held  together 
with  equally  honest  zeal  to  carry  out  their  principles.  He  indulged 
the  hope  that  his  political  friends  would  consent  to  adjourn,  after 
so  long  and  boisterous  a  sitting,  and  that  the  Whig  members  would 
remain  in  their  seats. 


136  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

The  appeal  was  successful.  It  was  made  at  three  o'clock  in  the 
morning,  when  the  House  was  worn  out  by  fatigue  and  excitement. 
On  motion  of  Mr.  Reynolds,  the  House  then  adjourned  until  10 
o'clock  that  morning. 

Between  the  several  votings  here  noticed,  many  speakers  occu 
pied  the  floor,  with  more  or  less  intensity  in  the  discussion.  On 
the  Democratic  side  of  the  House,  Mr.  Saunders  was  the  acknowl 
edged  leader.  He  was  cool  and  vigilant,  and  at  times  severely 
aggressive,  though  always  with  courtesy  and  sound  taste.  He  was 
supported  by  a  number  of  gentlemen  belonging  to  the  same  polit 
ical  school  who  displayed  considerable  ability  in  debate,  among 
whom  were  Messrs.  Baker,  T.  A.  Walker,  Morris,  Reynolds,  Clem 
ens,  Rice,  H.  D.  Smith,  W.  O.  Winston,  Strode,  W.  C.  Hale,  and 
Douglass.  Others  may  have  participated  in  the  discussions,  as 
they  sprung  up  more  or  less  suddenly,  whose  names  do  not  occur 
to  my  recollection. 

On  the  part  of  the  Whigs  there  was  a  very  decided  amount  of 
ability  and  character.  Mr.  Bates,  of  Mobile,  was  the  leader  in  the 
Senatorial  fight,  and  he  bore  himself  with  the  loftiness  and  courage 
of  a  field  marshal.  He  rallied  his  forces  with  tremendous  energy, 
and  always  brought  them  up  in  solid  phalanx.  As  a  chief,  his 
very  presence  inspired  confidence.  In  his  efforts  to  defend  the 
minority  from  injustice,  he  was  well  sustained  in  debate  by  Messrs. 
Hunter,  McLemore,  Spruill,  McGill,  McAlpin,  Murphy,  Inge, 
Jemison,  Perkins,  Little,  Hutchinson,  and  others.  Both  parties 
exhibited  abundant  resources,  equal  to  any  demand  which  circum 
stances  seemed  to  create. 

On  the  llth  of  November,  Mr.  Moore,  of  Madison,  offered  a 
joint  resolution,  which  was  adopted,  to  bring  on  the  election  for 
Senator  on  Tuesday,  the  17th  instant,  in  which  the  Senate  con 
curred.  The  two  Houses  having  assembled  in  the  Representative 
Hall,  at  the  time  appointed,  the  Hon.  William  R.  King  was  placed 
in  nomination  as  the  Democratic  candidate,  and  the  Hon.  John 
Gayle  as  the  Whig  candidate.  As  the  votes  for  each  were  of  a 
strictly  party  character,  they  are  here  stated,  as  showing  the  exact 
lines.  Those  who  voted  for  Col.  King,  were — 

Messrs.  President,  Clarke,  Creagh,  Dailey,  Farrar,  Hudson,  Hall,  Jones,  Loyd, 
McAllister,  McConnell,  McVay,  Reese,  Rice,  Rodgers,  Smith,  Terry,  Toulmin,  * 


Iteminiseenoes  of  Public  Mm  in  Alabama.  137 

Turner,  Wilson  of  Fayette,  and  Wilson  of  Jackson,  of  the  Senate;  and  Messrs. 
Adams,  Adrian,  Alexander,  Baker,  Blackshear,  Clemens,  Cobb,  Davis  of  Autauga, 
Davis  of  Limestone,  Dixoii,  Douglass,  Fowler,  Garrett,  Griffin  of  Jackson,  Griffin 
of  Marshall,  Hale,  Hill,  Houston,  Hughes,  Jones,  Kelly,  King,  Mallard,  March- 
banks,  McClanahan,  McCullough,  McMillian  of  Blount,  McMillian  of  Jefferson, 
Moore  of  Madison,  Moore  of  Marion,  Morris,  Provence,  Pynes,  Randolph,  Rey 
nolds,  Rice,  Roberts,  Saunders,  Smith  of  Jackson,  Smith  of  Lauderdale,  Stone, 
Strode,jWalker  of  Benton,  Walker  of  Lawrence,  Warren,  Williams,  Wilson,  Winston 
of  DeKalb,  Winston  of  Sumter,  and  Wynn,  of  the  House  of  Representatives — 72. 

Those  who  voted  for  Mr.  Gayle,  were — 

Messrs.  Alston,  Andress,  Buford,  Deift,  King,  Lea,  Oliver,  Phillips,  Thornton, 
and  Woniack,  of  the  Senate;  and  Messrs.  Ashurst,  Barren,  Bates,  Bell,  Blount, 
Bowen,  Bradley,  Broughton,  Campbell,  Crenshaw,  Davenport,  Davidson,  Davis  of 
Bibb,  Doster,  Fitzpatrick  of  Macon,  Griffin  of  Shelby,  Hall,  Hollinger,  Hutchinson, 
Inge,  Jemison,  Kidd,  Langdon,  Little,  Mangum,  Mann,  McAlpin,  McCoy,  McGill, 
McLemore,  Mitchell,  Moors,  Murphy,  Norris,  Norwood,  Pegues,  Perkins,  Peters, 
Prince,  Seawell,  Shanks,  Simmons,  Spruill,  and  Young,  of  the  House  of  Repre 
sentatives — 55. 

A  majority  of  seventeen  votes  on  joint  ballot,  having  been  given 
for  the  Hon.  William  R.  King,  he  was  declared  duly  elected  a 
Senator  of  the  United  States  for  six  years  from  the  4th  of  March, 
1841.  And  here  the  contest  ended.  The  Legislature  then  pro 
ceeded  to  other  business,  of  more  practical  importance  to  the  peo 
ple  of  Alabama. 

MR.  SPEAKER  WALKER. — The  resignation  of  the  Hon.  Samuel 
Walker,  of  Madison,  as  Speaker  of  the  House  of  Representatives, 
on  15th  December,  from  indisposition,  is  here  noticed  as  a  rare 
event  of  its  kind.  Mr.  Young,  of  Greene,  who  had  been  his  com 
petitor,  immediately  offered  a  resolution  tendering  him  the  "thanks 
of  this  House  for  his  gentlemanly  and  dignified  deportment  during 
the  period  of  his  presiding  over  the  House,  and  assure  him  of  our 
high  regard  and  esteem."  The  House  then  proceeded  to  the 
election  of  a  Speaker  to  fill  the  vacancy,  when  Robert  A.  Baker, 
Esq.,  of  Franklin,  was  declared  unanimously  elected. 

The  members  who  served  at  this  session  of  the  Legislature  de 
serve  a  more  special  notice  than  is. contained  in  the  foregoing  pages. 
A  further  account  will  appear  in  the  next  chapter. 


138  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 


CHAPTER  IX. 

More  of  the  Session  of  1840 — General  Ticket  for  Congress  —  State 

House  Officers. 

The  elections  for  the  popular  branch  of  Congress  in  Alabama 
had  always  been  by  Districts,  previous  to  the  year  1840.  At  that 
time,  of  the  five  Representatives,  all  were  Democrats  except  Mr. 
Dellet,  of  the  Mobile  District,  and  General  Crabb,  of  the  Tuska- 
loosa  District.  To  absorb  these  Districts  by  the  large  Democratic 
majorities  in  North-Alabama,  and  thus  increase  the  strength  of 
the  Democratic  party  in  Congress,  was  a  policy  obvious  to  skillful 
tacticians,  who  sought  to  control  public  opinion,  and  to  obtain 
power  at  the  expense  of  opponents  in  the  political  arena.  In 
order  to  understand  the  measure  proposed  for  this  purpose,  I 
quote  from  the  message  of  Gov.  Bagby  to  the  Legislature  at  the 
session  of  1840: 

With  the  view  to  concentrate  more  perfectly  the  political  energies  of  the  State 
so  far  as  practicable,  and  of  consummating  the  genuine  State  Rights'  doctrine,  I 
beg  leave  respectfully  to  suggest  the  propriety  of  changing  the  mode  of  electing 
members  of  Congress  by  Districts,  and  of  substituting  instead  thereof  the  general 
ticket  system.  Every  State  entitled  to  a  separate  and  independent  existence  is 
supposed  to  possess  a  sovereign  will,  constituted  according  to  the  theory  of  our 
Government,  of  the  opinions  and  wishes  of  the  majority  of  our  people.  This 
sovereign  will,  when  ascertained  according  to  the  provisions  of  the  Constitution, 
forms,  after  all,  the  great  operative  principle  of  representative  democratic  govern 
ment.  Hence,  in  elections,  whatever  method  is  most  likely  to  obtain  an  expression 
of  that  will,  and  to  carry  it  out  in  practice,  is  most  congenial  to  the  theory  of  our 
form  of  Government.  According  to  the  principles  of  the  Constitution,  the  people 
of  the  States  are  represented  in  the  popular  branch  of  the  Legislature — the  people 
of  the  States  in  their  aggregate  sovereign  capacity — and  if  it  be  true  that  the  will 
of  this  aggregate  sovereign  constitutes  the  great  cardinal  and  distinctive  feature 
of  representative  government,  it  would  seem  to  follow,  inevitably,  that  whatever 
method  was  most  likely  to  ascertain  that  sovereign  will,  and  preserve  it  entire,  is 
most  conformable,  not  only  to  the  spirit  -of  the  Constitution,  but  most  conducive 
to  the  perpetuity  of  the  sovereignty  of  the  States.  The  general  ticket  system  is 
not  only  believed  to  be  defensible  upon  principle,  but  to  be  perfectly  equitable  in 
practice.  It  gives  to  a  majority  of  the  whole  people  of  the  State,  at  all  times, 
whatever  may  be  their  political  opinions,  the  entire,  undivided  weight  of  the 
whole  representation  in  Congress.  Whereas,  the  District  system  not  only  tends 
to  engender  an  attachment  to  sectional  or  local  interests,  at  the  expense  of  the 
whole,  and  sometimes  to  nourish  a  factious  spirit,  but  to  weaken  the  force  of  the 
State  representation,  and  in  some  instances,  to  paralyze  it  altogether  in  the 
National  Legislature. 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  1-39 

On  the  6th  of  November,  after  the  Senate,  in  committee  of  the 
whole,  had  referred  the  several  portions  of  the  Governor's  mes 
sage  to  the  appropriate  committees — 

On  motion  of  Mr.  Hudson  it  was  ordered  that  the  Chair  appoint  a  member  from 
each  judicial  circuit  in  this  State  as  members  of  the  Select  Committee  on  the  reso 
lution  in  relation  to  the  general  ticket  system.  Messrs.  Terry,  Hall,  Andress, 
Dent,  Loyd,  McAHster,  King,  Dailey,  Clarke,  and  Toulmin,  were  appointed  said 
committee. 

Iii  due  time,  Mr.  Terry,  Chairman,  reported  from  the  Select 
Committee  a  bill  to  be  entitled  an  "Act  to  Establish  the  General 
Ticket  System  in  Elections  for  Representatives  in  Congress  from 
the  State  of  Alabama." 

The  bill  produced  a  warm  discussion,  which  lasted  several  days, 
in  which  Mr.  Cottrell,  on  the  side  of  the  Democrats,  made  the 
longest  and  principal  speech,  ably  supporting  in  argument  the 
grounds  taken  in  support  of  the  measure.  Messrs.  Terry,  McCon- 
nell,  Jones,  and  Hall,  likewise  participated  in  the  debate  favorr.- 
bly  to  the  bill.  The  Whig  side  of  the  Senate  was  represented  by 
Mr.  Thornton  in  a  speech  occupying  a  portion  of  two  days,  which, 
when  reported,  filled  ten  columns  of  a  newspaper.  It  was  care 
fully  prepared  by  reflection  and  arrangement,  though  delivered 
without  notes,  and  many  passages  were  forcible  and  eloquent.  Of 
the  Whig  debaters  who  acted  with  Mr.  Thornton  in  opposition  to 
the  bill,  were  Messrs.  Alston,  Buford,  King,  Lea,  Watrous,  Oliver, 
and  Phillips.  After  a  sharp  contest,  it  passed  the  Senate  by  a 
strict  party  vote,  except  Mr.  McVay,  who  briefly  assigned  reasons 
for  differing  with  his  Democratic  friends  on  the  passage  of  the 
bill. 

After  the  bill  was  transmitted  to  the  House  of  Representatives, 
it  encountered  the  most  decided  and  persevering  opposition  from 
the  Whig  members.  A  condensed  statement  from  the  Journal 
will  show  the  machinery  and  weapons  with  which  the  battle  was 
waged,  beginning  on  23d  December. 

The  Speaker  decided  that  it  was  competent  to  take  the  bill 
from  the  orders  of  the  day.  On  appeal  by  Mr.  Moors,  the 
Speaker  was  sustained  by  the  House — 41  to  33.  On  motion  of 
Mr.  Saunders,  the  bill  was  then  taken  from  the  orders  of  the  day 
— yeas  44,  nays  36.  Mr.  Mann  moved  to  postpone  its  further 


140  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men,  in  Alabama,. 

consideration  until  the  30th  instant,  and  make  it  the  special  order 
of  the  day;  which  motion  was  lost — 38  to  47.  He  then  moved 
to  postpone  until  28th,  which  was  also  rejected — 30  to  38.  Mr. 
Murphy  moved  to  postpone  until  half-past  eleven  o'clock  on 
Saturday,  26th.  Mr.  Saunders  moved  to  adjourn  to  ten  o'clock 
on  Saturday,  which  motion  was  lost — yeas  34,  nays  41.  The 
question  then  recurred  on  ordering  the  bill  to  a  third  reading, 
when,  on  motion  of  Mr.  Roberts,  the  House  adjourned  over 
Christmas,  on  Friday,  until  ten  o'clock  Saturday  morning — 46  to 
30.  When  the  bill  was  reached  in  the  evening  session  on  Satur 
day,  Mr.  Bates  moved  that  the  House  adjourn  until  Monday, 
which  was  lost — 34  to  37.  After  some  discussion,  Mr.  McLemore 
renewed  the  motion  to  adjourn,  which  prevailed. 

On  Monday,  28th,  Mr.  Walker,  of  Lawrence,  oifered  a  proviso, 
to  come  in  at  the  end  of  the  bill,  that  the  act  should  have  effect 
only  in  the  election  of  members  to  the  twenty-seventh  Congress, 
upon  which  Mr.  Griffin  moved  the  previous  question,  which  was 
refused — 41  to  43.  On  motion  of  Mr.  Clemens,  the  bill  was  laid 
on  the  table.  After  several  hours  had  been  consumed  in  the 
election  of  Presidents  and  Directors  of  the  State  Bank  and 
Branches,  Mr.  Rice  moved  to  call  up  the  bill,  when,  on  motion  of 
Mr.  Inge,  the  House  adjourned  until  the  next  morning. 

Mr.  Winston,  of  DeKalb,  then  moved  to  take  up  the  bill.  On 
a  question  of  order,  the  Chair  decided  that  it  could  not  be  read 
without  leave  of  the  House,  from  which  decision  the  House  dis 
sented — 38  to  48.  Mr.  Winston  then  renewed  his  motion  to  take 
up  the  bill,  which  was  carried — 47  to  44.  Mr.  Little  raised  a 
question  of  order,  alleging  that  a  motion  to  take  a  bill  from  the 
table  merely  places  it  among  the  orders  of  the  day,  and  does  not 
bring  it  for  the  immediate  action  of  the  House.  The  Chair 
decided  otherwise,  and  that  the  bill  was  then  before  the  House, 
from  which  Mr.  Little  appealed.  The  decision  of  the  Chair  was 
sustained  by  the  House — 51  to  32.  Mr.  Inge  moved  to  postpone 
the  further  consideration  of  the  bill  until  Monday  next,  whicli 
was  lost — 42  to  49.  From  the  Journal,  at  this  stage  of  the  bill, 
the  following  passage  is  quoted : 

Upon  a  question  of  order,  the  Chair  decided  the  bill  before  the  House  is  one  of 
the  orders  of  the  day,  and  first  in  order,  and  has  to  be  disposed  of  before  other 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  141 

orders  of  the  day  can  be  taken  up ;  from  which  decision  Mr.  Hutchinson  appeals 
in  the  following  form  : 

"A  question  being  under  consideration,  which  the  House  has  decided  was  not 
among  the  orders  of  the  day,  the  hour  of  twelve  arrives,  and  a  motion  is  made  to 
proceed  with  the  orders  of  the  day — the  Chair  decides  the  motion  to  take  up  the 
order  of  the  day  out  of  order,  no  motion  being  entertained  to  suspend  said  order : 
An  appeal  is  taken  from  the  decision  of  the  Chair." 

The  Chair  was  sustained  by  a  vote  of  46  to  49,  whereupon  Mr. 
Griffin,  of  Marshall,  called  for  the  previous  question,  which  was 
sustained — 46  to  43.  Mr.  Hutchinson  moved  to  adjourn.  "  The 
Chair  decided  that  a  motion  to  adjourn  was  out  of  order  before 
the  main  question  was  disposed  of,  and  the  decision  of  the  Chair 
was  sustained — yeas  50,  nays  37."  The  main  question  was  then 
put  on  ordering  the  bill  to  a  third  reading,  and  carried — yeas  48, 
nays  43. 

The  next  view  of  the  bill  is  on  Monday,  30th  December,  when, 
on  motion  of  Mr.  Saunders,  the  orders  of  the  day  were  suspended, 
by  a  vote  of  47  to  40,  to  take  it  up ;  and,  on  motion  of  Mr.  Clem 
ens,  the  bill  was  taken  up — 47  to  35.  Mr.  Winston,  of  DeKalb, 
called  the  previous  question,  when  it  appeared  that  there  was  not 
a  quorum  present — yeas  44,  nays  5.  No  Whig  member  voted. 
Messrs.  Clemens,  Hall,  Moore  of  Madison,  Walker  of  Benton, 
and  Walker  of  Lawrence,  Democrats,  voting  in  the  negative. 
Mr.  Mitchell  moved  that  the  House  adjourn,  which  was  lost. 
Mr.  Clemens  moved  a  call  of  the  House,  which  was  sustained ;  and 
he  then  moved  to  send  a  messenger  for  Mr.  Walker,  of  Madison, 
and  for  Mr.  John  H.  Garrett,  of  Cherokee,  who  were  detained  at 
their  hotels  by  indisposition.  When  these  gentlemen  arrived  in 
the  Hall,  Mr.  Smith,  of  Lauderdale,  moved  a  call  of  the  House, 
when  fifty-two  members  answered  to  their  names. 

The  next  question  was,  "Shall  the  main  question  be  now  put? 
and  decided  in  the  affirmative — yeas  51,  nays  none."  The  main 
question  was  put,  "  Shall  the  bill  pass?"  and  was  decided  in  the 
affirmative — yeas  50,  nays  23.  While  these  proceedings  were  in 
progress,  some  of  the  Whig  members  had  returned  to  the  Hall, 
from  which  most  of  them  had  retired  when  the  previous  question 
was  called,  so  as  to  prevent  a  quorum,  and  thus,  if  possible,  to 
defeat  the  passage  of  the  bill.  But  when  Messrs.  Walker  and 
Garrett  were  brought  in  by  the  messengers  sent  for  them,  and  a 
quorum  secured,  the  Whigs  perceived  that  their  further  absence 


142  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

would  be  of  no  avail  against  the  bill,  and  about  half  of  them 
returned  to  their  seats,  and  voted  against  its  final  passage. 

Next  day,  Mr".  Crenshaw  moved  a  reconsideration  of  the  vote 
on  the  passage  of  the  General  Ticket  Bill.  Mr.  Little  moved  to 
postpone  its  further  consideration  until  the  day  following,  which 
was  refused — 30  to  47.  Mr.  Morris  moved  a  call  of  the  House; 
which  was  lost — 31  to  48.  Mr.  Williams  moved  the  previous 
question,  which  was  sustained — 49  to  34.  The  question  on  Mr. 
Crenshaw's  motion  to  reconsider  was  then  taken,  and  lost — 38  to 
49.  And  here  the  bill  was  beyond  all  parliamentary  rules  to 
change  or  defeat  it,  and  to  this  extent  the  majority  had  triumphed 
after  a  hard  struggle,  bravely  maintained  on  both  sides.  The 
scene  of  noise  and  disorder  in  the  House  at  times,  and  especially 
when  the  Whig  members  retired,  and  after  they  came  back  in 
squads,  under  more  or  less  excitement,  it  is  unnecessary  to  de 
scribe.  No  attempt  would  be  successful.  Some  of  them  even 
mounted  the  desks  in  defiance  of  the  Speaker's  call  to  order. 
But  these  things  took  place  thirty  years  ago,  and  most  of  the 
actors  are  now  dead,  while  the  few  that  survive  who  witnessed 
the  proceedings  should  throw  the  mantle  of  charity  over  the 
whole. 

The  debates  of  the  House  on  the  General  Ticket  Bill  had  been 
engaged  in  with  zeal  and  ability,  which  have  been  noticed  in  a 
previous  chapter  relative  to  the  election  of  Senator  of  the  United 
States,  both  measures  involving  strictly  political  competition,  with 
the  consequences  of  success  or  defeat  to  animate  or  depress  the 
rival  parties.  As  to  which  deserved  the  victory,  I  express  no 
opinion,  after  so  great  a  lapse  of  time;  but  candor  obliges  me  to 
say  I  was  very  well  satisfied  with  the  results,  and  so  far  as  my 
influence,  in  the  public  positions  I  then  held,  permitted,  I  gave 
it  in  favor  of  the  Democratic  policy  on  these  issues.  My  relation 
to  the  Whig  members  of  the  Legislature  was  always  that  of  per 
sonal  courtesy  and  good  feeling,  and  to  many  of  them  I  am 
indebted  for  great  political  favors,  when  it  was  my  fortune  to  seek 
preferment  at  the  hands  of  the  Legislature.  Of  such  kindness  I 
shall  ever  retain  the  most  grateful  recollection. 

In  the  meantime,  after  the  passage  of  the  General  Ticket  Bill, 
a  very  elaborate  Protest  had  been  prepared,  which  Mr.  Bates,  for 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  143 

himself  and  about  forty  other  Whig  members,  presented  to  the 
House  on  the  4th  of  January,  1841,  in  which  many  points  are 
taken,  by  way  of  complaint,  against  the  action  of  the  majority 
under  erroneous  and  improper  rulings  of  the  presiding  officer. 
The  second  paragraph- of  the  Protest  is  in  the  following  words: 

The  undersigned  have  been  taught  by  the  majority  that  no  appeal  can  have  any 
other  influence  than  to  strengthen  this  determined  system  of  abuses.  They  have 
originated  measures,  radical  in  themselves,  untried  in  practice,  unknown  to  the 
people,  which  are  to  be  permanent  and  universal  in  their  operation,  without  allow 
ing  to  the  minority  the  privilege  to  amend,  or  the  right  to  discuss.  They  have  con 
strued  rules  to  the  adaptation  of  the  particular  case,  and  enforced  them  with  an 
eye  to  success  alone.  The  minority  will  not  examine  the  merits  of  the  General 
Ticket  Bill.  To  do  that  they  will  appear  before  a  tribunal  where  gag  laws  are  not 
employed  for  the  suppression  of  truth.  They  will  confine  themselves  to  an  expose 
of  the  means  resorted  to  by  the  majority  to  establish  this  system;  and  to  do  this, 
let  facts  be  submitted  to  a  candid  people. 

The  protest  then  alleges  that  when  the  bill  was  on  its  passage 
in  the  House,  Mr.  Perkins  submitted  an  amendment,  and  while 
the  Clerk  was  reading  it,  Mr.  Bates,  perceiving  that  the  previous 
question  was  likely  to  be  called  to  cut  off  the  amendment,  twice 
addressed  Mr.  Speaker,  without  securing  his  attention,  after  which 
Mr.  Winston,  of  DeKalb,  addressed  Mr.  Speaker  only  once,  and 
was  promptly  recognized  as  having  the  floor,  who,  thereupon,  called 
the  previous  question,  which  was  sustained  by  the  majority,  with 
out  action  on  the  amendment  offered  by  Mr.  Perkins: 

Be  it  further  enacted,  That  this  act  shall  not  take  effect  until  a  majority  of  the 
people  of  this  State  shall  have  voted  in  its  favor,  at  the  next  annual  election,  at 
which  time  a  poll  shall  be  opened  in  the  different  precincts  in  the  several  counties 
of  this  State  by  the  Sheriffs  thereof  giving  ten  days'  notice ;  and  those  approving 
this  act  may  vote  for  it  by  indorsement  on  their  ticket.  "  General  Ticket  Syxtcm," 
and  the  number  of  those  voting  for  it  shall  be,  under  the  certificates  of  the  in 
spectors  of  elections  at  the  respective  Court-Houses,  forwarded  to  the  Secretary  of 
State,  who  shall,  within  the  first  week  of  the  next  session  of  the  Legislature, 
communicate  the  aggregate  of  such  number  of  votes  cast  by  the  citizens  of  this 
State  for  the  foregoing  section  of  this  act :  and  if  it  shall  appear  that  the  majority 
of  the  qualified  voters  of  this  State  are  in  favor  of  the  general  ticket  system,  the 
foregoing  act  shall  then  become  the  law  of  this  State. 

Then  follows  a  specific  statement  of  the  grounds  of  complaint, 
charging  a  combination  between  the  Speaker  and  the  majority, 
through  pretended  parliamentary  forms,  to  deny  the  constitutional 
rights  of  the  minority,  and  to  prevent  justice  from  being  rendered 
to  their  efforts  to  amend  the  bill,  and  put  it  in  a  shape  for  public 
approval  or  disapproval  at  the  ballot-box.  The  rules  of  the  House 
are  frequently  contrasted  with  the  decisions  of  the  Speaker,  and 


144  Bemmucentes  of  Pvblic  Men  in  Alabama. 

reference  is  made  to  usages  in  the  British  Parliament  and  the 
United  States  Congress,  embodied  in  Jefferson's  Manual,  to  show 
the  utter  disregard  of  all  authority  in  the  pursuit  of  party  objects. 
The  language  is  severely  critical,  but  no  coarse  epithets  are  applied. 
The  closing  paragraph  of  the  protest  is  in  the  following  words : 

The  minority  feel  the  pride  which  always  attends  the  discharge  of  duty,  that 
they  can  return  to  their  constituents  and  tell  them,  that  in  this  unconstitutional 
and  unrighteous  attempt  at  disfranchisement ;  this  determined  spirit  in  the  North 
[the  northern  portion  of  Alabama]  to  wield  the  destinies  of  the  South  in  obedi 
ence  to  their  own  will  and  wishes — that  we  have  done  all  that  Representatives 
could  do.  We  argued  as  long  as  permitted  to  speak,  and,  when  strangled,  we 
abandoned  them.  When  abandonment  became  inefficient,  we  did  then,  for  them 
and  for  ourselves,  spread  upon  the  Journals,  this,  our  solemn  protest  against 
tyranny  and  usurpation. 

Against  the  charges  of  the  protest  the  Hon.  Eobert  A.  Baker, 
Speaker  of  the  House,  submitted  a  written  defense,  which  was  en 
tered  on  the  Journal,  going  considerably  into  detail  on  the  circum 
stances  which  originated  the  complaint  while  the  general  ticket 
bill  was  progressing  through  the  forms  of  Legislation.  The  defense 
is  less  than  two  pages,  while  the  protest  covers  more  than  six 
pages  of  the  House  Journal.  In  its  brevity  lies  much  of  the 
Speaker's  vindication,  the  closing  language  of  which  is  the  fol 
lowing  : 

As  a  sworn  officer  of  the  House  of  Representatives,  I  have  endeavored  to  dis 
charge  my  duty  faithfully,  without  regard  to  party.  In  the  midst  of  excitement 
and  confusion,  injustice  may  have  been  done  some  gentlemen  on  several  occasions, 
and  no  doubt  as  often  my  political  friends  as  opponents.  To  hav^  my  moral  char 
acter  assailed  with  a  charge  of  partiality  to  a  political  friend,  and  a  denial  of  jus 
tice  to  a  political  opponent,  I  must  pronounce  a  calumny  that  ig  not  sustained  by 
the  facts  of  the  case. 

The. record  has  been  drawn  upon  freely,  and  incidents  touching 
the  general  ticket  bill,  from  its  inception  in  the  Senate  to  its  final 
passage  in  the  House,  with  extracts  fiom  protest  and  defense,  in 
order  that  the  public  may  see  that  in  a  former  day,  and  among 
legislators  of  high  rank  for  talents  and  virtue,  what  had  occurred 
in  each  end  of  the  Capitol  in  party  warfare.  Many  of  the  actors 
at  this  period,  and  in  this  contest,  deserve  special  attention,  which 
I  hope  to  bestow,  to  some  extent  at  least. 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama,  145 

ELECTION  OP  STATE  HOUSE  OFFICERS. 

To  revive  the  past,  and  to  perpetuate  the  names  of  men  who 
sought  employments  in  the  administration  of  the  State  Government, 
I  think  it  proper  to  notice  the  elections  of  1840,  here  stated  as 
having  taken  place  on  the  5th  of  December  on  joint-ballot  of  both 
Houses,  with  the  following  result : 

For  Secretary  of  State — William  Garrett 79  votes. 

Thomas  B.  Tunstall 40  votes. 

Comptroller  of  Public  Accounts — J.  C.  Van  Dyke 119  votes. 

For  State  Treasurer.  1st  ballot.       2d  ballot.       3d  ballot.       4th  ballot. 

Samuel  G.  Frierson 35  38  53  63 

Kobert  Caruthers 39  43  45  51 

Edward  F.  Comegys 23  18  9  (withdrawn.) 

J.  H.  Thomason 22  20  11  4 

To  the  several  offices  for  which  ballots  were  cast  in  their  favor, 
William  Garrett,  Jefferson  C.  Van  Dyke,  and  Samuel  G.  Frierson, 
were  declared  duly  elected. 

SKETCHES. 

At  this  juncture,  when  the  author  of  this  volume  was  made 
Secretary  of  State  by  a  flattering  vote  of  the  Legislature,  he  be 
lieves  that  he  violates  no  principle  of  modesty,  or  respect  for 
public  opinion,  in  submitting  some  particulars  of  his  life,  to  accom 
pany  the  sketches  of  other  public  officers  elected  at  the  session  of 
1840.  Believing  that  the  natural  curiosity  of  his  readers  should 
be  gratified  in  this  respect,  he  proceeds  with  the  simple  narrative. 

WILLIAM  GARRETT  was  born  in  East-Tennessee.  When  in  his 
eleventh  year,  he  was  taken  from  school,  owing  to  the  reverses 
which  came  upon  his  father,  William  Garrett,  senior,  who  had 
been  extensively  engaged  as  proprietor  of  merchant  mills  and 
iron  foundries,  as  well  as  in  other  enterprises  demanding  large  in 
vestments  of  capital,  and  subject  to  the  casualties  always  attending 
such  business.  Until  his  twenty-first  year,  the  junior  assisted  in 
10 


146  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

the  usual  labors  of  the  farm,  and  was,  much  of  his  time,  occupied 
in  keeping  the  records  of  his  father,  who  was  for  thirty-three  years 
Clerk  of  the  County  Court  of  Cocke  county.  In  this  situation  he 
learned  not  only  how  to  make  up  the  Minutes  of  the.  Court,  but 
he  had  the  opportunity  to  see  how  the  Journals  of  the  Legislature 
were  framed  to  show  each  day's  proceedings  with  proper  formality. 
These  entries  riveted  his  attention,  and  prepared  his  mind  for  sim 
ilar  labors,  which  subsequently  devolved  upon  him. 

In  January,  1833,  he  came  to  Alabama,  and  settled  in  Ben  ton 
county,  variously  occupied,  and  in  1837  he  was  elected  Assistant 
Clerk  of  the  House  of  Representatives,  under  Gideon  B.  Frierson, 
the  Principal  Clerk.  For  this  office  he  was  indebted,  mainly,  to 
the  friendship  of  Gen.  William  B.  McClellan,  a  Representative 
from  Talladega,  who  placed  him  in  nomination,  and  who,  himself, 
had  been  for  ten  years  Engrossing  Clerk  of  the  House,  with  large 
influence  with  members,  and  a  correct  knowledge  of  the  forms  of 
proceeding.  To  this  gentleman,  who  is  yet  living  in  honorable  re 
tirement,  Mr.  Garrett  is  under  obligations  which  neither  time  nor 
circumstances  can  efface  from  memory;  and  he  takes  this  occasion 
to  render  his  sincere  and  grateful  acknowledgments  for  the  early 
service  thus  rendered  him,  which  opened  the  way  to  still  greater 
advancement  from  the  Representatives  and  people  of  Alabama, 
At  the  session  of  1837,  Mr.  Frierson  was  elected  Solicitor  of  the 
Seventh  Judicial  Circuit,  and  in  1838,  Mr.  Garrett  was  elected 
Principal  Clerk  of  the  House  .over  his  competitor,  Pleasant  H. 
May,  Esq.,  of  Tuskaloosa,  a  gentleman  of  fine  address  and  abilities, 
who  is  favorably  mentioned  by  Judge  O'Neal  in  his  "Bench  and 
Bar  of  South  Carolina."  Mr.  May  subsequently  removed  to  Mobile, 
to  continue  the  practice  of  his  profession  as  a  lawyer,  and  was  acci 
dentally  drowned  at  the  wharf,  several  years  before  the  war.  He 
had  represented  Tuskaloosa  county  in  the  House,  at  the  session  of 
1837. 

At  the  session  of  1839,  Mr.  Garrett  was  again  elected  Clerk  of 
the  House,  and  reflected  in  1840,  which  office  he  resigned  on 
being  elected  Secretary  of  State,  and  for  the  ensuing  ten  years  he 
held  the  latter  office  without  opposition.  After  the  seat  of  Gov 
ernment  was  removed  to  Montgomery,  he  was  continued  in  office 
at  the  session  of  1849,  over  his  competitor,  John  S.  Storrs,  Esq., 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Mm  in  Alabama.  147 

of  Shelby,  a  Whig,  and  V.  M.  Benham,  of  Lauderdale,  an  inde 
pendent  Democratic  candidate.  This  contest  was  somewhat  ex 
cited,  from  many  circumstances  attending  it.  After  the  expiration 
of  his  term,  in  1852,  Mr.  Garrett  declined  any  further  election  as 
Secretary  of  State,  and  retired  to  his  farm  in  Coosa  county,  where 
he  now  resides.  He  preferred  the  quiet  and  seclusion  of  rural 
life,  where  he  might  raise  his  children  to  habits  of  industry,  which, 
with  the  blessing  of  good  health,  would  enable  them  to  provide 
for  themselves,  as  circumstances  might  render  necessary. 

In  1853,  he  was  elected  to  the  House  of  Representatives,  of 
which  body  he  was  unanimously  chosen  Speaker.  After  this 
term  had  expired,  he  made  no  attempt  to  engage  in  public  life 
until  1859,  when  he  was  nominated  for  the  Senate  by  the  Demo 
cratic  party,  and  defeated,  after  receiving  1,128  votes,  against  1,175 
cast  for  his  competitor,  leaving  an  adverse  majority  of  47  votes 
out  of  a  total  of  2,303  polled  on  the  occasion.  In  alluding  to  the 
result,  the  Wetumpka  Dispatch  of  August  5,  1859,  remarked: 

It  will  be  seen  by  the  returns  published  in  our  paper,  that  the  Democratic  party 
have  succeeded  in  electing  all  their  nominees  with  the  single  exception  of  our 
noble  old  candidate  for  Senate,  Col.  William  Garrett.  We  must  confess  our  sur 
prise  at  this  result — but,  when  we  review  the  whole  ground,  AVC  can  account  for  it. 
The  opposition,  of  course,  was  a  formidable  party — formidable  both  in  number 
and  in  talents — and  brought  all  their  energies  and  appliances  to  bear  for  the  de 
feat  of  Col.  Garrett.  Swapping  and  trading  of  votes  was  the  order  of  the  day. 
At  all  the  boxes  in  the  county,  this  was  the  ultimatum  of  the  opposition :  "  Beat 
Garrett  anyhow  !  Sacrifice  any  of  the  opposition,  but  beat  Garrett !" 

They  even  rallied  the  personal  enemies  of  Col.  Garrett  in  Montgomery,  to  assist 
in  their  object.  They  have  succeeded  ;  but  the  Democratic  party  still  lives,  and  our 
noble  champion,  although  defeated,  holds  as  high  a  place  in  the  affections  of  the 
true  Democrrcy  as  he  ever  did.  "Defeated,  but  not  conquered,"  should  be  the 
motto  of  Col.  Garrett  and  his  friends.  \Ve  predict  for  Col.  G.  that  the  people  will 
yet  make  amends  and  do  him  justice. 

In  1863,  he  was  elected  to  the  Senate  for  a  term  of  four  years, 
over  Capt.  Leauder  Bryan,  under  the  new  Constitution  of  Ala 
bama  then  in  force ;  but  the  term  of  service  was  brought  to  a  close 
by  the  surrender  of  the  Confederate  armies.  Under  the  Consti 
tution  of  1865,  he  was,  that  year,  again  elected  to  the  Senate  by 
defeating  his  competitor,  Col.  Richard  H.  Smoot.  The  resources 
of  the  State  had  been  greatly  crippled  by  the  war;  everything 
was  prostrate  and  in  confusion.  The  State  had  no  credit;  itvS  bonds 
were  past  due,  and  there  was  no  recognized  mode  by  which  the, 


148  Reminiscences  of  PvJblic  Men  in  Alabama. 

financial  difficulties  could  be  remedied,  or  the  means  procured  to 
protect  the  public  faith  and  defray  the  expenses  of  the  Govern 
ment.  All  these  obstacles  had  to  be  encountered  and  overcome 
by  legislation,  and  by  the  energies  and  patriotism  of  the  people. 
It  was  a  startling  crisis  in  the  history  of  public  affairs.  At  this 
juncture,  the  President  of  the  Senate,  Hon.  Walter  H.  Crenshaw, 
appointed  Mr,  Garrett  Chairman  pf  the  Committee  on  Finance 
and  Taxation,  in  reference  to  which  the  editorial  correspondence 
of  the  Union.  Springs  Times,  dated  Montgomery,  February  8,  1866, 
sketching  public  characters,  has  the  following : 

*  HON.  WILLIAM  GARRETT,  of  Coosa,  is  the  next  Senator,  [after  Hon.  A.  B. 
Cooper,]  most  venerable  in  years,  but  second  to  no  one  in  legislative  experience, 
having  been  connected,  one  way  and  another,  with  the  affairs  of  the  State  for  a 
quarter  of  a  century.  He  is  the  energetic  and  laborious  Chairman  of  the  impor 
tant  Committee  of  Finance  and  Taxation,  intimately  acquainted  with  the  condition 
of  the  finances  and  the  fiscal  resources  of  the  State.  He  guards  the  "strong  box  " 
with  the  most  unsleeping  vigilance,  and  is  very  often  called  the  Cerberus  of  the 
treasury.  Always  in  his  seat,  and  ever  prompt  at  the  hour  to  meet  the  various 
committees  of  which  he  is  a  member,  he  can  be  justly  classed  as  one  of  our  most 
useful  legislators,  without  doing  any  injustice  to  his  worthy  compeers.  He  is  a 
man  of  large,  round  physique,  almost  corpulent,  tells  an  anecdote — of  which  he  has 
a  large  store — admirably,  and  is  a  most  genial  companion.  His  claims  to  prefer 
ment  arc  freely  discussed,  and  will  be  diligently  pressed  by  his  many  friends. 

The  day  on  which  the  Legislature  adjourned,  when  his  term  of 
service  expired,  and  before  all  the  members  had  retired  from  the 
Senate  Chamber,  Mr.  Garrett  was  requested  to  remain  a  few  min 
utes,  when,  to  his  great  surprise,  he  was  addressed  by  Mr.  Powell, 
in  behalf  of  himself  and  colleagues  of  the  Committee  then  present, 
by  reading  the  following  letter : 

SENATE  CHAMBER,  MONTGOMERY,  ALA.,  February  15,  1867. 
JTon.  William  Garrett,  Senator  from,  Coosa: 

DEAR  SIR — The  undersigned,  members  of  the  Committee  on  Finance  and  Taxa 
tion,  are  unwilling  to  dissever  the  pleasant  official  relations  which  have  so  long  ex 
isted  between  us,  without  tendering  you  some  expression  of  our  high  appreciation 
of  the  courtesy,  promptness,  efficiency  and  zeal  which  have  characterized  all  your 
official  acts  and  intercourse  with  us.  Your  long  and  prominent  connection  with 
the  legislation  of  the  State  has  made  you  well  known  to  the  people  as  a  public 
man.  As  such  we  have  long  been  familiar  with  you,  and  held  you  in  high  estima 
tion.  But  until  we  met  you  in  committee,  and  served  with  you  through  two  long 
sessions,  embracing  a  period  in  the  history  of  the  State  more  important  than  any 
through  which  it  has  passed,  and  demanding  extraordinary  effort  and  financial 
ability  to  meet  the  exigencies  of  the  times,  we  had  no  just  estimate  of  your  real 
worth  as  a  legislator,  and  of  those  sterling  qualities  which  have  numbered  you 
among  Alabama's  most  useful  and  laborious  public  servants.  As  Chairman  of  the 
Committee  on  Finance  and  Taxation,  you  have  rendered  services  that  will  connect 
your  name  with  the  history  of  our  State  for  many  long  years  to  come. 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  149 

Our  official  intercourse  ceases  to-day.  As  time  rolls  by  we  shall  always  remem 
ber  our  committee  meetings  with  pleasure.  For  while  the  work  before  us  was 
responsible  and  laborious,  dignity  and  courtesy,  congeniality  and  good  feeling, 
always  marked  our  proceedings. 

We  tender  you,  then,  in  this  parting  hour,  our  cordial  wishes  for  your  continued 
welfare  and  prosperity,  and  beg  you  to  accept  the  accompanying  cane  as  a  slight 
token  of  our  high  esteem  and  regard. 

Very  truly  your  friends, 

R.  H.  POWELL, 
E.  H.  MOREN, 
C.  C.  HUCKABEE, 
FRS.  W.  SYKES, 
C.  P.  GAGE, 
A.  B.  COOPER, 
WM.  A.  ASHLEY. 

This  ceremony  was  wholly  unexpected  by  Mr.  Garret!,  and  it 
so  filled  him  with  emotion  that  he  was  scarcely  able  to  command 
his  feelings.  All  hearts  appeared  to  be  full.  He  thanked  the 
committee  for  the  generosity  and  kindness  with  which  they  had 
honored  him,  and  in  accepting  the  cane  with  pleasure,  he  should 
lean  upon  it  in  his  old  age  with  the  same  confidence  with  which 
he  had  leaned  upon  the  wise  and  patriotic  counsels  of  the  com 
mittee  while  in  service  together.  He  tendered  them  all  his  best 
wishes  and  a  friendly  farewell. 

Silence  and  tears  marked  the  separation,  and  thus  ended  the 
public  life  of  Mr.  Garrett.  Under  the  reconstruction  acts  of  Con 
gress,  he  has  been  disfranchised,  and  rendered  incapable  of  hold 
ing  office;  and  yet  personally  he  makes  no  complaint,  as  he  is  re 
signed  to  the  necessities  of  his  condition,  along  with  thousands  of 
his  countrymen  who  have  the  consolation,  in  adversity,  that  no 
crime  of  their  committing  has  deserved  the  punishment  and  the 
proscription  awarded  by  the  conquerors. 

Before  retiring  from  the  office  of  Secretary  of  State,  Mr.  Garrett 
addressed  the  following  letter  to  the  Hon.  J.  D.  Rather,  Speaker 
of  the  House  of  Representatives,  which  was»ordered  to  be  spread 
upon  the  Journal  : 

SECRETARY  OF  STATE'S  OFFICE,  > 
MONTGOMERY,  ALA,,  December  9,  1851.      j 

SIR  ;  With  the  expiration  of  my  present  term  of  office  as  Secretary  of  State,  it 
is  my  intention  to  close  the  official  connexion  which  1  will  have  borne  to  the  State 
Government  of  Alabama  for  a  period  of  twelve  years. 

They  have,  thus  far,  been  to  me  years  of  much  labor,  responsibility,  and  anxiety, 
but  also  of  much  that  was  pleasant.  My  heart  bears  a  grateful  recollection  of  the 
many  favors  which,  during  that  time,  I  have  received  at  the  hands  of  the  Repre 
sentatives  of  the  people,  and  strongly  impels  me  to  seek  some  mode  in  which  JL 
can  convey  to  them  a  parting  expression  of  my  sense  of  gratitude. 


150  Ileminissences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

I  hope,  sir,  I  may  be  pardoned  for  doing  so  in  this  form  and  through  you,  as  1 
am  but  following  a  precedent  of  two  of  my  honored  predecessors,  the  late  Col. 
James  Jay  Pleasants  and  Col.  James  Innes  Thornton. 

With  many  thanks  to  the  General  Assembly  for  their  past  confidence  and  kind 
ness,  I  offer  to  them  my  parting  salutations. 

With  much  respect,  I  have  the  honor  to  be  your  obedient  servant, 

W.  GARRETT. 

A  similar  communication  was  addressed  to  the  President  of  the 
Senate,  and  likewise  ordered  upon  the  Journal  of  that  body. 
These  amenities  it  is  pleasant  to  remember.  In  this  connexion, 
it  is  appropriate  to  refer  more  particularly  to  the  elegant,  massive 
gold-headed  cane,  upon  which  was  engraved  the  words  and  names 
following:  "Presented  to  Wm.  Garrett,  Chairman  of  the  Com 
mittee  on  Finance  and  Taxation — sessions  of  1865-'6.  A.  B. 
Cooper;  C.  P.  Gage,  E.  H.  Moren,  F.  W.  Sykes,  R.  H.  Powell, 
C.  C.  Huckabee,  W.  A.  Ashley,  J.  N.  Drake."  This  beautiful 
token  of  favor  from  the  donors,  is  regarded  beyond  all  price,  by 
Mr.  Garrett,  for  its  hallowed  associations. 

Soon  after  the  Hon.  Lewis  E.  Parsons  was  appointed  Provisional 
Governor  of  Alabama,  by  President  Johnson,  he  tendered  the 
office  of  Secretary  of  State  to  Mr.  Garrett,  which  he  accepted. 
The  principal  labors  of  the  Secretary  related  to  applications  through 
the  Governor,  for  pardons  from  the  President,  in  behalf  of  citizens 
of  Alabama,  who,  by  reason  of  alleged  rebellion,  had  been  dis 
franchised  by  the  reconstruction  acts  of  Congress.  The  task  of 
preparing  petitions  for  this  object  was  not  a  part  of  the  legitimate 
duties  of  the  Secretary,  and  when  parties  applied  to  him  to  draw 
their  papers,  he  was  fairly  entitled  to  receive  compensation  for 
that  service,  when  it  did  not  conflict  with  his  public  duties,  as 
though  he  were  a  lawyer,  or  other  person  employed  for  that  pur 
pose.  There  was  a  very  heavy  rush  on  the  Governor  to  recom 
mend  individuals  to  the  clemency  of  the  President,  many  of  them 
to  save  their  property, ^ind  all  to  be  relieved  from  penalties  more 
or  less  painful.  In  this  work  of  pardon,  outside  of  preparing  the 
papers,  the  Secretary  had  to  attach  the  seal  of  the  State,  to  accom 
pany  the  signature  of  the  Governor,  for  which  he  was  entitled  to 
the  usual  fee  in  every  instance.  Complaints  were  made  to  the 
Governor,  who  appointed  a  commission  to  investigate  the  matter. 
He  had  been  in  office  about  six  weeks  when  the  commissioners 
took  action;  and  the  following  communication  of  the  Secretary 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  151 

will  throw  light  on  the  subject,  while  it  also  resigned  the  office  to 
which  he  had  been  invited  at  a  time  of  great  uncertainty  and  ex 
citement: 

» 

SECRETARY  OF  STATE'S  OFFICE,  1 
MONTGOMERY,  ALA.,  Sept.  2,  1865.      / 
To  His  Excellency,  LEWIS  E.  PARSONS,  Provisional  Governor  of  Alabama  : 

DEAR  SIR — You  have  been  kind  enough  to  furnish  me  with  the  report  made  to  t 
you  by  the  Commissioners  appointed  to  investigate  the  charges  made  against  me 
in  connection  with  the  presentation  of  petitions  for  pardons.  In  this  report  the 
Commissioners  say,  "Upon  the  testimony,  there  is  no  reason  to  doubt  that  so  far 
as  briefing  their  applications,  and  preparing  them  for  submission,  that  these  acts 
were  performed  correctly,  and  there  is  not  only  no  evidence  that  any  application 
was  submitted  out  of  the  regular  course,  but  its  tendency  is  to  prove  directly  the 
reverse." 

Again,  in  concluding  their  report  upon  the  testimony,  they  say,  "In  fine,  we 
can  find  nothing  in  this  evidence  showing  any  act  on  the  part  of  Mr.  Garrett,  in 
connection  with  the  applications  in  which  his  services  were  rendered,  which  is 
reprehensible." 

This  report  vindicates  me  from  the  commission  of  any  act  in  connection  with 
these  applications  for  pardon  which  is  even  "reprehensible"  in  the  opinion  of  the 
Committee.  But  the  Commissioners,  if  I  understand  them,  intimate  that,  holding 
the  office  of  Secretary  of  State,  I  committed  an  impropriety  in  receiving  compen 
sation  for  services  rendered,  under  the  circumstances. 

I  am  unwilling  to  hold  a  public  trust  when,  in  the  opinion  of  Commissioners 
appointed  by  you,  as  in  this  case,  I  have  even  committed  an  impropriety  in  con 
nection  with  the  office,  though  that  act  was  extra-official;  and  feeling  a  deep  inter 
est  in  the  cause  in  which  we  are  engaged,  and  which  might  in  some  way  be  em 
barrassed  by  a  continuance  of  my  official  relation  to  the  State,  I  hereby  resign 
the  office  of  Secretary  of  State,  which  you  generously  bestowed  upon  me. 

I  am,  your  friend,  truly,  W.  GARRETT. 

In  concluding  this  personal  narrative  of  himself,  the  author  has 
only  to  add,  that  he  has  enjoyed  a  large  share  of  good  fortune 
arising  chiefly  from  his  extensive  acquaintance  with  public  men, 
and  from  the  opportunities  thus  afforded,  to  maintain  a  long  con 
nexion  with  public  affairs.  As  the  fruit  of  this  experience, 
in  part,  lie  is  enabled  to  give  these  "Reminiscences"  to  the 
public;  and  in  performing  the  task,  he  desires  to  make  his  sincere 
and  grateful  acknowledgements  of  the  pleasure  which  he  has 
derived  from  his  public  and  social  relations,  which  have  embraced 
a  period  of  more  than  thirty  years  in  Alabama.  To  preserve  the 
names  and  events  with  which  he  has  been  more  or  less  intimately 
connected  during  a  generation  which  has  nearly  passed  away,  is 
the  object  of  his  present  labors.  The  record,  he  humbly  hopes, 
will  not  be  an  unacceptable  offering  to  the  few  survivors  and  their 
descendants,  as  well  as  to  the  public  generally. 


152  JZeminiscences  of  Public  Mm  in  Alabama. 

SAMUEL  GORDON  FRIERSON,  Treasurer,  was  born  in  Tennes 
see,  and  came  in  early  life  with  his  father,  who  settled  in  Tuska- 
loosa  county.  His  education  and  talents  made  a  favorable  impres 
sion,  and  in  1834  and  1835,  Mr.  S.  G.  Frierson,  was  elected  a 
iRepresentative  in  the  Legislature.  In  1837,  he  was  a  candidate 
for  the  Senate,  and  was  defeated  by  Gen.  Crabb;  and  in  1838,  he 
was  again  a  candidate,  but  was  beaten  by  his  competitor,  Gen. 
Dent.  He  was  then  appointed  Postmaster  at  Tuskaloosa,  which 
office  he  held  until  1840,  when  he  was  elected  State  Treasurer. 
He  was  continued  in  this  office,  by  successive  elections  of  the 
Legislature,  until  1847,  when  he  retired,  and  went  back  to  Tus 
kaloosa  county,  where  he  died  in  1856. 

In  person,  Mr.  Frierson  was  large  and  corpulent,  weighing 
probably  not  less  than  four  hundred  pounds.  His  humor  was  in 
exhaustible  in  the  line  of  mimicry,  and  provoked  great  mirth. 
No  man  could  excel  him  in  this  respect.  It  was  a  large  element 
of  his  popularity.  After  seeing  and  hearing  his  grotesque  delin 
eations  of  character,  from  the  highest  to  the  lowest  walks  of  life, 
no  man  could  think  of  Mr.  Frierson  but  as  a  contributor  to  his 
happiness  for  the  time  being.  No  sadness  or  depression  of  spirits 
could  cloud  the  face  J  when  he  turned  loose  his  batteries  of  fun. 
It  was  Nature  in  her  ridiculous  moods,  finding  the  way  to  all 
hearts  true  to  a  common  sympathy,  and  imparting  cheerfulness  by 
the  mere  recollection.  In  other  respects,  Mr.  Frierson  attracted 
many  friends;  and  it  is  painful  to  reflect  that  one  who  contributed 
so  much  to  the  amusement  of  others,  in  his  inimitable  way,  should 
have  his  latter  days  clouded  with  reverses  of  fortune,  and  great 
bodily  affliction.  Such,  however,  is  the  common  lot  of  humanity. 
The  name  of  Mr.  Frierson  will  be  long  and  pleasantly  remem 
bered  by  those  who  knew  him  at  a  brighter  period  of  his  life, 
when  the  sunsjiine  of  public  favor  rested  upon  him. 

JEFFERSON  C.  VAN  DYKE  was  also  a  native  of  Tennessee,  and 
settled  in  Dallas  county,  Alabama,  as  a  lawyer,  and  in  1828,  rep 
resented  the  county  in  the  Legislature.  In  1835,  he  was  elected 
Comptroller  of  Public  Accounts,  and  held  the  office  continuously, 
until  1847,  when  he  retired  to  Marengo  county,  where  he  died  a 
few  years  before  the  war.  His  being  retained  in  office  for  so  long 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  •  153 

a  period  was  evidence  of  his  popularity  with  members  of  the  Leg 
islature. 

Col.  THOMAS  B.  TTTNSTALL  came  from  Virginia  to  Alabama 
at  an  early  period.  After  being  Clerk  in  the  Land  Office,  in 
1825  he  was  elected  Clerk  of  the  House  of  Representatives, 
which  office  he  held  without  interruption  until  1836,  when  he 
was  made  Secretary  of  State.  The  latter  office  he  retained  until 
1840,  when  he  was  succeeded  by  William  Garrett,  then  Principal 
Clerk  of  the  House  of  Representatives,  who  resigned  the  Clerk 
ship  on  December  7,  1840;  whereupon  Col.  Tuustiill  was  imme 
diately  elected  Principal  Clerk,  and  re-elected  in  1841.  He  died 
in  1842,  at  the  House  of  his  brother,  Dr.  Peyton  R.  Tunstall,  in 
Baldwin  county. 

Col.  Tunstall  was  a  high-toned  gentleman,  dignified  in  his 
deportment,  and  had  very  little  sympathy  or  communication  with 
persons  whose  manners  were  not  refined  by  education  and  society. 
He  possessed  a  strong  and  agreeable  voice,  which  made  him  a 
good  reader  while  Clerk  of  the  House  of  Representatives  for 
fourteen  years.  He  dressed  well,  and  always  in  good  taste,  but 
never  married.  A  bill  had  been  introduced  securing  to  married 
women  the  property  they  owned  at  the  time  of  marriage,  and 
that  which  they  might  afterwards  acquire  by  purchase  or  inheri 
tance.  While  the  bill  was  under  discussion,  it  is  said  of  Col. 
Tunstall,  who  was  standing  by  the  fire  listening  attentively,  that 
he  remarked  to  a  member,  "that  is  a  good  bill;  I  wish  it  may 
pass,  for  I  think  it  will  do  me  some  good.  In  my  attentions  to 
the  ladies,  I  have  found  several  who  were  willing  to  entrust  their 
persons  with  me,  but  not  one  that  would  go  to  the  same  extent 
with  their  property.  If  the  bill  becomes  a  law,  I  think  my 
chance  for  matrimony  will  be  much  improved."  Col.  Tunstall, 
like  many  other  lofty  and  honorable  minds,  never  attached  any 
value  to  money.  He  was  the  uncle  of  Mrs.  C.  C.  Clay,  Jr.,  who 
adorned  society  at  Washington  and  Richmond  several  years,  while 
her  husband  was  Senator  in  Congress. 

GIDEON  BLACKBURN  FRIERSON  was  born  in  Tennessee,  and 
when  a  boy,  accompanied  his  father  to  Alabama,  who  settled  in 


154  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

Tuskaloosa  county,  where  young  Frierson  read  law,  and  after  his 
admission  to  the  bar,  he  became  a  law  partner  of  Lincoln  Clark, 
Esq.,  in  Pickensville,  Pickens  county.  In  1834,  Mr.  G.  B.  Fri 
erson  was  elected  Assistant  Clerk  of  the  House  of  Representa 
tives,  and  in  1836,  when  Col.  Tunstall  was  elected  Secretary  of 
State,  he  succeeded  him  as  Principal  Clerk,  to  which  office  he 
was  elected  again  in  1837.  During  the  session  for  the  lat 
ter  year,  Mr.  Frierson  was  elected  Solicitor*for  the  7th  Judicial 
Circuit,  and  changed  his  residence  to  Livingston.  In  1842,  he 
was  elected  Judge  of  the  County  Court  of  Sumter  county,  over 
the  Hon.  Henry  F.  Scruggs,  the  incumbent.  In  1847,  he  was  a 
candidate  for  Judge  of  the  Circuit  Court,  in  opposition  to  the 
Hon.  Samuel  Chapman,  and  was  defeated.  He  died  in  1853. 

Mr.  Frierson  had  a  well  formed  head,  a  fine,  commanding  per 
son,  and  was  quite  agreeable  in  his  address.  There  was  a  painful 
event  in  his  life  which  it  may  not  be  amiss  to  notice,  especially  as 
it  reflects  no  discredit  on  his  memory,  and  may  serve  to  restrain 
violent  men  from  rashness  in  seeking  revenge  for  supposed  inju 
ries,  I  give  the  particulars  substantially  as  they  were  related  by 
Mr.  S.  G.  Frierson,  a  brother  of  G.  B.  Frierson. 

Rufus  K.  Anderson,  Esq.,  formerly  of  Tennessee,  resided  in 
Pickens,  and  was  a  Senator  in  the  Legislature  from  1829  to  1833. 
He  had  previously  killed  his  own  brother-in-law,  Thomas  P. 
Taul,  of  Franklin  county,  Tennessee,  and  was  arraigned  for  mur 
der.  He  was  on  trial  eighteen  days,  during  which  time  he  was 
defended  by  Col.  Felix  Grundy,  the  eminent  advocate,  who  suc 
ceeded  in  procuring  his  acquittal  by  the  jury. 

Mr.  Anderson  was  said  to  be  an  over-bearing,  reckless  man, 
who  insulted  whom  he  pleased,  and  was  generally  regarded  as  a 
dangerous  man.  Peaceable  men  avoided  difficulties  with  him, 
and  would  often  submit  to  exactions  rather  than  enter  into  a  deadly 
conflict.  To  oppose  him  in  any  way,  or  to  incur  his  resentment, 
brought  life  into  jeopardy.  It  was  reported  that  he  had  beaten 
one  of  his  slaves  to  death  in  his  barn,  and  had  left  the  slave  hang 
ing  from  a  beam.  Several  persons  happened  to  pass  near  the 
barn,  and  from  curiosity  peeped  through  the  cracks  to  see  the 
negro,  if  there.  Among  those  who  looked  in  for  discovery  was 
Mr.  Frierson.  It  appears  that  Mr.  Anderson  was  then  absent 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  155 

from  home.  In  the  meantime,  Mr.  Frierson  made  a  journey  to 
Mississippi.  When  Mr.  Anderson  was  informed  of  the  liberty 
which  had  been  taken  at  his  barn,  he  declared  vengeance,  and  set 
out  in  pursuit  of  Mr.  Frierson  to  take  his  life.  At  one  place  in 
Mississippi,  he  dined  at  the  house  where  his  intended  victim  had 
stayed  over  night,  and  on  learning  that  the  latter  would  probably 
return  the  next  day  for  a  bundle  he  had  left,  Mr.  Anderson  said 
that  he  would  remafc,  as  he  wished  to  see  him.  Providentially, 
the  bundle  was  sent  for  by  the  person  to  whom  it  was  addressed, 
and  Mr.  Frierson  went  in  another  direction.  Anderson  kept  on 
his  track  from  Mississippi  to  Pickensville,  and  arrived  in  a  few 
hours  after  Mr.  Frierson  had  reached  home,  April,  1834.  The 
latter  was  in  his  office  when  he  was  informed  of  the  threats  of 
Anderson  to  take  his  life,  and  was  advised  by  his  friends  to  be 
prepared.  He  loaded  a  double-barrelled  gun,  and  awaited  the 
attack.  Anderson  soon  appeared  before  the  office,  and  called  out 
in  a  loud,  angry  voice,  "Come  forth,  Gideon,  like  a  man.  I  am 
after  your  blood,  and  am  determined  to  have  it.  Face  the  thing 
at  once,  and  let  it  be  over." 

In  the  meantime,  Mr.  Frierson  had  retired  from  his  office 
through  a  back  door,  and  came  facing  j;he  street  where  Anderson 
stood.  On  the  latter  perceiving  him,  he  advanced  with  his  pistol 
drawn,  swearing  that  the  time  had  come,  and  he  would  make  sure 
work.  Mr.  Frierson  discharged  one  load  without  effect,  and,  as 
Anderson  still  came  on,  he  emptied  the  other  barrel  with  better 
aim.  A  number  of  shot  entered  the  breast  and  shoulder  of  An 
derson,  who,  in  the  meantime,  had  fired  one  pistol,  and  drawn 
another.  Mr.  Frierson  held  his  ground,  and  was  about  to  club 
his  gun.  To  ward  it  off,  Anderson  picked  up  a  chair,  which  he 
held  before  him  as  a  shield,  when  Mr.  Frierson  struck  a  blow  with 
his  gun  which  shivered  the  chair  into  fragments,  and  came  down 
upon  the  head  of  Anderson  with  such  force  that  the  cock  pene 
trated  his  brain,  when  he  fell  to  the  ground  and  died  in  a  few 
minutes.  Thus,  the  bloody  encounter  terminated,  fatally  to  the 
aggressor,  and  much  to  the  relief  of  the  community.  The  rela 
tives  and  friends  of  the  deceased  appeared  to  be  perfectly  satisfied 
with  the  result,  and  no  steps  were  taken  against  Mr.  Frierson  for 
the  homicide.  The  disagreeable  necessity  was  forced  upon  him, 


156  Reminiscences  of  PvJblic  Men  in  Alabama. 

and  he  faced  the  peril  like  a  man  of  firmness  and  courage  in  self- 
defense.  No  blame  from  any  quarter  ever  attached  to  him  for 
the  deed.  His  memory  has  no  stain  from  this  or  any  other  cause. 


CHAPTER  X. 

Public  Men  in  1840 — Sketches  of  Character. 

In  a  previous  chapter,  it  has  been  intimated  that  the  Legisla 
ture  of  1840  consisted  of  men  far  above  mediocrity.  That  ses 
sion  was  in  fact  marked  by  abilities  of  a  high  order,  equal  to  any 
that  has  preceded  or  that  has  succeeded  it  in  'Alabama.  Many 
events  of  the  session,  showing  the  mind  and  experience  in  the 
two  Houses,  have  been  already  noticed.  It  now  remains  to  give  a 
brief  outline  of  some  of  the  individual  characters;  and  in  select 
ing  names  it  is  a  source  of  regret  that  the  limits  of  this  work 
necessarily  preclude  a  more  extended  sketch,  embracing  other 
names  justly  entitled  to  commemoration. 

SENATE. 

1.  WILLIAM  J.  ALSTON  first  appeared  in  the  Legislature  as  a 
Representative  from  Marengo  in  1837.  In  1839,  he  was  elected 
to  the  Senate,  and  after  serving  his  term  of  three  years,  he  retired 
until  1849,  when  he  was  elected  a  Representative  to  Congress 
over  his  able  competitor,  Calvin  C.  Sellers,  Esq.,  of  Wilcox. 
After  his  term  in  Congress  had  expired,  he  was  again  elected  to 
the  Legislature  in  the  Lower  House.  Thence  he  withdrew  from 
public  life,  and  still  resides  in  Marengo,  highly  respected  by  all 
parties.  While  he  figured  in  the  political  arena,  he  displayed 
great  activity  and  zeal  as  a  Whig,  before  that  party  was  absorbed 
by  another  organization  in  1855.  He  was  a  gentleman  of  fine 
talents  and  culture,  of  engaging  address,  and  pleasant  delivery  in 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  157 

debate.  No  man  had  stronger  convictions  in  the  line  of  duty, 
and  none  was  more  courteous  in  discussion.  The  same  measure 
of  respect  which  he  required  from  others,  he  cheerfully  accorded 
to  his  opponents  on  all  occasions. 

JEFFERSON  BUFORD  came  to  the  Senate  from  Barbour  county 
in  1840,  a  Whig  of  fiery  temperament.  He  had  acted  a  gallant 
part  in  the  Indian  war  of  1836,  and  was  quite  popular.  He  was 
a  gentleman  of  extensive  reading,  and  of  punctilious  scholarship, 
always  abounding  in  poetic  thoughts  and  language  in  debate. 
Somewhat  erratic  in  his  opinions  and  temperament,  he  said  many 
things  with  such  bitterness  and  severity  as  materially  to  weaken 
his  influence  as  a  legislator.  His  impulses  were  noble  and  daring, 
far  beyond  the  common  necessities  of  life,  and  he  seemed  to  live 
in  an  atmosphere  of  his  own  creation.  It  was  never  my  privilege 
to  hear  him  speak  at  the  bar;  but  while  ^in  the  Senate,  lie  made 
his  mark  more  like  a  comet,  brilliant  and  eccentric  in  its  course, 
than  as  a  fixed  star,  emitting  a  gentle  radiance  in  the  Heavens. 
Nor  was  this  impression  of  his  character  at  all  diminished  by  the 
fact  that,  in  1855,  he  raised  a  company  of  emigrants,  with  more 
or  less  of  a  military  organization,  under  peculiar  rules  of  his  own, 
to  assist  in  making  Kansas  a  slave  State.  He  and  his  followers 
spent  about  a  year  in  the  attempt,  on  Kansas  soil,  and  then 
returned  to  Alabama,  depressed  by  the  failure  of  the  experiment. 
In  1861,  Mr.  Buford  was  a  delegate  in  the  Secession  Convention 
at  Montgomery,  to  succeed  General  Alpheus  Baker,  who,  at  an 
advanced  stage  of  the  session,  resigned  his  seat  to  raise  a  Company 
or  Regiment  for  the  Avar,  about  the  close  of  which  Mr.  Buford 
died.  He  was  a  gentleman  of  high,  chivalrous  character,  with 
talents  and  infirmities,  and  in  the  grave  may  the  latter  be  forgot 
ten,  while  his  good  qualities,  his  genius  and  his  honor,  shall  ever 
be  held  in  pleasing  remembrance. 

3.  JOHN  R.  CLARKE  was  a  native  of  North  Carolina,  and 
removed  to  Alabama  in  1834,  settling  in  Benton  county.  In 
1839,  he  was  elected  to  the  Senate,  and  in  1842,  he  was  defeated 
by  Thomas  A.  Walker,  Esq.  Mr.  Clarke  was  again  elected  to 
the  Senate  in  1845,  and  after  serving  out  the  term,  he  retired 


158  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

from  public  life.  He  possessed  fine  common  sense,  and  great 
moral  worth.  His  reading  was  very  extensive.  On  a  slight 
acquaintance,  his  large  stores  of  information  was  not  so  manifest 
as  upon  a  mature  knowledge  of  his  real  value.  Not  only  was  his 
intellect  well  improved  bt  literary  cultivation,  but  his  heart 
abounded  in  kindness  and  sympathy,  and  with  warm  and  lasting 
friendships.  He  died  in  September,  1870,  at  an  advanced  age. 

4.  GERARD  W.  CREAGH,  a  native  of  South  Carolina,  was  among 
the  early  graduates  of  Columbia  College,  in  that  State.     He  came 
to  Alabama  while  it  was  a  part  of  the  Mississippi  Territory,  and 
was  a  Lieutenant  in  the  battle  with  the  Indians  at  Burnt  Corn, 
in  1813,  where  he  was  severely  wounded,  after  a  most  gallant 
contest  Avith  the  savages.     His  Captain  was  the  late  Gen.  Samuel 
Dale,  of  Mississippi,  whose  life  and  adventures  have  been  pub 
lished  by  the  Hon.  J.  H.  F.  Claiborne.     An  account  of  this  ex 
pedition  is  given  in  Pickett's  History  of  Alabama,  in  which  the 
name  of  Lieut.  Creagh  is  honorably  introduced.     With  his  high 
literary  culture,  and  varied  information,  Mr.  Creagh,  after  the  war, 
adopted  4he  trade  of  a  merchant,  in  Clarke  county,  and  was  suc 
cessful  in  acquiring  property.     In  1838,  he  was  elected  a  Repre 
sentative,  and  in  1839,  was  returned  to  the  Senate,  in  which  he 
continued  to  serve  until  his  death,  about  the  year  1850.     He  was 
a  gentleman  of  the  strictest  integrity,  and  was  always  appointed 
Chairman  of  the  Committee  on  Accounts  and  Claims.     His  vigil 
ance  in  guarding  against  fraud  and  extravagance  was  proverbial; 
so  much  so  that  he  was  called  the  "  watch-dog  of  the  Treasury/' 
by  way  of  commendation.     After  a  claim  had  been  indorsed  by 
his  report,  there  was  no  further  use  of  inquiry,  and  it  was  at  once 
allowed.     Mr.  Creagh  was  a  modest  gentleman,  whose  real  worth 
did  not  show  itself  at  first  sight.     His  reputation  is  a  proud  in 
heritance  to  those  who  represent  the  blood  and  the  name. 

5.  JAMES  LAFAYETTE  COTTRELL,  of  Lowndes,  belonged  to 
the  Calhoun  school  of  politics,  and  for  several  years  was  a  member 
of  the  Lower  House.     In  1838,  he  was  elected  to  the  Senate  by 
the  Democratic  party,  with  which  he  had  identified  himself,  and 
in  1840,  was  elected  President  of  the  Senate  without  opposition. 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  169 

He  often  participated  in  the  debates  on  the  floor,  and,  on  the  Gen 
eral  Ticket  question,  made  the  leading  speech  in  favor  of  tnat 
measure;  the  power  of  which  may  be  inferred  from  the  fact  that 
he  was  requested  by  the  Democratic  Convention  to  write  it  out 
for  publication,  which  he  omitted  to  do,  probably  from  a  want  of 
leisure.  He  was  a  clear-headed  and  logical  debater,  with  strong 
party  bias  in  his  arguments,  and  at  times  a  little  petulant  in  dis 
cussion.  After  serving  his  term  of  three  years  in  the  Senate,  his 
next  candidacy  was  for  a  seat  in  Congress,  in  1846,  to  fill  the  un- 
expired  term  of  the  Hon.  William  Lowndes  Yancey,  who  had 
resigned.  Samuel  Bernan,  Esq.,  of  Wetumpka,  the  half-brother 
of  Mr.  Yencey,  was  the  competitor  of  Mr.  Cottrell,  and  came 
within  38  votes  of  producing  a  tie  in  the  district.  This  small  ma 
jority  was  secured  by  Mr.  Cottrell,  after  a  hard-fought  field,  in 
which  his  competitor  won  laurels  by  the  tact  and  ability  he  dis 
played  in  the  canvass.  After  his  return  from  Congress,  Mr.  Cot 
trell,  in  1848,  was  placed  on  the  Electoral  Ticket  for  Gen.  Cass, 
but  resigned,  and  removed  to  Florida,  where  he  has  since  acted  a 
prominent  part  in  the  political  fortunes  of  that  State. 

6.  GEN.  DENNIS  DENT  was  originally  from  Maryland.  During 
the  war  in  Florida,  he  raised  a  company  of  volunteers  in  1836, 
and  served  a  campaign  against  the  Indians,  and  returned  to  Tus- 
kaloosa  with  great  popularity.  After  serving  in  the  House,  and 
after  Gen.  Crabb  was  elected  to  Congress,  he  succeeded  him  in 
the  Senate,  in  1838,  and  continued  to  serve  in  that  body  until 
1849-'50,  at  which  session  he  was  chosen  President  of  the  Senate. 
This  terminated  his  public  life.  He  afterwards  engaged  in  com 
mercial  pursuits,  and  became  a  partner  with  B.  B.  Fontaine,  Esq., 
in  the  commission  business,  under  the  firm  of  Fontaine  &  Dent, 
which  proved  disastrous  in  a  financial  view,  and  Gen.  Dent,  in  his 
old  age,  was  embarrassed,  and  his  large  property,  in  a  great  meas 
ure,  absorbed  to  pay  the  liabilities  of  the  Mobile  house.  In  poli 
tics,  he  was  an  ardent  Whig,  and  took  a  very  active  part  for  Gen. 
Harrison,  in  1840,  and  for  Mr.  Clay,  in  1844.  He  was  quite  suc 
cessful  in  acquiring  the  favor  of  the  people  by  his  plain  and  win 
ning  address,  with  a  kind  word  for  everybody,  and  his  purse  always 
open  to  the  poor  and  needy.  Gen.  Dent  frequently  engaged  in 


160  Reminiscences  of  PMic  Men  in  Alabama. 

debate,  was  sensible  in  his  views  and  quite  pleasant  in  his  manner, 
He  was  a  man  of  mark  in  his  day,  always  triumphant  at  the  ballot- 
box.  For  many  years  he  had  been  a  member  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church,  and  died  in  1860. 

7.  DIXON  HALL  was  many  years  a  Senator  from  Autauga  county, 
including  the  session  of  1840,  when  he  shared  freely  in  the  dis 
cussions  and  business  of  the  Senate.     He  possessed  a  fine  person,  a 
strong  voice,  and  was  always  ready  for  a  tilt  in  defense  of  the 
Democratic  party,  its  principles,  or  its  usages.     His  estimate  of 
men  appeared  to  be  not  very  high,  judging  by  the  motives  which 
he  imputed  to  others,  and  which  seemed  to  influence  his  own 
judgment.     Consequently  his  views  lacked  the  elevation  which  a 
more  generous  faith  in  human  nature  would  inspire.     While  he 
managed  and  wrangled  adroitly  to  gain  his  point,  he  often  forgot 
the  opinion  which  a  more  scrupulous  mind  might  entertain  of  the 
matter  in  hand.     But  this  error  was  common  to  active  politicians 
like  Mr.  Hall,  who  believed  that  nothing  was  done  while  any 
thing  remained  to  be  accomplished.     After  his  career  in  Alabama, 
he  removed  to  Mississippi,  where  he  died. 

8.  BENJAMIN  HUDSON,  of  Franklin,  was  many  years  in  the 
Senate,  where  he  was  a  laborious,  efficient  member,  always  on  the 
principal  committees,  and  usually  had  much  to  do  with  the  condi 
tion  of  the  banks.     He  was  a  straight-forward  man,  without  du 
plicity,  and  was  faithful  in  all  the  trusts  committed  to  him.     Often, 
while  a  debate  was  progressing,  or  when  a  measure  needed  a  brief 
explanation,  he  would  address  a  few  words  relevant  to  the  question 
and  take  his  seat.     In  this  respect,  his  example  was  worthy  of  all 
imitation  by  other  Senators,  who  usually  inflicted  long  harangues 
on  their  audience,  without  any  benefit  to  the  cause  they  repre 
sented.     In  social  intercourse,  Mr.  Hudson  was  very  pleasant,  and 
he  might  have  included  among  his  personal  friends  many  who  did 
not  belong  to  the  Democratic  party.     He  died  of  cancer,  in  1848. 

9.  JOHN  EDMUND  JONES,  of  Sumter,  came  to  the  Senate,  in 
1840,  by  a  majority  of  4  votes,  over  Samuel  B.  Boyd,  Esq.,  out  of 
2,500  cast  in  the  county.     His- faculties  for  electioneering  were 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  161 

superior.  Full  of  resources  in  his  own  mind,  by  rigid  discipline 
and  cultivation,  and  accustomed  to  face  large  assemblies  of  the 
people,  when  he  officiated  in  the  pulpit  as  a  Methodist  preacher, 
he  appeared  before  the  masses  with  very  great  eifect,  although  his 
competitor,  Mr.  Boyd,  was  a  gentleman  of  acknowledged  abilities 
at  the  bar,  and  a  good  stump  orator,  full  of  anecdote  and  pleasant 
humor.  A  victory  over  such  a  rival  was  no  small  achievement. 
His  first  speech  in  the  Senate  placed  Mr.  Jones  at  once  among  the 
most  ready  and  skilful  debaters.  He  was  in  the  bloom  of  life, 
attractive  and  graceful  in  person,  with  a  sonorous  voice,  quite  mu 
sical  in  its  modulations,  and  with  language  of  great  beauty  and 
force,  he  could  pour  forth  his  arguments,  his  appeals,  or  his  sar 
casm,  with  powerful  eifect,  always  earnest,  and  often  impassioned. 
Had  he  been  a  little  more  liberal  toward  his  opponents,  especially 
in  construing  their  motives  and  plans  as  a  party,  lie  would  have 
secured  more  sympathy,  and  his  labors,  in  the  end,  would  have  been 
crowned  with  greater  success.  In  short,  had  Mr.  Jones  divested 
himself  of  all  prejudice,  and  awarded  to  his  political  adversaries 
the  same  honesty  of  intention,  and  the  same  patriotism,  which  he 
claimed  for  himself,  which  as  a  Christian  gentleman  he  might  well 
afford  to  do,  he  would  have  been  perfectly  invincible.  His  bitter 
ness  as  a  partisan  impaired  his  usefulness  in  the  Legislature.  After 
his  term  in  the  Senate  expired,  he  was,  in  1844,  elected  Solicitor 
of  the  Mobile  Circuit,  over  Percy  Walker,  Esq.;  and,  in  1847,  he 
was  elected  Judge  of  the  City  Court  of  Mobile,  which  office  he 
continued  to  hold  until  declining  health  compelled  him  to  retire. 
He  died  about  the  year  1854. 

10.  DR.  PEYTON  KING  was  elected  to  the  Senate  from  Pickeiis 
county,  in  1838,  and  served  a  number  of  years,  always  sensible 
and  vigilant,  and  was  justly  ranked  among  the  sound  thinkers  and 
useful  men  of  the  Senate.     He  was  zealously  attached  to  the 
Whig  party,  and  suffered  no  occasion  to  pass  when  its  principles 
were  assailed,  without  taking  up  the  defense.     Dr.  King  was  open 
and  manly  in  character,  and  wore  no  disguises.     He  still  lives  to 
enjoy  the  confidence  and  good  opinion  of  his  fellow  citizens. 

11.  HENRY  C.  LEA,  of  Perry,  had  a  noble  person,  and  a  look 
of  majesty  in  his  expressive  iace.    He  seemed  born  to  govern 


4 

162  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

men,  with  a  tone  of  character  firm,  yet  conciliatory,  and  a  smile 
that  won  all  hearts.  Such  he  appeared  when  he  came  into  the 
Senate  in  1836,  with  a  bright  future  in  prospect.  In  1839,  he  was 
reflected,  and  took  position  with  the  giants  of  the  Senate;  with 
Cottrell,  Thornton,  Terry,  and  Oliver.  Mr.  Lea  bore  himself 
with  peculiar  dignity  in  debate,  and  with  great  courtesy  toward  his 
opponents,  except  when  they  ventured  at  personalities  or  departed 
from  the  usual  decorum.  Then  he  was  scathing  and  blistering  in 
reply.  A  few  scenes  of  this  description  occurred  on  the  floor  of 
the  Senate.  He  was  returned  to  the  House  of  Representatives 
in  1851,  and  was  at  that  session  elected  Solicitor  of  the  Second 
Judicial  Circuit.  It  is  much  to  be  regretted,  that,  in  the  latter 
years  of  his  life  he  became  the  victim  of  intemperance,  and  the 
man  of  giant  intellect  and  person  was  lost  in  the  shadow  which 
pursued  him.  The  fact  is  here  stated  with  much  hesitation  and 
regret,  and  nothing  but  the  hope  of  serving  others  by  holding  up 
the  melancholy  result  has  induced  its  notice  here.  The  wreck  of 
such  a  man  brings  no  dishonor  upon  his  kindred.  He  died  about 
the  year  1855.  The  second  wife  of  President  Houston,  of  Texas, 
was  a  sister  of  Mr.  Lea. 

12.  FELIX  GRUNDY  McCoNNELL,  was  a  Tennesseean  by  birth, 
and  settled  in  Talladega,  as  a  lawyer,  about  1834.  In  1836,  he 
was  elected  Clerk  of  the  County  Court;  in  1838,  a  Representative 
in  the  Legislature;  and  a  Senator  in  1839.  In  184%-  -he  was 
elected  a  Major-Gen eral.  He  continued  in  the  Senate  until  1843, 
when  he  was  the  Democratic  candidate  for  Congress,  and  suc 
ceeded  over  his  Whig  competitor,  W.  P.  Chilton,  Esq.  In- 1845, 
he  was  reflected,  as  an  independent  candidate,  ov^er  "Samuel  I\ 
Rice,  Esq.,  the  Democratic  rfominee,  and  while  at  Washington 
City  Gen.  McConnell  committed  suicide,  in  September- 1846. 

What  public  man  in  Alabama,  or  elsewhere,  ever  made  stfch 
strides  in  the  way  of  advancement  in  less  than  ten  years  ?  No 
obstacle,  it  seems,  could  impede  his  onward  march.  He  moved 
like  a  conqueror,  driving  the  ablest  opposition  before  him.  Surely 
there  must  have  been  a  secret  power  in  such  a  man,  such  a  victor. 
To  those  who  knew  him,  the  mystery  is  at  once  explained  by  the 
wit  and  congeniality  with  which  he  captivated  universal  favor, 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  163 

even  in  spite  of  defects  and  vices  which,  unfortunately,  disfigured 
his  otherwise  noble  character.  His  originality  was  fresh  and  true 
to  nature.  No  attempt  at  description  could  be  successful. 

When  Col.  Lehmanowsky,  a  Polish  officer,  who  accompanied 
Napoleon  to  Egypt,  was  in  Tuskaloosa  delivering  temperance  lec 
tures,  in  1842,  nearly  all  the  members  of  the  Legislature  were 
present  on  one  occasion,  besides  a  vast  concourse  of  citizens.  After 
the  lecture  had  ended,  Gen.  McConnell  rose  in  the  audience  and 
moved  that  a  temperance  society  be  at  once  formed,  which  he 
would  be  the  first  to  join.  The  motion  was  carried  by  acclamation, 
and  hundreds  took  the  pledge  on  the  spot.  A  number  of  beauti 
ful  speeches  were  made  on  the  occasion,  but  none  had  the  pathos 
and  overwhelming  effect  of  Gen.  McConnelPs.  He  confessed  and 
mourned  how  he  had  trifled  away  his  past  life ;  how  he  had  abused 
his  faculties  by  the  too  free  indulgence  in  the  use  of  ardent  spirits; 
but  his  eyes  were  now  opened,  and  he  was  clothed  in  his  right  mind, 
resolved  by  the  assistance  of  Heaven  to  be  a  new  man  in  future. 
His  friends  heard  the  resolution  with  delight,  and  hoped  that  he 
might  have  the  self-control  to  make  it  good  by  a  permanent  reform, 
but  still  they  had  their  fears,  which  proved  too  well  founded.  The 
old  habit  was  revived,  and  in  four  years  that  noble  man  passed 
from  the  halls  of  Congress  to  a  suicide's  grave  !  What  a  voice  of 
warning  to  the  young,  issues  from  the  cemetery ! 

About  the  close  of  his  last  term  in  Congress,  after  Texas  had 
been  incorporated  in  the  Union,  and  the  policy  of  adding  to  the 
national  territory  seemed  the  order  of  the  day,  Gen.  McConnell 
offered  a  resolution  in  the  House  of  Representatives  to  annex  Ire 
land  to  the  United  States,  which,  under  the  rules  of  the  House, 
the  Speaker  declared  to  be  out  of  order.  It  was  probably  a  joke, 
and  was  so  considered  by  all  parties;  but  it  is  significant  of  the 
character  of  Gen.  McConnell,  who  was  bold  enough  to  say  or 
attempt  anything  which  was  responsive  to  the  great  heart  of  hu 
manity.  Was  not  the  statesmanship  of  Gen.  McConnell  for  grasp 
ing  Ireland  more  promising  of  benefits  than  the  acquisition  of 
Alaska  from  the  Russian  Government,  by  the  diplomacy  of  Secre 
tary  Seward  ?  There  may  possibly  be  a  future  to  decide  tlie  ques 
tion.  The  present  authorities  of  the  United  States  seem  to  be 
exploring  new  seas  without  any  chart  to  guide  them,  or  to  point 


164  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

out  rocks  and  breakers  in  the  voyage.     St.  Domingo  has  a  place  in 
the  picture. 

13.  HUGH  McVAY  was  a  patriarch  in  the  legislative  history  of 
Alabama,  having  commenced  his  career  while  it  was  a  Territory, 
and  for  a  period  of  forty  years,  with  slight  intermission,  was  con 
nected  with  the  State  Government  in  one  or  other  of  its  principal 
departments.     In  1819,  he  was  a  delegate  from  the  county  of 
Lauderdale,  in  the  Convention  at  Hunts ville,  which  framed  the 
first  Constitution  of  Alabama.     He  was  elected  President  of  the 
Senate  in  1836,  and  became  ex-offido  Governor  on  the  resignation 
of  Gov.  Clay,  who  had  been  elected  to  the  Senate  of  the  United 
States.     His  messages  were  unpretending,  plain,  frank,  and  honest, 
in  keeping  with  his  whole  character  from  the  time  he  entered 
public  life  in  the  zenith  of  manhood,  to  an  advanced  age,  when  he 
voluntarily  retired.     He  was  a  Senator  in  1840,  a  Democrat  in 
principle,  and  yet  so  liberal  in  his  feelings  as  to  differ  from  the 
majority,  when  he  believed  wrong  or  injustice  was  likely  to  be 
done  to  his  political  opponents,  an  example  of  which  was  given  by 
his  vote  against  the  General  Ticket  bill,  he  being  the  only  Demo 
crat  who  opposed  that  measure.     Occasionally  he  made  brief  re 
marks  on  the  floor,  never  anything  like  a  formal  speech  with  flour 
ishes  and  pretensions  to  win  applause.     It  was  more  like  a  ven 
erable  father,  with  his  sons  around  him,  communicating  wholesome 
advice — to  be  fair  and  just  to  all  men,  and  to  walk  uprightly.     He 
was  always  heard  with  great  deference  and  respect,  of  which  no 
man  was  more  worthy.     No  blemish  rested  upon  his  name;  but 
he  was  loved  and  trusted  by  all  men,  and  was  indeed  a  patriot 
without  guile,  and  a  citizen  without  reproach.     He  was  a  planter 
of  large  means,  and  a  professor  of  religion,  having  been  many 
years  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.     He  died 
about  the  year  1850,  at,  probably,  not  less  than  eighty-five  years 
of  age. 

14.  DK.  SAMUEL  C.  OLIVER  entered  the  Senate,  from  Montgom 
ery,  in  1839.    He  was  a  gentleman  of  refined  literary  taste,  and  was 
affable  and  courteous  in  his  deportment.     In  the  debates  he  fre 
quently  engaged,  which  he  always  made  interesting  by  his  sensible 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  165 

view  of  the  question,  and  by  the  rhetoric  and  poetry  of  his  style. 
The  scholar  was  apparent  in  all  his  efforts,  and  he  often  indulged 
in  classical  allusions  to  give  force  and  pungency  to  his  remarks. 
His  voice  was  not  very  pleasant,  owing  to  its  sudden  variations  of 
quality,  from  some  disease  of  the  throat,  and  the  discord  which  at 
times  marked  the  higher  notes.  Occasionally  he  was  relieved  of 
these  impediments,  when  his  delivery  was  ornate  and  commanding. 
His  pride  of  letters  could  never  be  satisfied  by  a  careless  or  negli 
gent  style.  He  aimed  at  the  best,  and  while  his  intellect  was 
always  lofty  in  its  conceptions,  and  faithful  in  its  logic,  his  physical 
infirmities  often  detracted  from  the  impression  on  his  hearers'. 

Dr.  Oliver  was  a  staunch  "Whig,  and  was  generally  selected  by 
party  Conventions  and  mass  meetings,  to  serve  on  committees 
charged  with  preparing  addresses  to  the  people,  through  the  press. 
The  productions  of  his  pen  were  able  in  argument  and  beautiful 
in  composition.  He  was  the  author  of  a  political  romance,  or  some 
volume  illustrating  character,  which  was  published  about  1845,  en 
titled,  "  Onslow,"  of  the  success  of  which  in  circulation,  or  its  fate 
as  a  literary  performance  at  the  hands  of  the  critics,  I  do  not  now 
remember.  Though  firm  in  his  opinions  as  a  party  man,  Dr. 
Oliver  was  uniformly  respectful  to  his  opponents,  by  whom  he  was 
personally  held  in  high  esteem.  He  died  in  1848,  in  the  meridian 
of  life,  universally  regretted,  while  holding  the  office  of  Senator. 

15.  WILLIAM  S.  PHILLIPS  was  a  lawyer  from  Dallas,  and  when 
I  first  knew  him  he  was  a  member  of  the  House,  in  1837,  and  in 
1840  he  was  elected  to  the  Senate.  He  was  the  son  of  Dr.  George 
Phillips,  who,  in  1819,  with  Thomas  D.  Crabb,  was  a  candidate 
for  the  United  States  Senate,  and  both  these  gentlemen  were  de 
feated  by  Col.  William  ft.  King  and  the  Hon.  John  W.  Walker, 
who  were  elected  the  first  Senators  from  Alabama.  Afterwards, 
Dr.  Phillips  served  many  years  as  a  Representative  in  the  Legis 
lature  from  Dallas,  and  was  a  gentleman  of  considerable  wealth 
and  influence. 

Mr.  W.  S.  Phillips  justly  occupied  a  high  rank  in  the  Senate 
for  his  fine  business  capacity,  and  for  the  strength  and  clearness  of 
his  mind  in  the  discussions  on  important  measures  in  which  he  took 
part.  He  was  a  close  observer  of  things  around  him,  con  Id  readily 


166  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

detect  and  expose  any  finesse  of  which  he  suspected  his  political 
adversaries/and  was  always  prepared  to  receive  or  to  ward  off  the 
consequences,  so  as  to  render  them  harmless.  In  combats  of  this 
kind,  he  often  wrestled  with  the  Senator  from  Limestone,  (Mr. 
Terry,)  who  led  the  Democratic  side  of  the  Senate,  or  rather  took 
upon  himself  the  office  of  main  spokesman.  I  do  not  believe  that 
it  would  be  proper  to  say  that  any  one  gentleman,  of  either  party, 
led  Whigs  or  Democrats  in  the  Legislature,  where  each  member 
was  supposed  to  judge  and  act  for  himself.  But  on  such  occasions 
Mr.  Phillips  was  the  champion  of  the  Whig  cause,  who,  with 
knightly  grace,  shivered  a  lance  now  and  then  with  the  rampant 
Senator  from  Limestone,  the  bold  and  skillful  tactician,  who  was 
peculiarly  aggressive  as  a  partizan,  and  always  eager  for  the  fray. 
Mr.  Phillips  remained  in  the  Senate  a  number  of  years  with  in 
creased  reputation.  He  was  a  man  of  wealth,  and,  at  middle  age, 
married  a  daughter  of  John  Barron,  Esq.  The  next  view  of  him 
in  public  life  was  in  the  Secession  Convention,  in  1861,  where  he 
was  a  delegate.  He  has  retired  from  the  practice  of  the  law,  and 
now  devotes  himself  to  his  large  planting  interests. 

[NOTE. — The  sketch  of  Mr.  Phillips  was  written  in  1871.  He  died  at  Selma, 
July  7, 1872.] 

16.  GEORGE  REESE,  of  Chambers,  was  formerly  of  Georgia, 
and  a  brother  of  the  Hon.  David  A.  Reese,  a  Representative  in 
Congress  from  that  State  before  the  war.  Mr.  George  Reese  was 
elected  to  the  Senate  of  Alabama  in  1839,  as  a  Democrat,  and 
served  a  term  of  three  years,  after  which  he  retired.  After  the 
Provisional  Government  had  been  formed,  and  a  new  Constitution 
adopted  for  the  State,  in  1865,  Mr.  Reese  was  a  candidate  for  Con 
gress  in  the  Third  District,  and  was  defeated  by  Gen.  Cullen  Battle, 
who  was  then  fresh  from  the  war  with  great  personal  popularity. 
As  it  turned  out,  the  election  availed  nothing  to  Alabama,  whose 
Representatives  were  denied  admission  into  Congress. 

Mr.  Reese  did  not  thrust  himself  forward  in  the  Senate  in  party 
schemes,  nor  did  he  often  engage  in  the  debates.  He  looked  on 
quietly,  did  good  committee  work,  and  was  polite  to  all  around 
him.  What  he  said  was  generally  in  few  words  and  always  to  the 
point.  He  displayed  no  ambition  to  lead,  nor  would  he  blindly 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  167 

follow  others  who  might  assume  this  privilege.  Always  calm,  and 
always  independent,  he  appeared  to  be  upon^good  terms  with  him 
self  and  with  all  the  world.  It  is  hoped  that  his  subsequent  expe 
rience  has  not  disturbed  this  enviable  relation  which  is  the  main 
source  of  happiness.  His  presence  at  Tuskaloosa  in  public  and 
social  circles  will  long  be  favorably  remembered. 

17.  GKEEN  P.  RICE,  of  Morgan,  was  long  in  public  employ 
ments.  At  the  time  of  his  election  to  the  Senate,  in  1838,  he  was 
Judge  of  the  County  Court.  At  the  session  of  1839,  he  was 
elected  President  of  the  Senate.  The  report  of  the  committee 
adverse  to  the  eligibility  of  several  members  of  the  Senate  and 
the  House,  on  account  of  their  having  held  certain  offices  at  the 
time  of  their  election,  was  not  finally  concurred  in  until  about  the 
close  of  the  session,  when  the  seat  of  Mr.  Rice  was  declared  va 
cant.  He  was  reflected  in  1840,  after  this  disability  was  removed, 
and  he  again  took  his  seat.  After  serving  out  his  term,  he  was 
returned  to  the  House  of  Representatives  in  1842,  and  was  in  the 
Legislature  so  late  as  1855.  His  health  having  failed,  he  with 
drew  entirely  from  public  life. 

There  was  something  in  the  person  and  bearing  of  Mr.  Rice 
which  always  impressed  the  idea  of  dignity  in  his  character.  In 
the  British  House  of  Lords  he  would  have  been  noticed  for  the 
grave  and  formal  manner,  and  the  solemn  pomp  with  which  he 
arose  to  address  the  Chair.  It  was  more  like  the  severity  of  the 
pulpit  than  a  legislative  forum.  This  imposing  and  yet  agreeable 
address  may  possibly  have  resulted  from  his  exercise  of  the  Chris 
tian  ministry  in  early  life,  in  Kentucky,  from  which  State  he  came 
to  Alabama.  His  education  was  sufficient  to  gain  him  admission 
on  the  list  of  Presbyterian  clergymen,  or  those  of  any  other  church 
where  a  high  standard  of  scholarship  and  of  theological  proficiency 
is  required.  There  was  so  much  sternness  and  dignity  in  the 
looks  of  Mr.  Rice,  that  no  one  could  feel  at  ease  in  his  presence. 
He  may  have  enjoyed  the  humor  of  others,  but  he  seemed  utterly 
incapable  of  indulging  any  of  his  own.  His  voice  was  clear  and 
musical,  and  he  was  at  times  splendid  in  debate.  He  was  conscious 
of  his  great  natural  advantages,  and  exacted  deference  as  a  right. 
High-minded  himself,  he  was  slow  to  believe  in  the  duplicity  of 


168  Reminiscences  of  PvLlic  Mm  in  Alabama. 

others.  His  appearance  always  conveyed  the  idea  that  his  lot  in 
life  was  far  below  his  deserts  and  his  expectations.  In  fact,  he 
was,  no  doubt,  a  disappointed  man,  and,  to  soothe  his  troubles  by 
procuring  oblivion  awhile,  he  too  often  resorted  to  the  bottle, 
which  only  increased  his  difficulties.  Perhaps  it  was  the  great 
barrier  to  the  success  which  he  so  much  coveted,  as  a  proper  re 
ward  of  his  talents  and  his  ambition.  Taken  altogether,  he  was  a 
man  of  extraordinary  mold,  who,  by  some  casualty,  was  prevented 
from  reaching  the  very  highest  pinnacle  of  honor  among  men. 
"Whatever  might  be  his  foibles,  he  was  always  a  gentleman,  and 
always  noble  in  his  appearance.  He  has  been  dead  several  years. 

18.  NATHANIEL  TERRY  was  in  the  Senate  from  Limestone, 
when  I  first  knew  him  in  1837,  in  which  body  he  continued  to 
serve  until  the  session  of  1844,  and  was  four  times  elected  Presi 
dent  of  the  Senate.  In  1845,  he  was  the  Democratic  nominee 
ibr  Governor,  and  was  opposed  by  the  Hon.  Joshua  L.  Martin,  as 
an  independent  candidate.  Both  candidates  took  the  stump,  ad 
dressing  the  people  everywhere,  and  made  a  very  animated  can 
vass.  There  being  no  question  of  Federal  policy  to  discuss,  as 
they  were  both  Democrats,  the  main  point  of  controversy  was  in 
relation  to  the  State  Bank  and  Branches,  Mr.  Martin  having  been 
opposed  to  the  whole  system  from  the  beginning,  as  his  votes  in 
the  Legislature  would  show  as  far  back  as  1823,  and  Mr.  Terry  a 
supporter  of  the  Banks,  and  personally  their  debtor  to  a  large 
amount  for  loans  to  himself,  and  as  indorser  for  his  friends.  The 
manner  of  collecting  the  Bank  debts,  and  the  legislation  which 
Mr.  Terry  had  advocated,  granting  indulgence  until  a  large  por 
tion  of  the  debts  was  lost  through  the  insolvency  and  removal  of 
parties,  was  a  topic  urged  with  great  force  by  Mr.  Martin  against 
his  competitor.  In  this  way  he  was  entangled  and  embarrassed, 
and  though  a  bold  and  ready  man  to  ward  off  assaults,  Mr.  Terry 
did  not  sustain  himself  prudently  in  the  campaign,  and  was 
defeated.  After  this  he  made  no  attempt  to  resume  public  life, 
but  confined  his  attention  to  his  very  large  estates  in  North- 
Alabama,  and  to  the  improvement  of  horses  and  other  blooded 
stock,  of  which  he  possessed  a  great  number.  He  was  a  Vir 
ginian  by  birth,  and  noted  for  his  warm  and  generous  hospitality, 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  169 

of  which  I  had  the  pleasure  to  share  on  a  visit  to  him  in  1846. 
He  removed  to  Texas,  where  he  still  resides,  no  doubt  the  owner 
of  large  possessions,  and  foremost  in  all  the  local  enterprises  likely 
to  pay  on  the  investment,  and  to  be  of  general  utility.  His  char 
ities  to  the  poor  were  always  abundant. 

The  education  of  Mr.  Terry  was  defective,  in  spite  of  which  he 
was  a  good  speaker — a  natural  orator.  He  uttered  his  words 
with  remarkable  distinctness,  giving  every  syllable  its  proper 
sound,  with  emphasis  when  necessary  to  increase  the  effect, 
which  the  most  practiced  orator  might  have  envied.  In  the  pur 
suit  of  power  for  his  party,  he  was  always  earnest  and  adroit. 
This  was  particularly  manifested  on  the  General  Ticket  Bill, 
which  he  introduced,  and  engineered  through  the  Senate  with 
such  gusto  in  1840.  Yet  he  was  capable  of  generous  treatment 
occasionally,  and  had  many  personal  friends  among  the  Whigs. 
His  career  in  Alabama  fills  too  large  a  space  in  legislative  annals 
to  be  soon  forgotten. 

19.  SOLOMON  C.  SMITH,  of  DeKalb,  came  from  Tennessee. 
He  was  a  gentleman  of  fine  sense,  of  modest  deportment,  and 
was  many  years  a  useful  member  of  the  House.     His  great  popu 
larity  among  the  people  is  the  best  proof  of  his  solid  character. 
He  acquired  a  large  property  by  his  prudence  and  industry,  and 
died  in  1846,  before  nature  had  stamped  a  line  of  decay  upon  his 
features. 

20.  HARRY  I.  THORNTON  was  a  native  of  Virginia,  but  in 
early  life  removed  to  Kentucky,  where,  it  is  believed,  he  held  an 
office  under  the  administration  of  Mr.  J.  Q.  Adams,  probably 
that  of  United  States  District  Attorney.     He  married  a  sister  of 
Hon.  John  J.  Crittenden,  while  the  latter  gentleman  married  an 
aunt  of  Mr.  Thornton.     Thus  they  were  doubly  connected  by 
family  ties,  which  strengthened  and  harmonized  their  political 
attachments,  both  being  Whigs,  and  the  warm  personal  friends  of 
Mr.  Clay. 

I  have  not  ascertained  what  year  Mr.  Thornton  came  to  Ala 
bama.  He  settled  in  Huntsville,  and  more  than  thirty  years  ago 
was  elected  a  Judge  of  the  Supreme  Court.  After  retiring  from 


170  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

the  office,  he  changed  his  residence  to  Mobile,  where  he  practiced 
law  for  several  years.  Thence  he  removed  to  Eutaw,  and  in  1840 
was  elected  a  Senator  in  the  Legislature,  over  John  J.  Winston, 
Esq.,  to  fill  the  unexpired  term  of  Thomas  Riddle,  Esq.,  deceased. 

The  high  character  of  Mr.  Thornton  as  a  jurist  induced  the 
President  of  the  Senate  to  waive  the  usual  party  selection,  and  he 
was  made  Chairman  of  the  Judiciary  Committee  at  a  time  of 
intense  party  excitement.  His  reports  fully  justified  the  wisdom 
of  his  appointment.  In  debate  he  was  probably  the  strongest 
man  in  the  Senate.  He  had  all  the  qualities  of  a  dignified  and 
effective  speaker.  He  declined  being  a  candidate  for  reelection, 
and  pursued  the  practice  of  his  profession  with  great  favor  and 
success. 

Judge  Thornton  was  a  delegate  to  the  National  Whig  Conven 
tion  at  Baltimore  in  May,  1844,  and  was  a  Vice-President  of  that 
body.  He  engaged  in  the  canvass  for  Mr.  Clay  with  the  full 
belief  that  he  would  be  elected  President.  The  defeat  of  his 
favorite  statesman  greatly  depressed  his  spirits.  During  the 
administration  of  Mr.  Fillmore,  from  July,  1850,  to  March,  1853, 
he  was  appointed  by  the  President  a  commissioner  to  investigate 
land  titles  in  California.  In  a  few  years  thereafter  he  died.  He 
was  a  gentleman  of  elevated,  princely  character,  and  was  in  the 
communion  of  the  Presbyterian  Church.  To  know  him  was  to 
love  him.  Thousands  in  Alabama  will  cherish  his  memory  with 
affection. 

The  Judge  had  a  brother,  Col.  James  I.  Thornton,  -  ho  was 
elected  Secretary  of  State  in  1824,  and  served,  by  successive  elec 
tions,  until  1834.  He  was  a  very  high-minded  gentleman,  made 
an  excellent  officer,  and  was  respected  by  all  who  knew  him.  At 
a  venerable  age,  and  with  a  character  full  of  dignity  and  honor, 
Col.  Thornton  now  resides  in  Tuskaloosa. 

21.  THEOPHILUS  L.  TOULMIN,  of  Mobile,  entered  public  life 
when  a  young  man ;  was  elected  Sheriff,  then  Major-General,  and 
served  in  the  House  of  Representatives.  He  was  elected  to  the 
Senate  in  1838,  and  continued  in  that  body,  with  only  short  inter 
vals,  until  1864.  In  1848,  he  was  appointed  Postmaster  at  Mo 
bile,  by  President  Polk,  from  which  office  he  was  removed  by 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  171 

Gen.  Taylor,  and  was  reinstated  by  Mr.  Pierce.  He  was  at  all 
times  a  popular  man  before  the  people.  In  1840,  he  was  on  the 
Democratic  Electoral  Ticket,  and  Chairman  of  the  Electoral  Col 
lege  when,  in  the  Senate  Chamber,  they  cast  the  vote  of  the  State 
for  Mr.  Van  Buren  as  President,  and  R.  M.  Johnson  as  Vice- 
President. 

In  1865,  Gen.  Toulmin  was  defeated  for  the  Senate  by  Capt, 
Charles  P.  Gage.  He  had  always  been  the  most  popular  man  in 
Mobile  county  until  this  final  contest.  Gen.  Toulmin  could  rally 
the  whole  Creole  vote  previously,  and  was  selected  by  his  party 
to  lead  their  tickets  when  the  chances  were  doubtful.  He  died 
in  1866. 

22.  DANIEL  E.  WATROUS,  of  Shelby,  was  for  many  years  in  the 
Legislature,  in  one  branch  or  the  other.     In  1844,  he  was  the 
Whig  candidate  for  Congress,  in  opposition  to  Mr.  Yancey,  to  fill 
the  unexpired  term  of  the  Hon.  Dixon  H.  Lewis,  who  had  been 
elected  to  the  Senate.     Mr.  Watrous  was  a  good  lawyer,  and  a 
patient,   laborious   member   of  the   Legislature.     He   possessed 
abilities  of  a  very  solid  order,  and  was  capable  of  throwing  light 
on  all  questions  which  he  discussed.     His  party  convictions  were 
most  decided,  and  he  allowed  no  attack  on  his  principles  to  be 
made  in  his  presence  without  defending  them  by  argument,  when 
occasion  required  it.     He  removed  to  Texas,  and  died  there  sev 
eral  years  ago. 

23.  THOMAS  WILSON,  of  Jackson,  was  a  member  of  the  House 
of  Representatives  in  1837,  when   my  acquaintance  with  him 
began.     For  the  next  fifteen  or  twenty  years  he  continued  in  the 
Legislature,  serving  in  one  or  the  other  branch.     Without  the 
early  advantages  of  education,  he  had  succeeded  in  attaining  a 
correct  knowledge  of  government,  and  was  a  safe,  efficient  and 
truthfnl  man  in  all  the  relations  of  life.     He  was  an  active,  work 
ing  member,  who  paid  very  little  attention  to  idle  forms,  but  went 
for  the  substance  of  any  proposition  when  it  tended  to  the  public 
welfaie.  jHis  face  wore  a  kind  and  animated  expression  at  all 
times,  and  he  was  not  only  popular  among  his  constituents,  but 
had  the  favor  of  nearly  all  who  knew  him.     He  is  still  living. 


1*72  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 


CHAPTER  XL 

House  of  Representatives,  1840 — SJcetclies  of  Members. 

In  the  preceding  chapter  an  outline  of  the  Senate  has  been 
attempted,  with  more  or  less  accuracy  in  the  delineation  of  char 
acter.  Now  the  same  office  is  undertaken  in  regard  to  the  House 
of  Representatives,  of  which  a  little  more  than  one-third  of  the 
members  have  been  selected  for  special  comment,  either  from 
merit  in  the  work  of  legislation,  or  for  some  quality  for  which  they 
were  distinguished.  In  the  performance  of  this  task  it  is  not 
claimed  by  the  writer  that  he  has  been  at  all  times  successful  in 
his  portraits,  but  in  no  instance  has  he  wilfully  done  injustice  to 
the  originals. 

1.  JAMES  M.  ADAMS,  of  Marshall,  was  a  young  lawyer,  and 
came  to  the  House  in  1840,  serving  a  number  of  sessions  there 
after.     In  1851,  he  was  elected  Solicitor  of  the  Huntsville  Cir 
cuit.     His  career  of  usefulness  was  terminated  in  1857,  when  he 
was  lost  in  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  by  a  collision  of  steamers  between 
Galveston  and  New  Orleans.     His  abilities  were  promising,  and 
the  future  seemed  to  have  in  store  for  him  much  honor  and  hap 
piness,  when  he  was  suddenly  cut  off  by  one  of  those  calamities 
to  which  life  is  ever  exposed,  even  when  fortune  seems  the  most 
propitious. 

2.  ROBERT  A.  BAKER,  of  Franklin,  was  in  the  House  when  I 
became  first  connected  with  that  body  as  Assistant  Clerk,  in  1837, 
and  toward  the  close  of  the  session  in  1840,  he  was  elected 
Speaker,  to.  succeed  the  Hon.  Samuel  Walker,  who  resigned  that 
position  from  ill  health.     Mr.  Baker  presided  at  the  called  session 
in  1841,  soon  after  which  he  removed  to  Sumter  county,  where 
he  declined  the  Democratic  nomination  for  the  Senate.     His  sec 
ond  marriage  was  with  Mrs.  Potts,  a  daughter  of  Seaborn  Mims, 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  173 

Esq.,  of  Sumter.  Shortly  thereafter,  he  changed  his  residence  to 
Mobile,  and  was  a  partner  in  the  commission  house  of  Baker, 
Lawler  &  Co. 

His  talents  were  more  than  respectable  in  the  public  councils. 
Always  a  patient,  working  member  while  in  service,  he  was  par 
ticularly  attentive  to  the  rules  of  the  House,  and  to  parliament 
ary  usage ;  and  on  many  occasions,  when  difficulties  arose  on  these 
points,  creating  more  or  less  confusion,  sometimes  great  excite 
ment,  he  took  the  floor  as  peace-maker,  by  gently  pouring  oil 
upon  the  troubled  waters  of  debate,  and  always  with  happy  eifect. 
His  temperament  was  calm,  and  amid  scenes  of  uproar  and  strife, 
of  which  two  prominent  instances — when  the  election  for  United 
States  Senator  was  before  the  House,  and  the  General  Ticket  Bill 
was  in  progress — have  been  already  noticed.  On  such  occasions, 
his  influence  was  felt  in  its  soothing  and  salutary  effect  upon  the 
House.  He  was  always  sensible,  always  liberal,  and  always  just. 
His  standard  of  morals  was  high.  For  many  years  he  had  been 
an  active  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  foremost  hi 
good  works  as  a  steward  and  leader,  and  when  he  died,  in  1866, 
he  left  a  vacancy  in  the  Church  and  in  his  social  relations  which 
it  was  difficult  to  supply.  A  sweet  savour  always  attaches  to  the 
name  and  memory  of  such  a  man  as  Robert  A.  Baker. 

3.  JOHN  BARRON,  of  Perry,  was  a  member  in  1839,  and  for 
several  years  afterwards.     He  was  a  very  intelligent  planter,  of 
sound  judgment  in  public  affairs,  a  Whig  in  politics,  and  a  mem 
ber  of  the  Presbyterian  Church.     He  was  much  respected,  and 
was  always  at  the  post  of  duty,  rendering  the  best  service  in  his 
power.     He  died  several  years  ago. 

4.  JOSEPH  BATES,  of  Mobile,  was  Major-General  of  the  6th 
Division  of  Alabama  Militia,  was  a  member  in  1837,  and  in  1838 
was  defeated  for  the  Senate  in  the  District  composed  of  Mobile, 
Barbour  and  Washington  counties,  after  a  most  animated  canvass. 
He  was  again  elected  to  the  House  in  1840,  during  which  session, 
as  his  record  will  show  in  preceding  pages,  he  made  a  principal 
figure  in  the  political  discussions  and  maneuvering  which  often 
took  place.    Indeed,  nature  seems  to  have  marked  him  for 


174  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

command.  He  was  tall,  athletic,  and  of  exact  symmetry  in  his  per 
son,  with  a  head  and  face  which  a  sculptor  would  delight  to  copy 
as  a  master-piece.  His  mental  powers  were  not  inferior  to  his 
physical.  Though  not  a  lawyer  by  profession,  he  had  all  the 
readiness  in  thought  and  language  of  a  practiced  speaker.  He 
possessed  greater  qualities  still.  When  difficulties  multiplied,  he 
rose  with  the  occasion,  and  was  always  adequate  to  the  emer 
gency — never  at  a  loss,  never  taken  by  surprise ;  and  his  bearing 
always  reminded  me,  in  conception,  of  a  grand  Field  Marshal  of 
Napoleon  at  the  head  of  a  column,  advancing,  while  a  hundred 
pieces  of  artillery  played  upon  him,  until  he  pierced  the  enemy's 
center,  and  decided  the  fortunes  of  the  day.  Gen.  Bates  would 
no  doubt  have  distinguished  himself  as  a  commander  in  the  field, 
as  he  had  all  the  courage  and  fertility  of  resource  which  usually 
gain  victories.  Never  did  I  gaze  upon  a  more  lofty  man  in  his 
physical  developments,  coupled  with  what  I  knew  to  be  his  intel 
lectual  qualities.  In  1844,  the  Hon.  Henry  Clay  was  in  Mobile, 
and  General  Bates,  as  a  warm  political  friend  and  supporter,  was 
frequently  near  his  person.  A  view  of  two  such  men,  side  by 
side,  so  peculiarly  striking,  and  so  gifted,  each  in  his  sphere,  may 
never  again  be  the  privilege  of  any  spectator.  Gen.  Bates  re 
moved  to  Texas,  where  he  was  appointed  United  States  Marshal 
under  the  administration  of  Mr.  Fillmore.  Perhaps  he  is  still 
living. 

5.  Dr.  A.  Q.  BRADLEY?  of  Perry,  served  at  the  sessions  of 
1839,  1840,  and  1841,  and  was  defeated  for  the  Senate  by  Col. 
Richard  B.  Walthall  in  1842.  He  justly  ranked  with  the  most 
intelligent  members  of  the  House.  Perhaps  he  had  not  his  equal 
in  that  body,  as  a  general,  laborious  student  in  all  the  branches  of 
literature  and  science,  in  which  he  had  made  great  proficiency. 
All  his  intervals  of  leisure  were  occupied  in  reading.  He  was 
originally  from  South  Carolina,  was  a  bachelor,  and  always  resided 
with  his  mother,  to  whom  he  was  devoted.  With  strong  anti 
quarian  tastes,  he  had  collected  around  him  many  rare  books, 
publications,  and  manuscripts;  among  the  latter  an  autograph 
report  of  the  celebrated  leader  of  British  cavalry,  Tarleton,  whose 
very  name  struck  terror  to  the  hearts  of  all  Americans  during  the 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  175 

Revolution  of  1776,  from  the  daring  and  cruelty  of  his  exploits. 
Dr.  Bradley  was  not  only  a  cultivated  gentleman  in  the  highest 
sense  of  the  term,  but  he  was  most  agreeable  in  his  address, 
always  cheerful,  and  ready  for  social  enjoyment.  He  remained 
in  private  life  until  1859,  when  he  was  again  elected  to  the 
House.  In  view  of  the  election  of  an  abolition  candidate  for 
President  of  the  United  States,  a  resolution  was  adopted  by  the 
Legislature  at  this  session  authorizing  the  Governor  to  call  a  Con 
vention  to  take  such  steps  as  might  be  necessary  to  preserve  the 
rights  and  honor  of  the  people  of  the  State.  In  the  House, 'only 
two  members,  Dr.  Bradley  and  Newton  L.  Whitfield,  Esq.,  of 
Tuskaloosa,  voted  against  it.  "When  on  its  passage,  and  before 
giving  his  vote,  Dr.  Bradley  said : 

MR.  SPEAKER — I  believe  the  passage  of  such  a  resolution  will 
amount  to  revolution.  The  Federal  Constitution  specifically  enu 
merates  the  qualifications  requisite  in  a  President,  and  these,  it  is 
reasonable  and  fair  to  suppose,  the  Republican  Convention  will 
observe  in  nominating  their  candidate.  A  State  Legislature  has 
neither  the  right  nor  the  power  to  add  to,  or  subtract  from,  these 
qualifications;  and  a  declaration  on  our  part,  that  if  defeated  in 
the  next  election  for  President  by  the  Republican  candidate  (even 
if  elected  in  conformity  with  the  Constitution  and  laws  of  the 
United  States),  we  would  not  abide  by  the  result,  would,  in  my 
opinion,  be  an  act  reducing  us  to  the  level  of  those  republics  south 
of  us,  whose  political  history  consisted  in  an  almost  continuous 
appeal  from  the  decisions  of  the  ballot-box  to  the  arbitrament  of 
the  sword." 

These  remarks  seem  to  have  very  much  the  spirit  of  prophecy, 
as  events  have  since  turned  out.  In  politics,  Dr.  Bradley  was 
identified  with  the  Whig  party. 

6.  ROBERT  B.  CAMPBELL,  of  Lowndes,  had  been  a  Represent 
ative  in  Congress  from  South  Carolina.  After  his  removal  to 
Alabama,  he  was  elected  to  the  House  in  1840,  as  a  Whig.  He 
was  a  gentleman  of  polished  address,  and  of  great  urbanity,  after 
the  school  of  the  olden  time,  and  never  relaxed  his  dignity,  which 
appeared  to  be  natural,  and  the  only  element  in  which  he  could 
live.  He  appeared  to  be  somewhat  out  of  place  in  the  House,  and 
though  surrounded  by  much  intelligence  in  his  fellow-  members. 


176  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

he  looked  solitary  and  abstracted,  from  the  want  of  congenial 
natures  to  grapple  with  in  the  forum  of  legislation.  He  was  dili 
gent  on  committees,  and  very  punctual  in  attendance,  occasionally 
taking  the  floor,  and  submitting,  briefly,  his  reasons  for  supporting 
or  opposing  any  measure  under  consideration.  He  was  appointed 
United  States  Consul  to  Havana  by  Mr.  Tyler,  and  was  continued 
in  office  by  Mr.  Polk.  To  account  for  the  latter  extension  of 
favor,  it  is  said  that  the  father  of  Gen.  R.  B.  Campbell  was  a 
British  officer,  who  had  shown  much  kindness  to  Gen.  Jackson 
when  he  was  a  mere  boy,  and  was  taken  prisoner  in  South  Car 
olina.  While  other  officers  of  the  British  army  were  disposed  to 
treat  with  harshness  and  insult  the  youth  Jackson,  who  had  refused 
to  black  the  boots  of  his  captors,  Col.  Campbell,  of  His  Majesty's 
regiment  of  infantry,  interposed  his  friendly  offices,  and  saved 
the  youth  from  punishment  for  his  manly  behavior  on  the  occasion. 
Fifty  years  afterwards,  Gen.  Jackson  became  President,  and,  in 
his  gratitude,  was  willing  and  anxious  to  make  a  suitable  acknowl 
edgment  to  the  son;  but,  as  the  South  Carolinians  were  offended 
by  the  proclamation  of  1832,  it  was  considered  disreputable  by  the 
majority  to  hold  office  from  President  Jackson.  Yet  the  latter 
never  forgot  Gen.  Campbell,  and  when  he  returned  to  the  Her 
mitage,  it  is  said  that  he  asked  of  Mr.  Polk,  as  a  personal  favor, 
to  continue  him  in  the  Consulship,  which  was  done.  Gen.  Camp 
bell  has  been  dead  many  years. 

JEREMIAH  CLEMENS,  of  Madison,  has  received  a  place  in  the 
New  American  Cyclopedia,  published  by  D.  Appleton  &  Co.,  New 
York,  from  which  it  is  ascertained  that  he  was  born  at  Huntsville 
in  1814;  entered  the  Law  Department  of  Transylvania  Univer 
sity,  at  Lexington,  Kentucky,  in  1833;  commenced  the  practice 
of  the  law  in  1834;  was  appointed  by  President  Van  Buren,  in 
1837,  United  States  Attorney  for  the  Middle  and  Northern  Dis 
trict  of  Alabama;  in  1842,  raised  a  company  of  volunteers  for  the 
defense  of  Texas  against  a  threatened  invasion  by  Mexico;  in 
1839,  1840,  1841,  and  1843,,  was  elected  a  member  of  the  House 
of  Representatives  in  the  Alabama  Legislature;  in  March,  1847, 
raised  a  company  of  volunteers  for  service  in  the  Mexican  war; 
was  appointed  Major  of  the  13th  United  States  Infantry;  was 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama,.  177 

appointed  Lieutenant-Colonel  in  April,  1848,  and  on  9th  July 
was  appointed  Colonel  of  the  regiment;  and  in  1849,  was  elected 
a  Senator  in  Congress  for  four  years,  to  fill  the  unexpired  term  of 
Hon.  Dixon  H.  Lewis,  deceased.  And  it  was  further  stated,  in 
the  same  article,  that,  in  1856,  Mr.  Clemens  published  "Bernard 
Lile,"  a  historical  novel;  in  1857,  "Mustang  Gray;"  and  in  1859, 
"  The  Rivals/7  a  story  of  the  times  of  Aaron  Burr  and  Alexander 
Hamilton. 

Certainly,  the  above  is  a  flattering  record  for  so  young  a  man, 
who  had  scarcely  attained  his  thirty-fifth  year  when  elected  to  the 
United  States  Senate.  His  career  in  Congress  was  not  inactive 
or  obscure.  He  frequently  participated  in  the  debates,  and  his 
speeches  were  always  marked  with  the  ability  and  zeal  peculiar 
to  him.  He  refused  to  vote  for  the  resolution  extending  an  invi 
tation  to  Father  Mathew,  the  Irish  Apostle  of  Temperance,  to  a 
seat  within  the  bar  of  the  Senate,  on  the  ground  that  such  high 
civilities  ought  to  be  accorded  only  to  American  citizens  of  distin 
guished  character,  or  who  had  rendered  great  services  to  the 
public,  and  not  to  foreign  adventurers.  For  similar  reasons,  he 
refused,  in  1852,  to  countenance  the  formal  reception  of  Governor 
Kossuth,  of  Hungary.  On  both  these  occasions,  he  was  courteous 
in  his  language,  and  manifested  great  solicitude  for  the  honor  of 
his  country,  without  complication  with  the  pageantry  exacted  by 
loreigners  who  had  succeeded,  by  artful  means,  in  acquiring  noto 
riety,  and  in  attracting  the  public  sympathies. 

Something  may  be  added  to  the  account  respecting  Mr.  Clem 
ens.  While  in  the  Legislature,  he  was  indeed  a  "bright  and 
shining  light"  in  discussion,  never  at  a  loss  for  a  word,  an  expres 
sion,  an  idea,  a  fact,  or  an  argument,  to  sustain  his  point,  adorned 
by  the  most  captivating  eloquence.  No  gentleman  on  the  floor 
could  equal  him  in  the  spontaniety  and  smoothness  of  his  sen 
tences,  the  warmth  of  his  coloring,  an/1  in  the  electric  communica 
tion  of  his  own  feelings  to  those  around  him.  Bold  as  a  party 
leader,  he  aspired  to  control  older  Democrats,  who  were  not 
always  willing  to  follow  his  rash  or  premature  counsels.  Plence, 
there  was  often  disagreement  in  the  ranks.  On  such  occasions,  he 
would  avow  his  own  independence,  and  seek  to  provide  honors 
for  himself.  A  notable  instance  of  the  kind  occurred  at  the 
12 


178  Retninwcences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

session  of  1849,  in  the  election  of  Senator  to  fill  the  vacancy  of  Mr. 
Lewis.  The  ballotings  began  at  12  o'clock,  on  28th  November, 
Messrs.  B.  Fitzpatrick,  J.  Clemens  (Democrats)  and  A.  F.  Hop 
kins  (Whig)  being  in  nomination.  After  five  ineffectual  ballot- 
ings,  the  Senate  withdrew,  and  the  House  adjourned.  The  next 
day,  the  two  Houses  again  convened,  and  the  election  of  Senator 
was  resumed,  when  Mr.  Jones,  of  Mobile,  withdrew  the  name  of 
the  Hon.  A.  F.  Hopkins,  and  on  the  first  ballot,  Gov.  Fitzpatrick 
received  58,  and  Mr.  Clemens  received  66  votes,  which  decided 
the  election  in  favor,  of  the  latter  gentleman.  On  the  several 
ballotings,  the  votes  stood: 

For  B.  Fitzpatrick 60       60       60       64       65       58 

For  J.  Clemens 21       20       22       23       25       66 

For  A.  F.  Hopkins. ...  50       49       47       37       33^ 

Mr.  Clemens  was  a  delegate  to  the  Convention  at  Montgomery 
in  1861,  and  was  opposed  to  immediate  secession,  preferring  what 
was  known  as  the  cooperative  policy  after  consultation  with  the 
other  States  who  felt  aggrieved  by  the  election  of  Mr.  Lincoln. 
But  after  he  ascertained  that  the  Ordinance  of  Secession  would 
pass  by  a  large  majority,  he  decided  to  vote  for  it,  and  assigned 
reasons  for  so  doing,  which  have  been  published  in  the  volume 
entitled,  "The  History  and  Debates  of  the  Convention  of  the 
People  of  Alabama,"  by  William  R.  Smith,  Esq.,  of  which  the 
following  is  a  paragraph  : 

"Sir  [said  Mr.  Clemens],  I  never  had  a  doubt  as  to  the  course 
it  became  me  to  take  in  such  an  emergency  as  this.  I  believe 
your  ordinance  to  be  wrong,  and  if  I  could  defeat  it,  I  would; 
but  I  know  I  can  not.  It  will  pass,  and  when  passed,  it  becomes 
the  act  of  the  State  of  Alabama.  As  such,  I  will  maintain  and 
defend  it  against  all  and  every  enemy,  as  long  as  I  have  a  hand 
to  raise  in  its  defense.  As  an  earnest  that  I  mean  what  I  say,  I 
am  about  to  place  myself  in  a  position  from  which  there  can  be 
no  retreat." 

The  allusion  here  is,  probably,  to  taking  charge  of  the  military 
force  authorized  by  the  Legislature  at  the  session  of  1859,  of 
which  Mr.  Clemens  had  been,  or  was  about  to  be,  appointed 
Major-General,  for  the  defense  of  the  State,  provided  she  had  to 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  179 

stand  alone  after  tke  secession  then  anticipated.  But  circumstances 
having  taken  another  direction,  this  act  was  never  carried  into 
effect  beyond  investing  Major-General  Clemens  nominally  with 
the  command.  In  the  latter  part  of  the  war,  he  went  to  Phila 
delphia  to  reside,  where  he  died  several  years  ago.  While  genius 
and  frailty  combined  together  in  this  gifted  gentleman,  let  charity 
cover  all  his  imperfections,  while  the  grand  and  the  beautiful  in 
his  character  shall  find  a  place  in  history. 

8.  WALTER  H.  CRENSHAW,  of  Butler,  son  of  Chancellor  An 
derson  Crenshaw,  came  to  the  House  in  1838,  and  again  in  1840. 
From  that  time,  with  but  very  little  intermission,  he  has  served 
in  one  or  the  other  branch  of  the  Legislature  until  1867,  and  was 
never  defeated.     He  was  elected  Speaker  of  the  House  in  1861, 
and  again  in  1863,  and  was  a  member  of  the  Convention  of  1865, 
which  framed  the  State  Constitution  of  that  year.    He  was  elected 
President  of  the  Senate  for  the  years  1865-6.     As  a  presiding 
officer,  he  gave  entire  satisfaction.     For  about  thirty  years,  he  has 
been  connected  with  public  life,  and  always  maintained  a  high 
character  for  abilities  and  integrity.     His  judgment  may  at  all 
times  be  safely  trusted,  and  his  example  is  worthy  of  all  the  praise 
due  to  exalted  virtue  and  patriotism.     He  is  still  living,  and  is  a 
lawyer. 

9.  Dr.  JAMES  M.  DAVENPORT,  of  Marengo,  was  a  member  of 
the  House  in  1840.     He  was  an  educated  gentleman,  of  pleasant 
address  on  the  floor  and  elsewhere,  a  Whig  in   principle,  and  a 
very  respectable  debater,  though  he  never  tired  the  patience  of 
the  House  by  the  frequency  or  length  of  his  speeches.     What  he 
had  to  say  was  presented  in  few  words.     He  married  a  daughter 
of  Allen  Glover,  Esq.,  and  by  that  relation  was  a  brother-in-law 
of  the  Hon.  F.  S.  Lyon.     After  the  death  of  Dr.  Davenport,  his 
widow  married  Alexander  Graham,  Esq.,  of  Eutaw. 

* 

10.  JOHN  H.  GARRETT,  of  Cherokee,  was  a  native  of  South 
Carolina,  and  was  fond  of  talking  of  duels  and  the  code  of  honor 
which  prevailed  among  the  chivalry  of  that  State  in  former  days. 
He  had  quite  a  taste  for  military  life,  and  was  elected  a  Major 


180  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

General  of  Alabama  Militia.  Before  his  removal  to  Cherokee, 
he  was  Judge  of  the  County  Court  of  St.  Clair  county.  In  1840, 
he  was  elected  to  the  House,  and  again  in  1841,  during  which 
latter  session  he  died  at  Tuskaloosa,  and  was  buried  with  military 
honors,  his  old  personal  friend,  Gen.  Carroll,  leading  the  ceremo 
nies,  including  the  procession  of  members  of  the  Legislature  who 
attended  the  funeral.  Capt.  D.  H.  Bingham,  a  graduate  of  West- 
Point,  who  commanded  the  "Warrior  Guards/7  directed  the  firing 
over  the  grave,  the  first  instance  of  the  kind  I  ever  witnessed. 
Gen.  Garrett  was  of  a  social  disposition,  and  could  relate  many 
incidents  in  his  varied  experience  which  were  truly  entertaining. 
In  society,  select  and  miscellaneous,  he  was  always  a  welcome 
companion. 

11.  GEORGE  HILL,  of  Talladega,  came  from  Tennessee  to  Ala 
bama  when  a  young  man.     He  served  in  the  war  of  1813  under 
Gen.  Jackson.     His  mind  was  well  improved,  and  by  his  strict 
integrity  of  character,  he  soon  exerted  a  large  influence  among 
his  fellow-citizens.     In  1831,  he  was  elected  to  the  House.     For 
many  years  he  was  a  Trustee  of  the  State  University.     When  his 
Democratic  friends  were  hard  pressed  for  a  popular  candidate, 
they  settled  upon  Mr.  Hill,  and  he  was  again  returned  to  the 
House  in  1840.     He  owned  a  large  property,  and  he  preferred 
the  quiet  of  retirement,  as  a  planter,  to  the  excitement  of  poli 
tics,  and  he  remained  in  private  life  until  1857,  when  he  was 
nominated  for  the  Senate  and  elected.     This  closed  his  public  ser 
vice.     Mr.  Hill  had  a  fine  person,  was  dignified  and  yet  social, 
always  ready  to  entertain  his  friends,  and  to  make  all  feel  happy 
around  him.     His  good  judgment  was  much  relied  upon  by  those 
who  knew  him,  and  great  common  sense  was  the  prevailing  trait 
of  his  character.     He  died  in  January,  1867.     While  a  widower, 
in  1856,  he  married  Miss  Caroline  M.  Henry,  sister  of  George 
G.  Henry,  of  Mobile.     Mr.  Hill  was  a  leading  member  of  the 
Baptist  Church. 

» 

12.  DR.  SAMUEL  S.  HOUSTON  was  a  Northern  man,  and  a  mem 
ber  of  the  Democratic  party.     For  sometime  he  held  the  office  of 
Register  or  Receiver  in  the  Public  Land  office  at  St.  Stephens. 


Heminiseences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  181 

He  represented  "Washington  county  in  the  House  in  1840,  and  at 
several  sessions  thereafter.  In  debate  he  often  took  part  with  a 
degree  of  self-reliance  which  showed  that  he  was  not  afraid  to  en 
counter  the  foremost  in  that  arena.  Perhaps  the  medical  profes 
sion  not  agreeing  with  his  health  or  his  taste,  he  either  laid  it  aside 
or  the  law,  or  added  the  latter  profession  to  it  as  multiplying  his 
chances  of  success.  He  went  still  further,  and  became  a  minister 
of  the  Gospel.  On  his  way  to  the  better  land,  it  is  said  that  he 
indulged  in  potations  which  often  decoy  the  pilgrim  from  the  right 
path.  Such  is  the  last  advice  I  have  had  relative  to  Dr.  Houston. 

13.  JOHN  S.  HUNTER,  of  Lowndes,  was  on  the  Circuit  Bench 
when  I  first  knew  him.  In  1836,  he  was  one  of  the  Democratic 
Electors,  and  voted  for  Mr.  Van  Burcn,  with  whose  administration 
he  was  not  satisfied,  which  led  him  to  cooperate  with  the  Whig 
party.  At  the  Whig  Mass  Convention  at  Tuskaloosa,  in  June, 
1840,  he  presided  over  its  counsels,  made  a  speech  in  favor  of 
Gen.  Harrison,  and  was  placed  on  the  Whig  Electoral  Ticket, 
which,  out  of  a  total  vote  of  about  60,000  in  the  State,  cast  for 
President,  received  5,000,  or  thereabout,  less  than  a  majority. 
Judge  Hunter  was  elected  to  the  House  in  1840,  and  to  the  Sen 
ate  in  1842.  In  1847,  he  was  a  candidate  for  Congress,  and  was 
defeated  by  Sampson  W.  Harris,  Esq.  He  was  a  gentleman  of 
large  wealth,  and  supported  a  liberal  style,  inclining  somewhat  to 
aristocratic  notions,  though  he  was  usually  social  and  courteous  to 
all  who  approached  him.  His  suavity  of  manners,  at  all  times 
agreeable,  was  a  little  checked  in  appearance  by  a  high  measure 
of  self-respect,  and  innate  dignity  of  character.  He  was  a  fine 
scholar,  and  a  smooth,  pleasant  speaker,  his  words  falling  like  liquid 
pearls  from  his  lips.  Having  planted  on  an  extensive  scale, 
with  the  means  to  make  a  variety  of  experiments  in  agriculture, 
he  was  well  versed  on  subjects  of  that  class,  and  also  on  internal 
improvements.  Among  the  committees  of  the  House,  appointed 
at  an  early  part  of  the  session,  was  one  on  Inland  Navigation,  con 
sisting  of  Messrs.  Hunter,  Winston  of  DeKalb,  Davenport,  Da 
vidson,  King,  Provence,  and  Griffin  of  Jackson.  A  resolution 
was  adopted  instructing  the  committee  to  "inquire  into  the  pro 
priety  and  expediency  of  appropriating  the  whole  of  the  three  per 


182  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

cent,  fund  to  the  completion  of  the  Selma  and  Tennessee  Railroad; 
or  of  some  other  mode  of  appropriating  said  fund,  so  as  more 
closely  to  identify  the  Northern  and  Southern  parts  of  our  £Jtatc; 
and  that  said  committee  report  by  bill  or  otherwise." 

After  sometime  for  deliberation,  the  committee  reported  bade, 
that  it  was  inexpedient  to  legislate  on  the  subject  referred ;  and 
the  House  refusing  to  concur,  the  resolution  was  re-committed. 
On  the  5th  January,  1841,  Mr.  Hunter,  Chairman,  made  a  report 
of  considerable  length,  which  occupies  about  six  pages  of  the 
House  Joiirnal.  The  whole  subject  is  examined  with  minuteness 
and  ability,  with  observations  on  a  broad  and  searching  scale  touch 
ing  the  interests  of  commerce,  manufactures,  and  navigation,  as 
closely  involved  in  a  common  transit  between  the  Northern  and 
Southern  portions  of  Alabama.  The  amount  of  the  three  per  cent, 
fund  arising  from  the  sale  of  public  lands,  donated  by  Congress, 
is  stated  to  be  $421,075  36  when  first  broken  by  the  Legislature, 
[included  as  bank  capital,]  and  the  interest  and  profits  since 
$124,662  17,  which  form  a  total  of  $545,737  53.  Of  this  sum 
there  have  been  expended  by  the  Legislature,  for  objects  of  inter 
nal  improvement,  the  following  amounts : 

December  19,  1837,  for  improving  the  Coosa  River $30,000 

February,  1839,  for  improving  the  Coosa  River 30,000 

December  20,  1837,  for  improving  the  Toinbeckbee  River 25,000 

February  1,  1839,  for  improving  Paint  Rock  River 10,000 

February  1,  1839,  for  improving  the  Black  Warrior  River 20,000 

February  2,  1839,  for  improving  Choctawhatchie  River 10,000 

February  2,  1839,  for  the  improvement  of  Elk  River 10,000 


Total  expenditure  of  3  per  cent.  fund. $135,000 

Leaving  an  unexpended  balance  of  $410,727  53,  to  be  applied 
to  the  construction  of  a  Me  Adamized  road,  or  a  water  communica 
tion  by  certain  natural  channels  referred  to,  or  the  completion  of 
the  Selma  and  Tennessee  Railroad,  to  intersect  the  line  of  rail 
roads  then  in  progress  from  Charleston,  through  Alabama  and 
Mississippi,  to  the  Mississippi  River.  On  a  review  of  the  whole 
question,  the  committee  intimate  a  doubt  whether  the  Legislature, 
under  the  special  act  of  Congress  directing  in  what  manner  the 
fund  shall  be  applied,  have  the  power  to  devote  it  to  the  uses 
pointed  out  in  the  resolution,  and  therefore  advise  that  if  such  ob 
stacle  really  exist,  Congress  may  grant  the  proper  remedy.  In 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Aldbamd.  183 

closing  their  very  elaborate  report  the  committee  say:  "In  con 
clusion,  we  repeat  the  expression  that  it  is  now  inexpedient  to 
legislate  on  the  subjects  of  the  resolutions,  and  ask  to  be  discharged 
from  the  further  consideration  thereof."  The  report  was  laid  on 
the  table,  and  1 50  copies  ordered  to  be  printed. 

After  the  war,  Judge  Hunter  removed  to  Louisville,  Kentucky, 
where  he  died.  His  remains  were  brought  to  his  old  homestead 
in  Alabama,  for  interment,  and  were  followed  to  the  grave  by 
hundreds  of  freedmen  who  had  been  formerly  his  slaves. 

14.  JOSEPH  J.  HI.TTOHINSOX  came  from  Georgia  to  Alabama, 
when  quite  a  young  man,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar.     In  1839, 
1840,  and  1841,  he  was  a  member  of  the  House  from  Montgomery. 
He  was  sharp  in  debate,  brusque  in  manner,  and  fierce  in  politics. 
At  the  Mass  Whig  Convention  in  Tuskaloosa,  in   1840,  he  was 
quite  an  effective  speaker,  and  took  part  in  the  canvass  of  that 
year  for  Gen.  Harrison,  and  in  1844  for  Mr.  Clay.     In  1845,  he 
embraced  religion,  joined  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  and 
was  in  the  itinerancy  several  years,  and  became  a  presiding  elder 
in  the  Conference.     He  removed  to  Dallas  county,  and  in  1851 
was  a  candidate  for  Secretary  of  State,  and  was  defeated  by  V.  M. 
Benham,  Esq.     In  his  legislative  course,  Mr.  Hutchinson  was  im 
pulsive,  and  often  extreme  in  policy  and  in  action.     He  delighted 
in  getting  up  scenes  of  excitement  on  the  floor,  that  he  might  be 
the  principal  figure  on  such  occasions,  to  reach,  more  effectually, 
his  political  adversaries,  who,  conscious  of  their  strength  by  large 
majorities,  usually  kept  calm  and  united   in  accomplishing  their 
objects.     On  the  passage  of  the  General  Ticket  Bill,  in  1840,  he 
was  very  prominent  in  creating  the  noise  and  disorder  which  pre 
vailed  in  the  House.     He  no  doubt  saw  the  error  of  his  ways,  in 
this  particular,  and  by  a  life  of  piety  and   effort  to  reform  the 
morals  of  men,  made  the  best  atonement   in  his  power  for  the 
irregularities  of  the  past.     He  died  in  the  ministry  in  1809. 

15.  WILLIAM  M.  INGE  was  a  Representative  in  Congress,  from 
Tennessee,  in  1833-'35,  and  after  the  expiration  of  his  term  re 
moved  to  Surnter  county,  Alabama.     He  was  a  law  partner  of 
Robert  H.  Smith,  Esq.,  at  Lexington,  whose  first  and  second  wives 


184  Heminissences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

were  sisters  of  Col.  Inge.  The  latter  gentleman  represented 
Sumter  in  the  House,  in  1840,  and  took  a  commanding  position  in 
that  body  as  a  Whig.  The  former  possessed  a  large  person,  manly 
and  expressive  features,  and  a  strong,  rich  voice.  At  times  he 
was  truly  eloquent.  His  heart  was  all  kindness,  and  his  friend 
ship  all  fidelity.  He  married  Miss  Marr,  of  Tuskaloosa,  and 
Gen.  Crabb  married  one  of  his  sisters,  by  which  connection  he 
obtained  a  large  family  influence,  to  which  may  be  added  that  of 
his  brothers,  Dr.  Richard  Inge,  and  Major  Francis  Inge,  of  Greene 
county.  The  three  brothers  were  born  and  raised  in  North  Caro 
lina,  all  high-minded  and  honorable  gentlemen.  Col.  W.  M.  Inge 
died  in  middle  life,  in  1842,  of  a  disease  of  the  heart. 

16.  CHARLES  C.  LANGDON,  of  Mobile,  was  of  Northern  birth. 
After  he  came  to  Alabama,  he  was  a  merchant,  in  Perry  county, 
whence  he  removed  to  Mobile,  and  became  proprietor  and  editor 
of  the  "Advertiser,"  a  Whig  paper.  In  1839  and  in  1840,  he 
was  elected  a  member  of  the  House,  where  he  acted  a  leading 
part  in  the  debates  and  deliberations  of  that  body.  He  was  essen 
tially  a  strong  man,  and  his  power  was  felt  and  acknowledged  by 
all  who  served  with  him,  or  who  witnessed  his  course.  He  was 
frequently  elected  to  the  Legislature,  and  never  failed  to  sustain 
himself,  and  to  render  able  service  to  his  constituents  and  to  the 
people  of  the  State.  In  1851,  he  was  a  candidate  for  Congress 
and  was  defeated  by  the  Hon.  John  Bragg.  He  was  elected 
Mayor  of  Mobile,  in  which  capacity  he  proved  highly  useful  in 
promoting  the  health,  the  commerce,  the  prosperity,  and  wise  po 
lice  regulations  of  the  city.  In  1865,  he  was  elected  to  Congress, 
but  was  denied  his  seat  in  company  with  the  Representatives  of 
other  Southern  States,  who  were  under  the  ban  of  proscription 
during  the  will  of  Congress,  as  manifested  through  the  several  re 
construction  acts.  Mr.  Langdon  has  been  more  than  forty  years  a 
citizen  of  the  State,  and  is  thoroughly  identified  with  the  rights, 
feelings,  and  interests  of  the  people.  He  was  opposed  to  secession, 
and  deemed  the  measure  unwise  and  impolitic;  but,  after  the  ordi 
nance  was  passed,  he  maintained  his  allegiance  to  the  State  with 
the  ability  of  a  statesman  and  the  zeal  of  a  patriot,  throughout  the 
contest.  Before  the  war  he  established  a  place  called  Citronville, 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  185 

thirty  miles  from  Mobile,  on  the  Mobile  and  Ohio  Bailroad,  where 
he  is  engaged  in  horticulture,  and  in  the  raising  of  orchards  and 
vineyards,  to  supply  the  markets  with  delicious  fruits  and  wines, 
and  with  the  other  products  of  his  skill  and  enterprise.  He  lives 
in  honorable  retirement  from  the  cares  of  public  life,  with  a  bright 
record  in  former  days. 

17.  DR.  BLAKE  LITTLE  is  indebted  to  North  Carolina  for  his 
birth.     At  what  time  he  came  to  Alabama,  I  am  not  informed. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  House,  from  Sumter  county  in  1839, 
1840,  and  1841.     He  was  eminently  a  man  of  sense,  of  strong 
common  sense,  that  most  sure  and  valuable  faculty  of  the  human 
mind.     His  intellect  was  broad  and  penetrating,  could  easily  grasp 
difficult  questions,  and  peep  into  the  small  contrivances  of  party 
men  who  sometimes  introduced  measures  less  for  the  public  good 
than  for  their  own  personal  or  party  benefit.     He  loved  to  explode 
all  such  combinations,  and  to  defeat  all  such  selfish  ingenuity.     Dr. 
Little  was  a  planter,  and,  in  acquiring  his  profession,  he,  of  course, 
became  more  or  less  a  scholar,  capable  of  expressing  himself  in 
good  language.     In  this  he  was  always  successful,  and  never  failed 
to  command  the  attention  of  the  House  by  his  strong,  sledge 
hammer  arguments  and  practical  views  on  any  question.     He  was 
a  Whig,  and  a  few  years  after  his  legislative  service  terminated, 
he  removed  to  the  West.     I  have  not  heard  of  him  within  the 
last  twenty  years. 

18.  SOLOMON  McALPiN,  of  Greene,  was  a  planter  and  Jawyer 
who  came  to  the  House  in  1837,  1838,  1839,  and  1840,  and  was 
many  years  in  the  Senate.     He  possessed  a  large   fortune,  and 
took  the  world  fair  and  easy.     A  Whig  in  politics,  and  a  fair- 
minded,  honest  man,  he  pursued  his  convictions  of  duty  with  great 
firmness,  while  he  was  always  capable  of  assigning  a  reason  for  the 
faith  that  was  in  him.     He  was  a  working  member,  of  a  solid  judg 
ment,  and  always  ready  to  support  good  measures,  let  them  origin 
ate  either  in  Whig  or  Democratic  hands.     Mr.  McAlpin  had  a 
large  and  influential  family  connection.     He  died  during  the  war. 

19.  CHARLES  McLEMORE,  of  Chambers,  was  born  in  South 
Carolina.     My  first  knowledge  of  him  was  in  the  House,  in  1837, 


l86  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in 

and  in  1840  he  was  again  elected.  From  that  time  until  1853, 
lie  was  continuously  in  one  or  the  other  branch  of  the  Legislature. 
In  1851,  he  was  unanimously  elected  President  of  the  Senate. 
From  some  cause,  perhaps  on  the  Know-Nothing  question,  he  was 
defeated  for  the  Senate  by  Dr.  W.  H.  Bacon,  in  1855.  While  on 
a  visit  to  Arkansas,  to  look  after  lands  in  which  he  was  interested, 
Mr.  McLemore  died  at  Fort  Smith,  in  1859. 

His  nature  was  lofty,  and  his  gifts  brilliant.  Never  did  courtly 
knight  grace  a  tournament  with  more  skill  than  Mr.  McLemore 
displayed  on  the  floor,  in  a  skirmish,  or  in  a  pitched  battle,  hand- 
to-hand  and  shoulder-to-shoulder  with  an  adversary,  in  debate. 
His  soinu'tar  was  always  keen,  and  he  often  killed  his  antagonist 
by  so  rapid  a  thrust,  with  lightning  on  the  blade,  as  if  to  dazzle 
the  vision,  that  no  wound  was  perceived,  and  nothing  but  the 
catastrophe.  His  soul  was  all  fire  and  his  heart  all  magnanimity. 
An  instance  or  two  of  the  latter  may  be  given. 

On  the  first  day  of  the  session  of  1842,  Mr.  Kennedy,  of  Lau- 
dcrdale,  offered  a  resolution  reciting  that  the  action  of  the  Legis 
lature,  hitherto,  had  been,  in  a  great  measure  controlled,  in  refer 
ence  to  the  banks,  by  the  standing  Bank  Committees,  which  had 
been  "unfortunate,"  and,  as  a  remedy  in  future,  it  was  required  of 
each  member  of  the  House,  by  nine  o'clock  next  morning,  to  fur 
nish  the  Clerk  with  a  statement  of  his  liabilities  to  the  State  Bank 
and  branches,  as  principal  or  indorser;  and  from  said  list  the  Clerk 
to  annex  the  amount  to  each  name,  and  hand  it  to  the  Speaker,  by 
five  o'clock  P.M.,  who  was  requested  to  appoint  no  member  so  in 
debted,  on  any  of  the  Bank  Committees. 

Mr.  McLemore  took  the  floor  and  denounced  the  resolution  as 
insulting  to  members  who  happened  to  owe  the  banks  as  principals 
or  indorsees.  For  himself,  he  admitted  that  he  was  thus  indebted; 
but  he  was  not  willing  to  be  shorn  of  any  rights  or  privileges  in 
the  House  which  would  imply  that  he  was  incompetent  to  legislate 
honestly  on  bank  questions,  or  for  the  collection  of  bank  debts. 
His  notice  of  the  imputation  was  scathing — it  was  perfectly  anni 
hilating.  The  young  member  from  Lauderdale  quailed  under  the 
blow,  which  was,  indeed,  of  force  to  prostrate  a  giant  in  the  arena 
of  legislation.  A  heavy  weight  rested  upon  him,  and  lie  was 
comparatively  silent  and  downcast  during  the  balance  of  the 


Reminiscences  of  PMic  Men  in  Alabama.  187 

session.  The  day  before  that  fixed  for  adjournment,  Mr.  McLe- 
more  obtained  leave  of  absence  for  the  balance  of  the  session,  had 
settled  his  accounts  with  'the  treasury,  and  was  about  to  leave  for 
home.  After  this,  he  came  within  the  bar  of  the  House,  and 
stood  until  he  could  catch  the  eye  of  the  Speaker,  whom  he 
addressed  : 

"Before  quitting  this  Hall,  and  taking  leave  of  members  whom 
I  may  never  meet  again,  I  desire  to  make  amends  to  my  young 
friend  from  Lauderdale.  The  idea  that  I  have  done  him  injustice 
gives  me  pain ;  and  I  now  take  this  occasion  to  say  that  I  exceed 
ingly  regret  the  spirit  of  my  remarks,  though,  at  the  time,  I  be 
lieved  the  provocation  justified  them.  I  have  since  been  better 
informed,  and  have  learned  more  of  the  character  of  my  young 
friend.  I  cheerfully  withdraw  all  that  was  offensive,  and  am  ready 
to  meet  him  with  the  hand  of  reconciliation.  In  this  presence 
the  wound  was  inflicted,  and  here  I  desire  to  close  it." 

With  tears  streaming  down  his  face,  Mr.  Kennedy,  full  of  emo 
tion,  advanced  toward  Mr.  McLemore,  with  his  hand  extended, 
which  the  latter  cordially  grasped.  A  few  kind  words  were  spoken 
in  a  broken  voice,  while  all  the  members  of  the  House  were  deeply 
affected,  some  even  to  tears.  It  was  a  beautiful  scene,  and  reflected 
honor  on  both  parties,  especially  on  Mr.  McLcmore  for  the  noble 
atonement,  where  redress  was  impossible. 

Then  resuming  his  place,  Mr.  McLemore  said:  " There  is  still 
another  gentleman  on  this  floor,  between  whom  and  myself  there 
has  been  no  communication,  owing  to  certain  remarks  1  felt  it  my 
duty  to  make  at  the  last  session,  when  his  father  resigned  his  seat 
in  the  Senate  of  the  United  States,  and  imputed  Abolition  princi 
ples  to  the  Whigs  of  the  South.  I  refer  to  the  gentleman  from 
Madison,  (Mr.  Clay.)  I  honor  the  motives  which  induced  him  to 
consider  the  enemy  of  his  father  as  a  personal  enemy  of  his  own. 
What  I  said  may  have  been  too  violent,  and,  on  reflection,  I  think 
it  was  too  much  so,  from  a  comparatively  young  man,  to  a  gentle 
man  so  old  in  the  public  service  as  Gov.  Clay.  My  nature  forbids 
malice,  and  I  wish  to  place  myself  right  on  all  occasions  when  I 
have  done  injustice  to  others.  Will  the  gentleman  from  Madison 
accept  this  as  a  peace-offering,  and  let  the  past  be  forgotten?" 

Mr.  Clay  promptly  arose,  and  said  he  had  listened  to  the  manly 
explanation  of  the  gentleman  from  Chambers  witli  pleasure,  and 


188  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

could  not  refuse  to  grant  oblivion  to  the  occurrence  which  had 
been  referred  to,  though  the  injury,  for  the  time  being,  derived  pe 
culiar  aggravation,  as  it  was  levelled  at  one  whose  honor  was  ever 
dear  to  him.  Waiving  all  formalities,  he  met  the  advances  of  the 
gentleman  from  Chambers  in  the  same  spirit  of  generosity,  and 
here  he  was  willing  to  bury  all  unkind  recollections. 

Mr.  McLemore  and  Mr.  Clay  then  mutually  advanced,  and 
shook  each  other  cordially  by  the  hand.  The  members  and  the 
audience  in  the  galleries,  appeared  to  be  lighted  up  with  good 
feelings  at  such  an  exhibition.  It  was  truly  a  scene  long  to  be 
remembered  by  those  who  were  present.  It  added  a  fresh  laurel 
to  the  brow  of  the  noble  McLemore,  and  gives  lustre  to  his 
memory. 

20.  DK.  DAVID  MOOEE,  of  Madison,  came  from  "Virginia  to 
Huntsville,  where  he  settled  in  1817,  for  the  practice  of  his  pro 
fession.  He  entered  early  into  public  life,  and  served  many  ses 
sions  in  the  Legislature  previous  to  1840.  At  the  session  of  1841, 
he  was  elected  Speaker  of  the  House  by  a  unanimous  vote.  Gov. 
Clay  having  resigned  his  seat  in  the  Senate  of  the  United  States, 
Dr.  Moore  was  a  candidate  to  fill  the  vacancy.  On  the  24th  oi 
November,  1841,  the  two  Houses  proceeded  to  the  election  of 
Senator,  when  several  candidates  were  placed  in  nomination,  with 
the  following  result  of  two  ballotings : 

For  Arthur  P.  Bagby 59  66     (Democratic  nominee.) 

For  David  Hubbard 5  3 

For  David  Moore . . . 60  59 

For  Jack  Shackleford . . . .   4  1 

Gov.  Bagby  having  received  a  majority  of  all  the  votes,  was  de 
clared  duly  elected  Senator  in  the  Congress  of  the  United  States. 
A  few  days  thereafter,  an  article,  under  the  editorial  head,  ap 
peared  in  the  "Flag  of  the  Union,"  impeaching  the  fidelity  of 
Dr.  Moore  to  the  Democratic  party,  which  called  forth  a  written 
explanatian,  which  the  latter  gentleman  read  to  the  House  as  a 
matter  of  privilege.  He  did  not  ask  for  it  a  place  on  the  Journal, 
but  merely  gave  it  to  the  newspaper  press,  which  answered  his 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  189 

purpose  of  self-vindication.  In  1842  and  1843,  Dr.  Moore  was 
again  in  the  House,  and  the  latter  proved  to  be  his  last  session. 
His  health  was  then  failing,  and  about  1844  he  died. 

Dr.  Moore  possessed  abilities  and  culture  of  a  high  order,  and 
was  a  most  amiable  gentleman.  He  acquired  great  wealth,  had 
several  plantations  on  which  he  made  annually  about  1,000  bales 
of  cotton,  which  he  shipped  to  Liverpool.  By  this  means,  he  was 
enabled  to  furnish  sterling  exchange  to  nearly  the  whole  of  North 
Alabama  for  many  years.  He  maintained  a  generous  hospitality, 
and  shared,  largely,  the  confidence  of  the  people.  He  was  a  prom 
inent  member  of  the  Methodist  Church. 

In  his  day,  by  his  sagacity  and  prudence,  with  great  solidity  of 
character,  Dr.  Moore  justly  wielded  a  potent  influence  in  the  coun 
sels  of  the  State,  and  especially  among  his  fellow  citizens  of  North 
Alabama.  He  left  two  sons  and  two  daughters  to  inherit  his  spot 
less  name  and  large  fortune.  Both  sons  entered  the  service  of 
the  Confederate  States,  and  acted  bravely  in  the  Southern  cause. 
His  eldest  daughter  married  Colonel  R.  B.  Rhett,  Jr.,  the  dis 
tinguished  editor  of  the  "Charleston  Mercury,"  whose  able  pen 
and  chivalrous  sword  have  secured  him  a  lofty  position  in  the  an 
nals  of  the  South. 

21.  Dr.  WM.  B.  MOORES,  of  Marengo,  was  for  several  years  in 
the  House,  including  the  session  of  1840,  and  was  afterwards  four 
years  in  the  Senate.  His  reading  was  extensive,  his  mind  acute, 
and  his  disposition  was  restless.  He  was  very  fond  of  drawing 
nine  distinctions,  and  making  every  measure  conform  to  his  ideal 
standard  of  phraseology  and  meaning.  No  gentleman  could  form 
an  act  or  resolution  with  more  literal  accuracy.  The  least  depar 
ture  from  true  English,  or  from  the  harmony  of  style,  seemed  to 
give  him  pain.  In  debate,  he  was  always  hoard  with  attention 
and  respect,  because  he  was  always  sensible,  even  when  insisting 
upon  the  technicalities  and  precision  of  language,  for  which  the 
largest  portion  of  the  House  seemed  to  have  no  very  great  rever 
ence.  Dr.  Moores  justly  belonged  to  the  class  of  strong  men, 
intellectually,  and  his  physique  was  in  proportion,  stout  and  mas 
sive,  inclined  to  corpulency.  He  was  a  gentleman  of  courteous 
address,  and  finished  education.  After  his  service  in  the  Alabama 


190  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

Legislature,   he   removed    to   Texas   and   settled   in    Freestone 
county,  since  which  time  I  have  not  heard  of  him. 

22.  WILLIAM  WRIGHT  MORRIS,  of  Coosa,  was  a  lawyer,  and 
a  member  of  the  House  in  1837,  1838,  and  1840.  In  1841,  he 
was  a  candidate  for  Solicitor  of  the  8th  Judicial  District,  and  was 
defeated  after  several  ballotings,  of  which  the  following  is  a  state 
ment  : 

For  John  F.  Steiner 31  30  25  22 

For  Sampson  W.Harris..  37  37  39  41  53  52  60      70 

For  William  W.  Morris..  30  31  30  31  39  38  39      51 

For  Thomas  S.  Mays 24  24  26  27  32  32  21 

After  the  fourth  ballot,  the  name  of  Mr.  Steiner  was  with 
drawn;  and  after  the  seventh  ballot,  that  of  Mr.  Mays  was  also 
withdrawn.  Mr.  Harris  was  therefore  elected. 

In  1845,  Mr.  Morris  was  a  candidate  for  Chancellor  of  the 
Middle  Division,  and  was  again  defeated.  The  several  ballotings 
were: 

For  James  B.  Clarke 25  20  19  20  20 

For  William  W.  Morris 21  19  15  14  7 

For  Wylie  W.  Mason 41  38  51  56  65 

For  L.  B.  Robertson 36  47  37  30  23 

Mr.  Mason  having  received  a  majority  of  the  whole  was  de 
clared  duly  elected  Chancellor  of  the  Middle  Division  for  the 
term  prescribed  by  the  Constitution. 

While  serving  in  the  Legislature,  Mr.  Morris  would  often  raise 
special  committees,  of  which  he  was  of  course  made  chairman, 
and  then  would  report  to  suit  himself  in  the  length  of  the  docu 
ments  which  he  submitted  from  committee.  He  was  ambitious  of 
distinction,  and  plunged  rather  too  freely  into  the  debates  without 
having  mastered  the  facts,  and  without  mature  views  to  sustain 
himself.  By  this  means,  his  influence  in  the  House  was  consid 
erably  impaired,  although  he  was  at  all  times  regarded  as  a 
patient,  laborious  member,  willing  to  discharge  his  duty  faithfully 
to  the  public.  He  had  a  discriminating  mind  in  the  pursuit  of 
truth.  Had  he  been  less  ambitious,  or  thought  less  of  self- 
preferment,  his  efforts  would  have  been  attended,  probably,  with 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama^  191 

more  general  success.  In  1842,  Mr.  Hubbard  had  introduced 
the  white  basis  for  representation  in  the  Legislature,  excluding 
the  mixed  or  federal  apportionment,  of  three-fifths  of  the  slaves, 
which  is  the  basis  of  representation  in  Congress.  Hence,  on  this 
question,  North- Alabama,  where  few  slaves,  comparatively,  were 
held,  and  South-Alabama,  where  slaves  were  numerous,  were 
arrayed  against  each  other,  which  issue  entered  largely  into  the 
next  canvass.  In  1843,  Mr.  Morris  was  a  candidate  for  the  Sen 
ate,  and  espoused  the  mixed  basis,  in  opposition  to  W.  L.  Yancey, 
Esq.,  who  supported  the  white  basis,  in  which  contest  Mr.  Yancey 
was  successful.  This  defeat,  and  his  subsequent  one  ibr  Chancel 
lor,  no  doubt  embittered  the  feelings  of  Mr.  Morris,  as  he  felt  that 
his  influence  with  the  people  had  departed,  itnd  that  they  had  no 
further  use  for  his  services  in  the  public  councils.  In  a  few  years 
thereafter  he  removed  to  Texas,  where  he  engaged  in  the  prac 
tice  of  the  law,  and  was  elected  Judge  of  the  Circuit  Court. 
Those  who  knew  Mr.  Morris  had  great  confidence  in  the  rectitude 
of  his  character.  When  he  left  Alabama,  he  was  a  bachelor,  and 
circumstances  made  it  necessary,  for  him  to  provide  for  a  number 
of  relatives,  who  looked  to  him  as  their  natural  protector.  His 
conduct  in  this  regard  has  been  very  honorable. 

23.  WILLIAM  M.  MURPHY,  of  Greene,  belonged  to  the  legal 
profession,  and  was  a  partner  of  William  J.  Vandegraff,  Esq., 
formerly  of  Kentucky,  a  gentleman  of  profound  acquirements. 
Mr.  Murphy's  first  entrance  on  public  life  was  at  the  session  of 
1840,  and  he  at  once  established  a  leading  character  among  the 
distinguished  members  of  the  House.  His  logical  power  in 
debate  was  a  match  for  that  of  Mr.  Saunders  in  all  the  political 
discussions  involving  the  antagonism  of  Whig  and  Democratic 
policy.  No  higher  compliment  could  be  paid  to  his  intellect  than 
to  place  him  in  this  relation  to  the  acknowledged  leader  of  the 

JL  O 

Democratic  party  in  the  House.  In  1847,  Mr.  Murphy  was  a 
candidate  for  Congress,  and,  after  an  able  canvass  with  his  com 
petitor  (cousin),  Samuel  W.  Inge,  Esq.,  the  latter  gained  the  vic 
tory  by  small  odds.  In  1849-51  he  was  in  the  Senate,  and  after 
wards  removed  to  Texas,  but  soon  returned  to  Alabama,  where  he 
died,  at  his  residence  in  Selma,  in  1856.  If  a  class  of  intellectual 


192  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

giants  at  any  time  figured  in  the  Legislature,  Mr.  Murphy 
should  be  enrolled  on  the  list,  among  the  first  in  moral  courage 
and  high-toned  generosity. 

WILLIAM  H.  NORRIS,  of  Dallas,  was  a  planter  when  he  came 
to  the  House  in  1840,  and  for  several  years  thereafter  he  served 
in  the  Senate.  In  politics,  he  was  a  Whig  of  considerable  influ 
ence,  and  a  useful  member  of  the  Legislature,  always  aiming  at 
the  public  good,  instead  of  any  selfish  schemes.  In  middle  life, 
he  studied  law,  and  removed  to  Brazil  about  1865. 

DANIEL  H.  NORWOOD,  of  Dallas,  a  planter  and  a  Whig,  was 
elected  to  the  House  in  1839  and  1840.  He  had  a  fine  literary 
taste,  and  was  a  distinguished  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church.  In  affluent  circumstances,  he  had  always  upon  the 
shelves  of  his  library,  and  upon  his  center-table,  the  choicest  books 
and  publications.  It  has  been  my  good  fortune  to  see  him  in  his 
own  house,  and  to  partake  of  his  liberal  hospitalities.  He  died 
in  1843,  in  the  meridian  of  life,  and  of  his  usefulness. 

26.  HARDIN  PERKINS,  of  Tuskaloosa,  was  a  native  of  Ten 
nessee.     At  an  early  day  he  came  into  public  life  in  Alabama, 
and  was  for  several  years  State  Treasurer,  and  subsequently  Pres 
ident  of  the  State  Bank.     In  1840,  he  was  a  member  of  the 
House,  and  for  many  sessions  thereafter,  including  1847,  1849, 
and  1850,  soon  after  which  he  died.     That  excellent  prelate,  the 
late  Bishop  Cobbs,  of  the  Episcopal  Church,  was  with  Maj.  Per 
kins  in  his  last  hours,  and  it  is  hoped  the  prayers  and  counsels  of 
so  good  a  man  had  a  proper  influence  on  his  heart;  for,  in  seasons 
of  health,  Maj.  Perkins  seemed  to  manifest  no  concern  whatever 
for  his  spiritual  condition,  or  for  the  responsibilities  of  a  future 
life.     His  example,  it  is  admitted  with  regret,  was  in  no  wise  sin 
gular  in  this  regard;  for  most  of  our  public  men,  instead  of  being 
selected  for  high  moral  virtue,  seem  to  repudiate  all  qualifications 
of  this  nature. 

27.  THOMAS  McCARROLL  PRINCE,  of  Mobile,  was  a  merchant, 
formerly  of  the  commission  house  of  Prince  &  Garrett,  and  was 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  193 

elected  to  the  House  in  1840,  and  again  in  1845.  After  his  mar 
riage  with  a  lady  in  Choctaw,  he  was  returned  to  the  Senate  from 
that  county  in  1855.  At  an  early  day  he  spent  a  year  or  two  in 
Liverpool,  as  a  member  of  a  large  commercial  house  there,  for 
the  transaction  of  American  business,  pursuant  to  the  recommend 
ations  of  a  convention  of  Southern  planters  and  merchants,  held 
in  the  city  of  Macon,  Georgia,  in  1839,  so  as  to  obtain  advances 
on  the  cotton  crop,  through  the  agency  of  post  notes,  and  to  secure 
good  prices  for  the  Southern  staple  by  holding  the  stock  until  it 
was  demanded  for  immediate  consumption  by  spinners.  In  this 
way  it  was  hoped  that  combinations  to  control  the  cotton  market 
for  the  benefit  of  speculators  might  be  prevented,  and  that  the 
natural  channels  of  the  cotton  trade  would  be  cleared  of  any  arti 
ficial  obstruction.  This,  at  least,  was  the  principal  idea  of  the 
Macon  Convention,  supported  by  Gen.  James  Hamilton,  of  South 
Carolina,  and  other  distinguished  citizens,  who  issued  an  address 
to  this  effect.  Among  the  agencies  in  Europe  for  the  sale  of 
American  cotton,  and  for  carrying  out  the  plan  agreed  upon,  was 
the  house  of  Fontaine,  Prince  &  Co.,  of  Liverpool. 

At  this  point  an  anecdote  may  be  related.  Mr.  Prince,  a  portly, 
fine-looking  gentleman,  whose  figure  and  striking  appearance 
would  command  attention  anywhere,  had  entered  his  name  at  the 
hotel  in  Liverpool  as  "  Thomas  McCarroll  Prince  of  Mobile,  Ala 
bama."  It  was  soon  whispered  in  the  city  that  the  Prince  of 
Mobile  had  arrived  from  America,  and  had  taken  lodgings  at  a 
particular  hotel.  Large  crowds  collected  to  see  the  noble  stran 
ger  who,  unconcious  of  the  admiration,  bore  himself  as  became  a 
Prince,  as  he  was.  by  nature's  patent  of  nobility. 

While  in  the  Legislature,  Mr.  Prince  was  a  Whig,  and  a  very 
social,  pleasant  gentleman,  of  considerable  business  tact.  He 
occasionally  made  speeches,  which  were  always  in  good  taste. 
He  is  a  native  of  North  Carolina,  and  a  graduate  of  the  Univer 
sity  of  that  State,  of  the  class  of  1827.  He  is  now  a  planter  in 
Choctaw  county,  still  a  Prince  by  nature  as  by  name.  [Since  this 
notice  was  written,  this  worthy  gentleman  died,  October  16, 1871.] 

28.  BENJAMIN  REYNOLDS,  of  Franklin  county,  was  a  member 
of  the  Tennessee  Legislature  in  1827;  served  in  the  army  under 
13 


194  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

Gen.  Jackson  at  the  battle  of  the  Horse  Shoe,  and  assisted  to  bury 
Major  Lemuel  P.  Montgomery,  who  was  killed  in  the  first  charge. 
(The  city  of  Montgomery  was  named  in  honor  of  this  gallant  offi 
cer.)  President  Jackson  appointed  Mr.  Reynolds,  Agent  of  the 
Chickasaw  Indians,  and  after  holding  this  office,  he  removed  to 
Alabama,  and  settled  in  Franklin  county.  He  was  elected  to  the 
House  in  1839  and  in  1840.  He  was  large  and  portly  in  person, 
and  a  Democrat  in  politics.  On  several  occasions  he  manifested  a 
liberality  of  feeling  which  secured  him  the  respect  of  all.  He 
was  a  man  of  good  sense,  and  social  in  his  disposition.  In  a  few 
years  after  retiring  from  the  Legislature,  he  died  at  a  good  old 
age,  leaving  the  prestige  of  a  spotless  name  to  his  descendants. 

29.  SAMUEL  F.  RICE,  of  Talladega,  was  a  native  of  South  Car 
olina,  and  a  graduate  of  Columbia  College,  with  large  and  influ 
ential  family  connections.  He  settled  in  the  town  of  Talladega 
for  the  practice  of  the  law,  and  was  elected  to  the  House  in  1840 
and  1841.  He  was  among  the  sharpest  debaters  on  the  floor, 
skilled  in  making  and  parrying  thrusts. 

The  election  of  Mr.  Rice  as  State  Printer,  in  1841,  may  be 
accounted  for  by  his  connection  with  the  press  for  many  years,  as 
editor  of  the  "  Watchtower,"  a  Democratic  paper  published  by 
him  in  the  town  of  Talladega. 

In  1845,  he  was  nominated  for  Congress,  and  was  beaten  by 
Gen.  McConnell.  In  the  Presidential  campaign  of  1848,  Mr. 
Rice  espoused  the  cause  of  Gen.  Taylor,  and  was  on  the  Taylor 
Electoral  Ticket  in  opposition  to  Gen  Cass.  When  the  Southern 
Rights  .party  was  formed  in  1851,  he  united  with  it,  and  was  again 
a  candidate  for  Congress,  and  was  defeated  by  the  Hon.  Alexan 
der  White.  Though  disappointed  in  his  aspirations  for  Congress, 
he  was  destined  to  the  highest  judicial  honors  of  the  State,  as,  in 
1853,  he  was  elected  a  Judge  of  the  Supreme  Court,  and  then 
settled  in  Montgomery.  After  his  judicial  term  expired,  he  was, 
in  1859,  elected  to  the  House  from  Montgomery  county,  and  in 
1861  he  was  returned  to  the  Senate  for  the  term  of  four  years. 

The  career  of  Mr.  Rice,  though  diversified  as  a  politician,  and 
marked  by  strange  affiliations,  showing  want  of  stability,  has,  to  a 
considerable  extent,  been  successful.  In  the  Legislature  he 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  195 

displayed  traits  of  character,  and  gave  evidence  of  ability,  which 
attested  powerful  gifts  in  debate,  being  remarkably  astute  for 
aggression,  and  without  a  rival  in  repartee.  Many  instances  of 
the  kind  might  be  given,  if  space  permitted.  His  record  is  pecu 
liar,  abounding  in  lights  and  shadows  to  quite  a  romantic  extent, 
which  may  be  thus  summed  up: 

A  college  graduate;  a  good  lawyer;  an  efficient  editor;  a  mem 
ber  of  the  Legislature;  State  Printer;  a  Democrat,  a  Taylor  man, 
and  a  Southern  Rights  man;  a  Know-Nothing  in  1855;  twice  a 
candidate  for  Congress;  a  Judge  of  the  Supreme  Court;  a  Seces 
sionist  in  1861,  and  a  Republican  in  1870.  Through  all  these 
phases  of  experience,  the  talents,  wit  and  social  qualities  of  Mr. 
Rice,  his  broad  humor,  his  pungent  criticisms  of  character,  and 
that  fertility  of  resource  so  perfectly  original,  have  drawn  around 
him  many  friends  who,  in  their  attachment,  had  rather  be  blind 
to  his  imperfections  than  to  arraign  the  integrity  of  his  motives. 
On  the  latter  I  presume  not  to  sit  in  judgment.  For  these  he  is 
accountable  to  a  higher  tribunal,  and  the  opinions  of  man  should 
always  be  tempered  with  charity.  Mr.  Rice  was  for  a  number  of 
years  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 

30.  ORAN  M.  ROBERTS,  of  St.  Clair,  was  a  graduate  of  the  Uni 
versity  of  Alabama,  and  early  admitted  to  the  bar.     He  served 
in  the  House  in  1840,  his  only  session,  during  which  he  was  modest 
and  unpretending,  though  his  talents  were  manifest.     In  a  few 
years  he  removed  to  Texas,  where  he  was  elected  a  Judge  of  the 
Supreme  Court.     He  was  President  of  the  Secession  Convention, 
in  1861,  and,  in  1865,  was  elected  a  Senator  in  the  United  States 
Congress,  but  never  took  his  seat,  owing  to  the  rigor  of  the  recon 
struction  acts.     He  was  a  native  of  Alabama,  and  his  record  has 
reflected  honor,  not  only  on  himself,  but  on  the  State  which  gave 
him  birth. 

31.  JAMES  E.  SAUNDERS,  of  Lawrence,  was  a  member  of  the 
Legislature  previous  to  1840,  when  he  was  again  elected  to  the 
House,  and  made  Chairman  of  the  Judiciary  Committee.     In  the 
first  discussion  which  arose  relative  to  the  election  of  United  States 
Senator,  the  rank  assigned  him,  by  general  consent,  was.  that  of 


196  Reminissences  of  PMiG  Men  in  Alabama. 

leader  on  the  Democratic  side.  He  was  calm  as  a  May  morning, 
and  cold  as  an  icicle,  never  permitting  the  exciting  scenes  around 
him  to  ruffle  the  perfect  equanimity  of  his  temper.  His  thoughts 
appeared  so  well  arranged,  and  his  facts  so  connected,  that  he 
seemed  only  to  make  a  statement  in  order  to  carry  his  point  by  the 
force  of  deduction.  He  bore  himself  with  so  much  ease,  and  yet 
with  such  force  in  debate,  that  while  he  astonished  all  by  the 
strength  of  his  logic,  it  seemed  that  he  held  himself  back,  and 
never  darted  his  heaviest  bolts.  Congress  would  have  been  a 
more  suitable  arena  for  the  exhibition  of  his  true  character  and 
his  eminent  abilities.  The  laurels  he  gained  never  withered;  but 
each  successive  performance  added  lustre  to  his  victories. 

Mr.  Saunders  was,  for  many  years  a  Trustee  of  the  University, 
and  contributed  to  that  change  of  administration  which  took  place 
in  1837,  when  the  Eev.  Alva  Woods  retired  from  the  Presidency, 
and  was  succeeded  by  the  Rev.  Basil  Manly,  as  the  head  of  the 
institution.  In  1842,  he  changed  his  residence  to  Mobile,  where 
he  established  himself  in  the  commission  business,  as  a  member  of 
the  firm  of  Bradford  &  Saunders.  In  1845,  Mr.  Polk  appointed 
him  Collector  of  the  port  of  Mobile,  which  office  he  held  four 
years.  In  1852,  he  served  on  the  Electoral  Ticket  which  cast  the 
vote  of  Alabama  for  Pierce  and  King.  He  possessed  a  large  for 
tune,  having  married  the  daughter  of  Robert  Watkins,  Esq., 
formerly  of  Georgia.  Mr.  Saunders  dispensed  a  liberal  hospitality, 
and  gave  freely  of  his  wealth  to  charitable  objects  and  to  the  sup 
port  of  the  ministry.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  and  has  faithfully  discharged  the  duties  imposed  by  that 
relation.  He  has  acted  well  his  part  as  a  Christian  philosopher, 
and  is  now  enjoying  that  retirement  and  universal  respect  so  well 
merited  by  his  spotless  character. 

32.  LUKE  R.  SIMMONS,*  of  Pike,  served  in  the  Legislature  of 
North  Carolina  before  his  removal  to  Alabama,  where,  in  1837,  he 
was  first  elected  to  the  House,  and  continued  until  the  session  of 
1841;  always  a  Whig  in  politics,  but  ever  faithful  to  the  interests 

*Mr.  Simmons  was  in  the  House  of  Commons  in  1821,  1824,  1825, 1826,  1827, 
1828,  and  in  1829,  and  in  the  Senate  of  North  Carolina,  from  Columbus  county,  in 
J830,  1831,  1832,  and  1833, 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  197 

of  the  people,  without  regard  to  party  lines.  He  was  a  gentleman 
of  great  moral  worth,  and  though  a  plain  farmer,  without  any  pre 
tensions  to  literature,  he  had  a  sensible  view  of  things,  and  could 
express  himself  to  advantage.  When  incorporating  the  county-site 
of  Pike,  he  called  it  Troy,  as  a  tribute  to  Alexander  Troy,  Esq., 
his  old  competitor  for  the  Legislature  of  North  Carolina,  the  father 
of  Col.  D.  S.  Troy,  of  Montgomery,  son-in-law  of  Gov.  Watts. 

33.  HENRY  D.  SMITH,  of  Lauderdale,  came  from  North  Caro 
lina,  and,  when  quite  young,  was  elected  to  the  House  in  1839, 
and  was  reflected  at  various  times  until  1859-'60.     He  was  an 
intelligent  planter,  and  frequently  shared  in  the  debates.     His 
manner  was  somewhat  dictatorial  and  petulant,  as  if  he  desired  to 
have  things  exactly  after  his  own  model.     He  was  by  no  means 
popular  among  his  fellow-members,  though  he  had  good  sense,  and 
was  attentive  to  the  business  of  the  House.     Few  could  please 
him,  and  he  was  never  backward  in  finding  fault,  and  impugning 
the  motives  of  others.     He  succeeded  in  acquiring  a  large  prop 
erty,  and  was  a  delegate  to  the  Charleston  and  Baltimore  Conven 
tions  in  1860,  and  followed  the  extreme  course  of  Mr.  Yancey. 
Mr.  Smith  died  in  1869. 

34.  HON.  SAMUEL  WALKER,  of  Madison,  was  a  native  of  South 
Carolina,  and  after  his  removal  to  Alabama  was  often  a  member 
of  the  House.     He  was  elected  Speaker  at  the  session  of  1840; 
but,  his  health  failing,  he  resigned  the  Chair  in  a  few  weeks,  and 
R.  A.  Baker,  Esq.,  was  elected  Speaker  in  his  place.     He  was  a 
good  man  and  was  universally  respected.     When  he  resigned  the 
Speakership,  a  unanimous  vote  of  thanks  was  tendered  him  by  the 
House,  on  motion  of  ]\Jr.  Young,  who  had  been  his  competitor  for 
the  Chair.     In  a  short  time  thereafter  Mr.  Walker  died. 

35.  THOMAS  A.  WALKER,  of  Bcnton,  was  raised  in  Shelby 
county,  and  completed  his  education  at  the  University  of  Alabama. 
In  1835,  he  was  elected  Solicitor  of  the  Ninth  Judicial  Circuit, 
and  was  holding  that  office  when  he  was  elected  to  the  House,  in 
1839.     When  the  question  of  eligibility  was  decided,  he  and  sev 
eral  other  members,  who  labored  under  similar  disqualifications, 


198  Iteminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

lost  their  seats.  When  a  new  election  was  ordered  for  his  county 
he  returned  home,  and  was  reflected,  and  again  took  his  seat  two 
days  before  adjournment.  He  continued  to  serve  in  the  House 
until  1842,  when  he  was  elected  to  the  Senate  for  a  term  of  three 
years.  In  1847,  the  Legislature  elected  him  Judge  of  the  Circuit 
Court,  for  a  term  of  six  years ;  and,  after  the  election  was  trans 
ferred  to  the  people,  he  was  elected  in  1851,  and  defeated  for  the 
same  office,  by  Mr.  Hale,  in  1857. 

About  the  year  1854,  Judge  Walker  was  elected  President  of 
the  Tennessee  and  Selma  Railroad  Company,  the  affairs  of  which 
he  managed  well,  and  displayed  great  skill  in  the  administration 
of  its  finances,  much  to  the  benefit  of  the  stockholders.  In  1859, 
he  was  again  elected  to  the  Senate,  and  again  in  1863,  when  he 
was  chosen  President  of  the  Senate,  which  office  he  held  two  years. 
Since  the  war,  he  has  been  disfranchised  in  the  matter  of  holding 
office.  He  owns  a  large  property,  and  dispenses  a  very  cordial 
and  generous  hospitality,  in  which  he  is  gracefully  aided  by  his 
accomplished  wife,  who,  before  her  marriage,  was  Miss  Sarah 
McGee.  They  have  no  children. 

The  different  public  situations  filled  by  Judge  Walker  is  the 
highest  evidence  of  intellectual  capacity,  of  public  usefulness  and 
social  worth.  He  has  worked  his  way  to  high  places,  and  now, 
without  the  marks  of  time  on  his  brow,  he  is  active  and  cheerful 
in  his  retirement,  with  a  past  history  to  assure  him  of  his  country's 
favor. 

36.  TANDY  W.  WALKER,  of  Lawrence,  came  to  the  House  in 
1838,  and  continued  to  serve  in  that  body,  or  in  the  Senate,  until 
1845.  He  was  quite  convivial,  and  loved  the  society  of  boon  com 
panions.  No  gentleman  was  personally  regarded  with  more  favor. 
His  heart  was  formed  for  friendship,  and  the  more  its  emotions  of 
that  kind  were  indulged,  the  stronger  the  ties  which  followed. 
He  frequently  shared  in  the  debates,  with  a  vigor  of  mind  and  a 
degree  of  culture  which  did  him  credit.  While  passing  his  Win 
ters  at  Tuskaloosa  he  was  much  in  society,  and  being  a  widower 
in  the  zenith  of  life,  he  was  quite  attentive  to  the  ladies,  who 
seemed  to  be  fond  of  his  company.  Among  the  tender  associations 
which  connect  the  mind  with  the  old  Capitol,  and  with  the  pleasant 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  199 

ant  scenes  of  other  days,  nothing  is  more  natural,  nothing  more 
prominent  than  the  genial  face  and  merry  laugh  of  Dr.  Tandy 
Walker.  He  was  a  general  favorite,  even  among  the  Whigs, 
when  party  spirit  ran  highest  in  1840,  and  1844.  The  social  en 
joyments  afforded  by  such  a  man  can  never  be  forgotten  by  old 
friends.  And  yet,  after  all,  it  is  much  to  lamented  that  the  days 
of  Dr.  Tandy  (as  \ve  used  to  call  him,  and  he  loved  to  be  so 
called)  were  shortened  by  the  same  deceptive,  fatal,  agent  which 
deprived  Scotland  of  her  idol  poet,  Burns,  at  the  age  of  thirty- 
seven  years.  Let  the  warning  be  heard  in  time  to  resist  the 
temptation  which  has  brought  so  much  ruin  upon  the  world. 

37.  EUSHA  YOUNG,  of  Greene,  was  formerly  a  professor  in  the 
University  of  North  Carolina,  at  Chapel  Hill.  He  was  the  Whig 
candidate  for  Congress  in  the  Tuskaloosa  District  in  1 837,  and  was 
defeated  by  the  Hon.  Joab  Lawler,  who  died  at  Washington  City, 
during  his  term  of  service.  In  1840,  Mr.  Young  was  elected  to 
the  Legislature,  and  was  among  the  most  prominent  members  of 
the  House.  He  was  thoroughly  versed  in  classical  literature,  and 
it  is  not  too  much  to  say  that  he  was,  in  this  respect,  far  in  advance 
of  his  fellow  members  who  figured  in  debate.  His  diction  was 
pure,  and  his  arguments  were  often  adorned  by  apt  quotations 
from  the  standard  authors  of  antiquity,  and  from  the  traditions  of 
mythology.  His  voice  was  soft  and  pleasant,  and  showed  a  high 
degree  of  culture  in  its  management,  by  which  means  his  delivery 
\vas  at  all  times  refreshing  to  the  ear  and  to  the  mind  of  listeners. 
His  person,  also,  was  much  in  his  favor;  rather  above  the  medium 
height,  erect  and  well  proportioned ;  added  to  which  there  was  a 
natural  dignity  that  completed  the  physical  man.  With  these  su 
perior  qualifications,  perfectly  self-possessed,  yet  always  animated, 
Mr.  Young  never  failed  to  command  the  attention  of  the  House. 
In  parliamentary  decorum,  and  in  the  knowledge  of  the  rules  of 
the  House,  he  was  very  proficient,  and  would  have  made  a  first- 
rate  presiding  officer,  for  which  position  he  was  supported  by  his 
political  friends  on  the  first  day  of  the  session,  who  cast  for  him 
41  votes,  their  entire  strength  in  the  House,  against  49  votes  from 
the  Democrats,  who  elected  Samuel  Walker,  Esq.,  Speaker.  The 
strictness  of  party  organization,  and  the  spirit  of  the  time3  seemed 


200  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

to  require  the  sacrifice  of  the  very  best  man  of  the  House,  who, 
above  all  others,  would  have  graced  the  chair  in  a  manner  never 
excelled  since  the  days  of  Col.  James  W.  McClung,  as  a  presiding 
officer.  When  called  to  the  chair  temporarily,  as  he  frequently 
was,  when  the  House  was  in  Committee  of  the  Whole,  Mr.  Young 
displayed  his  superior  skill  in  the  forms  of  proceeding,  and  his 
example  left  the  impression  on  the  majority,  which  all  must  have 
shared,  that  whatever  was  gained  by  party  tactics  and  for  party 
objects,  in  filling  the  chair,  was  lost  in  administrative  force. 

At  the  called  session  of  1841,  when  Gov.  Bagby  convened  the 
Legislature  to  provide  for  an  election  of  Representatives  in  Con 
gress,  to  serve  at  the  extra  session  which  President  Harrison  had 
ordered  for  May,  an  unfriendly  attack,  in  the  Governor's  message, 
was  made  on  Mr.  Webster,  the  Secretary  of  State,  as  hostile  to  the 
institutions  of  the  South.  Mr.  Young  took  the  floor  in  defense  of 
the  eminent  statesman  who  had  been  assailed.  The  speech  was 
a  beautiful  specimen  of  parliamentary  eloquence.  The  report  of 
it  was  copied  in  some  of  the  New  England  papers,  and  was  much 
admired  by  the  public. 

In  1843,  Mr.  Young  was  again  the  Whig  candidate  for  Con 
gress  in  opposition  to  Mr.  Payne.  The  district  was  warmly  can 
vassed  by  the  able  competitors,  and  the  result  was  adverse  to  Mr. 
Young,  who,  soon  thereafter,  removed  to  the  county  of  Marengo, 
where  he  had  a  large  family  (the  Strudwicks)  connection  in  whose 
society  he  sought  happiness,  while  he  and  they  improved  respect 
ively  the  large  planting  interests  which  each  had  founded.  Mr. 
Young  died  of  cancer,  about  the  year  1850.  He  was  a  gifted  and 
finished  gentleman  in  the  highest  sense  of  these  terms.  Had  he 
belonged  to  the  political  majority  in  Alabama,  his  experience  in 
public  life  would,  no  doubt,  have  been  more  to  the  fullfilment  of 
his  laudable  ambition,  and  to  his  aims  for  the  public  good,  which 
he  never  ceased  to  cherish,  even  when  galled  by  defeat.  Those 
who  knew  him  personally  will  never  forget,  and  will  never  cease 
to  admire,  his  exalted  worth  and  high  literary  cultivation. 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  201 


CHAPTER  XII. 

Administration  of  Gov.  Bagby — Personal  History. 

In  the  Spring  of  1837  occurred  the  great  revulsion  throughout 
the  United  States,  when  the  Banks  generally,  North  and  South, 
suspended  specie  payments.  Merchants,  manufacturers,  planters, 
and  all  occupations  requiring  money  to  prosecute  them  to  advan 
tage,  were  swept  overboard,  or  greatly  staggered  by  the  storm. 
Few  escaped.  In  Alabama  the  pressure  was  so  decided  that  Gov. 
Clay  called  the  Legislature  together  in  extra  session,  in  May,  to 
devise  some  measure  of  relief  to  the  people.  Then  it  was  that  a 
loan  of  $5,000,000  on  State  bonds  was  authorized,  to  be  divided 
among  the  State  Bank  and  Branches,  and  the  amount  to  be  issued 
iu  bank  notes  for  circulation.  Those  persons  who  were  most  in 
danger  from  judgments  and  executions  were  preferred  in  dis 
counts,  on  their  executing  the  proper  securities  to  the  Bank.  A 
minute  history  of  these  proceedings  is  not  necessary  here,  as  they 
have  been  referred  to  in  another  part  of  this  volume.  As  evi 
dence  of  the  general  distress  throughout  the  Union,  President 
VanBuren  had  issued  his  proclamation  calling  Congress  together 
in  September,  to  provide  for  the  emergency. 

At  this  juncture  of  affairs — caused  by  the  former  expansion  of 
Bank  credits,  and  the  consequent  ease  in  the  currency,  followed 
by  the  curtailment  which  was  more  or  less  increased  by  the  with 
drawal  of  the  Government  deposits  from  the  Bank  of  the  United 
States,  and  the  issuing  of  the  specie  circular  of  President  Jack 
son,  in  1836,  requiring  all  payments  for  the  public  lands  to  be 
made  in  coin — it  was  the  fortune  of  the  Hon.  Arthur  P.  Bagby  to 
be  elected  Governor  of  Alabama.  When  he  was  installed  in 
office,  on  the  21st  day  of  November,  1837,  he  found  the  State, 
and  all  classes  of  the  people,  laboring  under  the  depression  caused 
by  the  financial  difficulties  which  prevailed. 

His  first  annual  message  to  the  Legislature  was  transmitted  by 
Mr.  Gooch,  his  Secretary,  on  the  3d  day  of  December,  1838.  It 
fills  nine  closely  printed  pages  of  the  House  Journal.  An  abstract 
of  some  of  the  points  and  recommendations  is  here  given : 

1.  He  refers  with  satisfaction  to  the  fact  that  the  last  of  the 
Indian  tribes  in  Alabama  have  been  removed  to  Territories  pro 
vided  for  them  by  the  United  States  Government,  west  of  the 
Mississippi. 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

2.  The  preemption  laws  of  Congress,  enabling  people  of  lim 
ited  means  to  secure  permanent  homes,  is  referred  to  with  com 
mendation. 

3.  In  regard  to  Indian  troubles,  and  the  last  drama  of  the  war, 
he  speaks  of  having  organized  1,500  volunteers,  equally  divided 
under  the  command  of  Major-Generals  Patteson  and  Philpot,  to 
be  in  readiness  to  act,  if  necessary,  in  the  negotiations  between 
the  Secretary  of  War,  and  certain  chiefs  of  the  Cherokee  Nation. 

4.  He  refers  to  the  continuance  of  the  war  with  the  Seminolcs, 
and  the  losses  thereby  to  the  people  of  Dale  county.     Col.  Wil 
liam  Pouncy  to  raise  a  company  of  Mounted  Rangers  for  their 
defense.     The  reimbursement  of  all  expenses   by  the  General 
Government  is  insisted  upon,  and  the  appointment  of  a  commis 
sioner  for  that  purpose  is  recommended. 

5.  Under  the  act  of  23d  December,  1837,  John  B.  NorriSy  of 
Mobile;  Thomas  Owen,  of  Tuskaloosa,  and  Thomas  Brandon,  of 
Huntsville,  had  been  appointed  Commissioners  to  examine  the 
State  Bank  and  Branches. 

6.  He  advises  legislation  in  regard  to  the  election  of  Directors, 
the  accommodations  granted  them,  an  increase  of  coin  in  the 
vaults  in  proportion  to  the  circulation,  a  curtailment  of  the  long 
time  granted  to   borrowers,  and   the   unreasonably  large   sums 
loaned  to  individuals. 

7.  The  attempt  by  a  State  institution,  "styled  the  Bank  of  the 
United   States,  chartered  by  Pennsylvania,"  to  monopolize  ex 
changes,  and  to  control  the  currency,  is  denounced. 

9.  Alexander  Pope,  of  Liverpool,  had  been  appointed  one  of 
the  agents  to  sell  the  bonds  of  the  State,  issued  in  sums  of  X200 
each. 

10.  He  refers  to  certain  combinations  among  individuals  of  the 
State  to  exercise  the  privilege  of  banking,  which  he  disapproved. 
Instructions  had  been  given  to  two  Solicitors  to  prosecute  such 
offenders  before  the  Circuit  Court.     Of  the  informations  filed, 
one  had  been  continued  for  the  want  of  time,  and  the  other  dis 
missed  by  the  presiding  Judge,  on  the  ground  that  there  was  no 
law  to  prohibit  the  exercise  of  the  banking  franchise. 

11.  He  disapproves  of  the  advances  made  on  cotton  by  the 
State  Bank,  under  the  regulations  of  29th  August,  as  an  assump 
tion  of  power. 

13.  As  unwarranted  by  the  charter,  he  condemns  the  arrange 
ment  made  between  the  Branch  Bank  at  Montgomery,  and  the 
Montgomery  and  West-Point  Railroad  Company. 

14.  Vacancies  in  the  Faculty  of  the  University  had  been  filled 
by  the  election  of  Samuel  H.  Stafford,  of  South  Carolina,  to  the 
chair  of  Ancient  Languages;  F.  A.  P.  Barnard,  of  New  York, 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  203 

to  the  chair  of  Mathematics,  and  Horace  S.  Pratt,  of  Georgia,  to 
the  Department  of  English  Literature. 

15.  A  careful  revision  of  the  Penal  Code,  and  the  establish 
ment  of  a  Penitentiary,  is  recommended.     He  suggests  the  bene 
fit,  if  practicable,  of  passing  laws  to  suppress  intemperance,  as  the 
greatest  "of  all  the  evils  that  beset  and  waylay  the  path  of  civil 
ized  society." 

16.  Under  the  23d  section  of  the  act  of  23d  December,  the 
Hon.  Reuben  Saffpld,  of  Dallas,  William  IT.  Robertson,  and  Wil 
liam  Jones,  Jr.,  of  the  city  of  Mobile,  had  been  appointed  Com 
missioners  to  inquire  into  the  expediency  of  establishing  a  public 
warehouse  or  warehouses  in  the  city  of  Mobile,  etc.     The  Gov 
ernor  favors  the  system. 

17.  The  revised  Military  Code  had  been  prepared  by  Generals 
Crabb  and  Bradford,  and  Col.  Henry  L.  Martin  had  been  ap 
pointed  to  make  an  index. 

18.  He  recommends  the  establishment  of  a  separate  Court  of 
Chancery,  and  the  division  of  the  State  into  three  districts,  for 
each  of  which  a  Chancellor  should  be  elected. 

19.  An  increase  of  salary  to  the  Secretary  of  State,  the  State 
Treasurer,  and  the  Comptroller  of  Public  Accounts  is  suggested, 
not  to  be  less  than  $1,500  each. 

20.  The  Attorney  General  should  be  required  to  give  legal 
opinions  to  the  different  executive  officers,  in  the  discharge  of 
their  official  duties;  to  appear  for  the  State  in  the  Supreme  Court, 
and  to  prepare  bills  on   important  subjects,  when  required  by 
Committees  of  the  Legislature. 

21.  Reference  is  made   to   the   unsettled   boundary  between 
Georgia  and  Alabama,  and  to  the  attempt  made  in  1826  to  run 
the  line  by  the  cooperation  of  the  two  States,  which  resulted  in 
a  disagreement  between  the  Commissioners. 

22.  Copies  of  joint  resolutions  of  the  Legislatures  of  Mary 
land,   Mississippi,  Arkansas,   Ohio,  Rhode-Island,  Georgia,  and 
Kentucky,  on  various  subjects,  were  laid  before  the  Legislature. 

23.  In  closing  his  message,  the  Governor  notices  the  fact  that 
he  has  abstained  from  embracing  matters  of  Federal  policy,  and 
says:  "It  has  nevertheless  been  a  source  of  the  highest  gratifica 
tion,  in  the  great  conflict  that  has  been  going  on  between  the 
friends  of  a  National  Bank,  and  the  advocates  of  a  Constitutional 
Treasury,  to  perceive  that  a  large  majority  of  the  people  of  this 
State  have  taken  their  stand  on  the  high  ground  of  constitutional 
liberty." 

This  synopsis  of  the  first  message  of  Gov.  Bagby  has  been 
more  dwelt  upon  than  space  will  permit  to  his  other  messages, 
though  each  abounded,  perhaps,  in  matter  equally  interesting  to 


204  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

the  public.     Some  of  these  items,  with  the  proceedings  of  the 
Legislature,  are  referred  to  elsewhere  in  this  work. 

The  message  of  1839  occupies  fourteen  pages  of  the  printed 
Journal  of  the  House.  It  notices  the  appointment  of  William 
B.  Martin,  of  Benton;  Alexander  Bowie,  of  Talladega,  and  John 
M.  Moore,  of  Barbour,  to  ascertain  and  mark  the  boundary  line 
between  Georgia  and  Alabama ;  of  the  appointment  of  E.  Wool- 
sey  Peck  as  Chancellor,  in  the  place  of  Silas  Parsons,  who  had 
declined  the  acceptance  of  the  office ;  the  selection  of  a  site  near 
Wetumpka  for  the  Penitentiary,  the  building  of  which,  when 
completed,  was  fixed,  by  contract,  at  $84,899;  the  completion  of 
the  new  Penal  Code  by  the  Judges  of  the  Supreme  Court;  the 
encampment  drills  of  several  Brigades;  the  necessity  of  opening 
a  line  of  communication,  by  "improving  the  advantages  of  Na 
ture,"  between  the  waters  of  Mobile  Bay  and  the  Tennessee 
River;  a  geological  survey  of  the  State  recommended;  the 
attempt  to  burn  the  Capitol,  with  the  means  of  guarding  it  in 
future;  the  operations  of  the  State  Bank  and  Branches;  advising 
that  the  Governor  be  authorized  to  nominate  double  the  number 
of  Directors  to  be  elected,  from  which  a  choice  should  be  made ; 
the  appointment  of  a  Marshal  to  each  Bank  to  exercise  special 
powers;  the  cancellation  of  the  unsold  bonds  of  the  State;  and 
referred  to  the  authority  of  a  corporation  in  another  State  to  make 
a  contract  in  Alabama;  the  decision  of  the  Supreme  Court,  etc. 

Possessing  eminent  faculties  in  many  respects,  it  was  never  the 
practice  of  Gov.  Bagby  to  condense  his  State  papers.  He  was 
generally  diffuse,  paid  great  attention  to  style,  and  seemed  indif 
ferent  as  to  how  much  time  was  consumed  in  reading  them,  or 
how  much  space  they  filled  in  the  public  archives.  His  own 
ideas  of  form  and  official  dignity  were  carried  out  to  the  extreme. 
His  message  of  1840  covered  ten  pages  of  the  Journal.  A  syn 
opsis  will  not  be  attempted.'  The  leading  measure  recomrnende/1 
was  the  establishment  of  the  General  Ticket  system  in  the  elec 
tion  of  Representatives  to  Congress.  Action  on  this  bill  has  been 
specially  noticed  in  another  chapter  of  this  work. 

The  last  annual  message  of  Gov.  Bagby  is  dated  November  1, 
1841,  and  exceeds  any  of  its  predecessors  in  length,  being  fifteen 
pages  of  the  Journal,  about  half  of  which  is  taken  up  in  examin 
ing  the  Constitutional  point  in  favor  of  the  General  Ticket,  after 
the  people  had  decided  at  the  election  in  August,  1841,  in  favor 
of  the  District  system,  on  the  question  directly  submitted  to  them 
by  the  act  of  27th  April,  1841.  He  was  loth  to  give  up  his 
.favorite  plan  of  representation,  embodying  State  Sovereignty,  and 
when  he  was  overruled  by  the  popular  vote,  he  determined  to 
argue  the  matter  with  such  intensity  and  expansion,  as  if  in  so 
doing  he  was  sure  to  obtain  a  restoration  of  the  condemned  law. 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  205 

The  administration  of  Gov.  Bagby  began  at  a  time  of  great 
pecuniary  distress  among  the  people,  which  was  but  little  abated 
throughout  the  four  years  in  which  he  performed  Executive  func 
tions.  The  cause  certainly  did  not  originate  with  him.  Expe 
rienced  financiers,  and  the  best  practical  minds  of  the  country, 
had  sought  in  vain  for  a  remedy  in  legislation.  Relief  acts  had 
been  passed;  loans  to  debtors  had  been  tried;  the  extension  of 
Bank  debts  from  one  to  three  years  by  equal  instalments,  and  in 
smaller  or  larger  proportion  as  circumstances  seemed  to  require, 
and  yet  the  general  pressure  was  not  removed.  That  Gov.  Bagby 
exerted  himself,  to  the  utmost  of  his  power,  to  aflbrd  all  the  relief 
practicable,  consistent  with  his  public  duties,  admits  of  no  ques 
tion.  He  came  into  office  while  the  storm  was  raging,  and  he 
left  it  after  having  been  four  years  at  the  helm,  while  the  winds 
yet  howled  in  the  deserted  halls  of  commerce. 

ARTHUR  PEXDLETON  BAGBY  was  a  Virginian  by  birth  and  edu 
cation.  He  came  to  Alabama  while  it  was  yet  a  territory,  a  youth 
depending  entirely  upon  himself,  upon  his  own  talents  and  ener 
gies  to  grapple  with  the  difficulties  of  life.  The  late  Gov.  Mar 
tin  informed  me  that  he  saw  Mr.  Bagby  when  he  first  came  to 
Alabama  on  foot,  all  his  worldly  goods  tied  in  a  small  bundle,  which 
he  carried  with  him.  In  a  moral  sense,  it  was  truly  sublime  to 
contemplate  such  a  figure.  Conscious  of  intellectual  power,  and 
scorning  to  yield  to  his  seemingly  adverse  fate,  he  turned  his  face 
westward,  and  bade  farewell  to  his  relatives  and  friends  in  the 
proud  Old  Dominion,  where  poverty  was  hard  to  overcome.  Rarely 
has  such  a  spectacle  been  presented — such  a  youth,  so  highly  fa 
vored  by  nature,  in  person  and  in  intellect;  in  the  grand  qualities 
afterwards  developed  in  a  career  of  success  and  preferment  em 
bracing  the  next  thirty  years  after  his  introduction  in  Alabama. 
That  he  was  here  before  the  Territorial  condition  was  laid  aside, 
when  the  State  Government  was  organi/cd,  is  evident  from  thb 
fact  that  Mr.  Bagby  has  been  heard  to  say  that  he  voted  for  Mar- 
maduke  Williams  for  Governor,  in  opposition  to  Gov.  Bibb,  at  the 
first  election  held  in  the  State,  in  1819. 

Mr.  Bagby  settled  at  Claiborne,  in  Monroe  county,  where  he 
commenced  the  practice  of  the  law.  He  at  once  secured  a  good 
run  of  business.  His  genius  flashed  from  every  feature,  and 
sparkled  in  his  small,  piercing,  black  eyes.  No  man  possessed  a 
finer  person  to  command  attention  at  first  sight.  His  remarkable 
advantages  in  this  respect  will  be  described  in  a  future  paragraph. 

He  served  in  the  Legislature  at  an  early  period,  and  for  many 
years.  He  was  several  times  elected  Speaker  of  the  House,  and 
never  was  the  chair  graced  by  a  more  splendid  presiding  officer. 
What  Henry  Clay  used  to  be  in  the  popular  branch  of  Congress, 


206  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

as  Speaker,  Mr.  Bagby  acquitted  himself  with  similar  eclat  at  the 
Capitol  of  Alabama.  He  was  dignified  and  graceful  in  every  look 
and  movement.  The  station  was  completely  filled ;  no  ideal  could 
be  more  perfect.  At  the  last  session  he  served,  in  1836,  he  was 
again  elected  Speaker. 

As  we  are  now  to  follow  him  into  a  different  sphere  of  the  pub 
lic  service,  it  may  not  be  amiss  to  take  a  brief  review  of  his  polit 
ical  antecedents.  Mr.  Bagby  was  originally  a  National  Republican, 
and  supported  the  administration  of  President  Adams,  1825  to 
1829.  About  the  year  1831,  Mr.  Mosely  Baker,  of  Montgomery, 
brought  forward  a  proposition  in  the  House  of  Representatives  to 
commit  the  State  of  Alabama  to  the  support  of  a  grand  National 
Bank,  with  a  capital  of  one  hundred  millions  of  dollars.  Mr. 
Bagby  was  then  in  the  Legislature  and  opposed  it.  The  next 
year  Gen.  Jackson  issued  his  celebrated  proclamation  against  the 
Nullifiers,  of  South  Carolina,  which  induced  Mr.  Bagby  to  go  over 
to  his  support,  and  from  that  time  he  was  a  Jackson  man.  Being 
thus  about  five  years  in  the  Democratic  party,  he  was  their  nominee 
for  Governor  in  1837,  when  he  was  elected  over  Samuel  W.  Oli 
ver,  Esq.,  of  Conecuh  county,  a  former  Speaker  of  the  House, 
who  was  neither  exactly  a  Whig  nor  a  whole  Democrat,  but  a  fair- 
minded  man  with  the  respect  of  both  parties.  He  died  soon  after 
the  contest.  Gov.  Bagby  was  inaugurated  with  the  usual  ceremo 
nies,  on  which  occasion  he  was  seen  to  great  advantage,  bearing 
himself  with  a  natural  majesty  which  would  have  done  credit  to  a 
King  or  Emperor,*  and  yet  so  easy  and  graceful  that  all  were 
pleased  with  the  new  Governor.  I  was  an  eye-witness  of  the 
scene,  and  I  have  attended  many  inaugurations  since,  but  none  of 
them  equalled  that  in  1837.  In  1839,  he  was  reflected  without 
opposition.  Some  of  the  leading  measures  he  recommended  have 
been  glanced  at  in  the  preceding  notice  of  his  administration. 
Having  arrived  at  this  point  of  his  history,  we  pass  on  to  consider 
him  in  more  advanced  situations. 

When  Gov.  Clay  resigned  his  seat  in  the  Senate  of  the  United 
States,  Gov.  Bagby  was  elected  to  fill  the  vacancy,  in  1841,  and  in 
1842,  he  was  reflected  for  a  term  of  six  years  from  March  4, 1843, 
to  March  4,  1849.  His  course  on  the  annexation  of  Texas,  in 
1845,  created  some  dissatisfaction  in  the  Democratic  party;  but  he 
published  an  address  to  the  people  of  Alabama  assigning  his  rea 
sons.  No  very  serious  complaint  was  made  thereafter. 

In  1848,  President  Polk  appointed  him  Envoy  Extraordinary 
and  Minister  Plenipotentiary  to  the  court  of  His  Imperial  Majesty 
the  Emperor  of  all  the  Russias,  at  St.  Petersburg.  He  remained 
there  about  one  year,  when  he  resigned,  after  the  election  of  Gen. 
Taylor,  as  President,  and  returned  to  the  United  States,  taking  up 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  207 

his  residence  at  Montgomery.     After  a  few  years  he  removed  to 
Mobile,  where  he  died  in  1858,  under  sixty  years  of  age. 

Seldom  has  such  a  specimen  of  nature's  nobility  appeared  in 
any  age.  Gov.  Bagby  was  a  little  more  than  six  feet  high,  per 
fectly  erect  in  his  figure,  with  a  symmetry  of  form  and  limb  equal 
to  that  of  Apollo.  And  such  a  head  and  face — the  very  personi 
fication  of  intellect  and  beauty  !  His  walk  was  stately  and  grace 
ful — the  very  beau  ideal  of  the  Chesterfield  model.  In  all  the 
etiquette  and  dignity  of  official  station,  never  departing  from  the 
highest  standard,  and  yet  withal  so  courteous  and  polite ;  no  Pres 
ident,  no  Governor,  no  wearer  of  a  crown  ever  excelled  him.  His 
address  to  the  humblest  person  was  that  of  a  true  gentleman. 
When  such  a  man  appeared  in  the  forum,  or  on  the  platform,  he 
had  a  power,  an  influence  in  his  very  looks  which  awed  men  into 
silence.  And  then  his  voice  was  pleasant,  clear  and  flexible,  and 
his  whole  manner  of  delivery  that  of  an  orator.  Of  his  scholar 
ship  it  is  not  necessary  to  speak.  His  messages  and  communica 
tions,  which  have  long  been  before  the  public,  establish  his  claim 
to  a  high  rank  among  men  of  letters. 

And  yet,  with  his  fine  person,  his  magnificent  head,  his  splendid 
eloquence,  Gov.  Bagby  was  an  unfortunate  man.  He  never  knciv 
tlie  value  of  money.  All  his  life  had  been  a  struggle  against  the 
depressing  influence  of  poverty,  while  the  generous  impulses  of 
his  heart,  and  his  lofty  ambition,  were  cramped  and  often  crushed 
by  this  unhappy  defect  in  his  character.  To  support  himself  and 
his  family  in  a  style  becoming  their  position  in  society,  he  incurred 
liabilities,  and  involved  himself  in  embarrassments  from  which  no 
amount  of  good  fortune  could  extricate  him.  His  practice  at  the 
bar  must  have  been  considerable;  his  compensation  in  the  high 
employments  he  held  as  Governor,  as  Senator  in  Congress,  and, 
as  a  foreign  minister  of  the  first  grade,  were  insufficient  for  this 
purpose,  and  barely  kept  him  afloat,  without  yielding  him  a  sur 
plus.  A  man  thus  constituted,  and  whose  great  troubles  sprang 
from  this  source,  deserves  the  sympathy  of  all.  Such  an  example, 
such  a  prodigy  and  such  a  sufferer,  was  the  late  Gov.  Bnirby,  in 
behalf  of  whose  character  and  memory  admiration  and  regret  may 
alike  be  indulged.  Had  he  been  a  good  financier,  and  his  fortune 
in  other  respects  favorable  to  the  development  of  his  wonderful 
gifts,  and  his  manly  ambition,  he  would  no  doubt  have  stood  in 
history  in  the  same  class  with  Clay  and  Webster,  to  electrify  and 
bless  the  world  by  the  rare  endowments  which  he  possesssed.  Of 
all  it  has  been  my  privilege  to  see  in  a  life  of  more  than  thirty  years 
in  official  connection  with  the  public,  including  more  than  a  thou 
sand  men  to  a  greater  or  less  extent  distinguished  in  the  country, 
Gov.  Bagby  made  the  finest  appearance,  and  has  left  on  my  mind 
the  most  indelible  impression  of  natural  greatness.  Compared 


208  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

to  this  standard,  his  life,  successful  as  it  has  been  in  many 
respects,  has  been  a  mournful  failure.  The  sun  has  spots,  and  yet 
he  shines  brilliantly,  even  to  dazzle  the  vision;  so  may  the  name 
and  qualities  of  Arthur  P.  Bagby  shine  amidst  the  hallowed  at 
mosphere  which  the  grave  has  diffused  to  sanctify  even  the  errors 
of  genius. 

Allusion  having  been  made  in  the  foregoing  sketch,  to  a  tempo 
rary  coldness  of  his  brother  Democrats  of  Alabama,  growing  out 
of  his  course  on  the  Texas  question,  it  is  but  justice  to  the  mem 
ory  of  Senator  Bagby,  to  place  his  conduct  in  a  true  light,  which 
the  author  is  enabled  to  do  by  a  letter,  of  which  the  following  is  a 
copy: 

WASHINGTON,  October  7/1845. 

MY  DEAR  SIR  :  You  will  add  to  the  many  favors  heretofore  conferred,  by  send 
ing  me,  at  your  earliest  convenience,  a  list  of  the  members  of  the  General  Assem 
bly  of  Alabama,  with  their  post-offices. 

I  hope  to  see  you  very  shortly,  at  Tuskaloosa,  as  I  find  a  visit  to  that  ancient 
metropolis  necessary  in  order  to  place  myself  right  before  my  legitimate  judges, 
the  people  and  Legislature  of  Alabama.  Never  in  the  history  of  this  country  has 
any  public  man  been  subjected  to  such  an  ordeal  as  I  have,  by  being  charged  with 
hostility  to  a  measure  [the  annexation  of  Texas]  which  I  could  have  defeated,  at 
any  moment,  by  barely  saying  no,  but  which  I  actually  saved  from  defeat — as  I 
flatter  myself  I  shall  be  able  to  satisfy  all  impartial  men  ;  and  I  plead  to  the  juris 
diction  of  any  other  description  as  unfit  and  incompetent  to  pronounce  judgment 
upon  my  public  acts. 

With  constant  respect  and  esteem,  I  am  your  friend, 

A.  P.  BAGBY. 

WILLIAM  GARRETT,  ESQ.,  Tuskaloosa,  Alabama. 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  209 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

Political  Events — Legislature  of  1841 — Character  of  Members. 

After  a  stormy,  laborious,  and  somewhat  eventful  session,  the 
House  adjourned  sine  die  on  the  9th  of  January,  1841.  Since 
their  assembling,  on  the  first  Monday  in  November,  quite  a  polit 
ical  revolution  had  occurred,  by  the  election  of  Gen.  Harrison,  of 
Ohio,  and  ex-Governor  Tyler,  of  Virginia,  to  the  two  first  offices 
within  the  gift  of  the  people,  over  Mr.  Van.  Buren  and  Col.  R. 
M.  Johnson,  and  the  attainment  of  power  by  the  Whig  party  in 
the  Executive  and  Legislative  departments  of  the  Federal  Gov 
ernment.  After  this  storm  in  the  political  elements  there  was  a 
calm;  public  anxiety,  in  the  meantime,  was  very  manifest,  while 
awaiting  the  inauguration  of  the  President  elect,  and  the  an 
nouncement  of  his  policy,  on  the  4th  of  March,  1841.  Every  op 
portunity  and  pretext  for  holding  or  regaining  power  was  em 
ployed  by  the  respective  parties,  or  at  least  speculations  to  this  * 
effect  were  freely  indulged. 

Thus  matters  stood  when  Gen.  Harrison  was  installed  into  the 
Presidential  office.  In  his  opinion,  the  state  of  the  country  re 
quired  an  early  session  of  Congress,  and  he  soon  issued  his  procla 
mation  convening  that  body  on  the  31st  of  May.  This  created 
the  necessity  for  an  extra  session  of  the  Alabama  Legislature,  to 
enact  a  law  providing  for  the  election  of  Representatives  to  Con 
gress  before  the  regular  time  of  election  in  August  following. 
Gov.  Bagby  accordingly  issued  his  proclamation,  convening  the 
Legislature  on  the  19th  of  April,  to  take  the  necessary  steps  for 
securing  to  the  State  the  services  of  a  delegation  at  the  extra  ses 
sion  of  Congress.  The  Legislature  met,  and  passed  a  law  author 
izing  an  election  for  Representatives  in  two  months  thereafter, 
under  the  General  Ticket  system  which  had  been  adopted  in  1840. 
The  old  political  fires  were  soon  rekindled  into  a  flame.  The 
AVhigs  knew  that  they  were  in  a  minority  in  the  State,  and  felt 
that  they  had  been  unkindly  treated  by  abolishing  the  district 
system,  under  which  they  had  succeeded  in  electing  two,  and 
sometimes  three  members  of  Congress — while  the  Democratic  ma 
jority  entertained  the  belief  that  the  State  could  best  exercise  its 
sovereignty  by  an  expressien  of  the  will  of  the  whole  people. 
The  canvass  was  animated,  and  the  newspaper  controversy  was 
14 


210  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

bitter  in  support  of  the  respective  parties.     When  the  votes  were 
all  cast  up,  however,  the  following  was  the  result: 

Democrats.  Whigs. 

George  W.  Oabb . .  .17,828 

Henry  W.  Milliard 17,440 

John  T.  Rather 17,384 

John  M.  Lewis 11,172 

John  M.  Burke 16,671 


William  W.  Payne 23,989 

Reuben  Chapman 23,376 

Dixon  H.  Lewis 23,329 

Benjamin  G.  Shields 23,092 

George  S.  Houston 23,026 


Counting  the  difference  between  the  highest  Democratic  vote, 
and  the  highest  Whig  vote,  as  above  given,  the  Democratic  ma 
jority  was  6,161,  out  of  the  entire  vote  of  41,817  polled  in  the 
State.  At  least  one-third  of  the  people  who  voted  for  President 
in  1840,  failed  to  vote  at  this  special  election  for  Congress,  which 
is  shown  by  the  fact  that  out  of  62,462,  the  total  vote  in  1840, 
Mr.  Yan  Buren  received  33,991,  and  Gen.  Harrison  received 
28,471,  giving  a  Democratic  majority  of  5,520. 

Before  noticing  the  action  of  the  Legislature  at  the  session  of 
1841,  it  is  perhaps  necessary  to  state,  that  a  Convention  of  the 
Democratic  party  was  held  at  the  Capitol,  in  December,  1840,  for 
the  purpose  of  organizing  under  its  defeat  in  the  Presidential  elec 
tion  in  other  States.  In  the  course  of  business,  a  candidate  for 
Governor  was  to  be  nominated.  Several  gentlemen  of*  distin 
guished  ability  had  been  mentioned  in  connection  with  the  office. 
The  Convention  sat  two  days,  21st  and  22d  of  December.  Among 
the  names  proposed  for  nomination  on  the  first  evening,  were  those 
of  Col.  W.  W.  Payne,  H.  W.  Ellis,  Esq.,  Major  Jesse  Beene, 
Dr.  David  Moore,  and  Col.  —  Walker.  A  letter  from  John 
Erwin,  Esq.,  was  received,  withdrawing  his  name  from  the  consid 
eration  of  his  friends.  On  the  next  evening  letters  were  received 
from  Major  Beene  and  Mr.  Ellis,  withdrawing  their  names  like 
wise.  The  counties  represented  in  the  Convention  were  then 
called  for  votes,  when  it  was  announced  by  the  President  that  Col. 
Benjamin  Fitzpatrick  had  received  84,  Col.  Payne  29,  and  Dr. 
Moore  11.  The  former  gentleman  was  thereupon  declared  duly 
nominated  as  the  Democratic  candidate  for  Governor  at  the  next 
election. 

As  Mr.  Ellis  had  been  a  conspicuous  and  efficient  actor  in  polit 
ical  affairs,  and  as  his  death  closed  too  soon  for  his  country,  for  his 
family,  and  for  his  many  friends,  it  is  proper  that  his  character 
should  be  briefly  noticed. 

HARVEY  W.  ELLIS  was  a  native  of  Kentucky,  where  he  re 
ceived  a  good  education.  He  came  to  Alabama  at  an  early  day, 
and  settled  in  Tuskaloosa,  where  he  engaged  in  the  practice  of 
the  law.  His  mind  was  thoroughly  cultivated  and  well  balanced, 
and  his  character  settled.  He  was  a -Democrat,  and  a  leading  man 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  211 

of  his  party  in  Middle  and  West- Alabama.  Repeatedly  elected 
to  the  Legislature,  he  took  a  leading  part  in  its  proceedings,  and 
was  prominent  in  the  Conventions  of  his  party.  In  1838,  and 
again  in  1839  he  was  the  Democratic  candidate  for  Congress  in 
opposition  to  Gen.  George  W.  Crabb,  and,  in  both  contests,  main 
tained  fully  upon  the  stump  his  high  reputation  as  a  debater,  and 
though  defeated,  he  established  an  influence  at  once  commanding, 
and  fully  recognized,  which  would  have  been  crowned  Avith  higher 
honors  by  the  public,  in  due  time,  had  he  lived  a  few  years  longer. 
For  several  years  his  health  had  declined.  In  the  Summer  of 
1842,  it  was  thought  advisable  for  him  to  travel,  and  he  visited  his 
native  Kentucky.  Failing  to  realize  the  benefit  to  his  health 
which  his  friends  had  hoped  and  expected,  he  started  home  in  the 
Fall  of  that  year,  but  died  before  he  reached  Tuskaloosa.  His 
remains  were  brought  on  and  interred  where  he  had  lived  many 
years,  and  had  honorably  discharged  the  duties  of  a  good  citizen, 
a  profound  lawyer,  and  able  advocate. 

In  person  Mr.  Ellis  was  spare,  erect,  and  dignified  in  his  ad 
dress.  Without  much  attention  to  the  superfluities  of  social  inter 
course,  he  was  solid,  quiet,  and  thoughtful.  In  speaking,  he  was 
calm,  argumentative,  and  self-possessed,  and  rarely  indulged  in 
anecdotes.  He  married  Miss  Catharine  Kornegay,  a  niece  of  Col. 
William  R.  King,  who,  in  1844,  accompanied  her  uncle,  upon  his 
appointment,  by  Mr.  Tyler,  as  Minister  to  France,  where  she  pre 
sided  in  the  drawing-room,  at  official  receptions  in  Paris,  with  an 
ease  and  elegance  which  reflected  credit  upon  herself,  and  upon 
the  ladies  of  Alabama,  in  whose  society  she  had  moved. 

Although  prominence  has  been  given,  under  another  head,  to  his 
character  and  administration,  a  few  additional  particulars,  in  the 
course  of  the  narrative,  are  here  furnished  in  relation  to  Col.  Fitz 
patrick,  on  the  threshold  of  his  public  life.  He  had  been  promi 
nently  before  the  people  sometime  before  1840.  Upon  the  elec 
tion  of  Gov.  Clay  to  the  Senate  of  the  United  States,  at  the  extra 
session,  June  30,  1837,  provision  had  to  be  made  by  the  party  for 
a  Democratic  candidate  to  succeed  him  in  the  Executive,  by  elec 
tion,  on  the  first  Monday  in  August,  only  one  month  ahead.  There 
was  not  time  for  a  Convention,  and  hence  a  caucus  of  the  Demo 
cratic  members  of  the  Legislature  was  resorted  to,  to  make  the 
nomination.  In  the  caucus,  the  claims  of  Mr.  Speaker  Bagby 
and  Col.  Fitzpatrick  were  urged,  when  the  former  succeeded  by  a 
few  votes  only.  This  demonstration  in  his  favor  brought  Col. 
Fitzpatrick  favorably  before  the  people,  and  at  the  Convention  of 
1839  he  was  placed  at  the  head  of  the  Democratic  Electoral  Ticket 
for  the  State  at  large.  In  the  Presidential  canvass  he  was  active 
and  efficient,  addressing  large  mass  meetings  in  different  parts 


212  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

of  the  State,  all  of  which  conspired,  with  other  elements  of  char 
acter,  to  make  his  name  formidable  in  the  Convention  of  1840. 
Indeed,  the  tide  of  popular  favor  was  so  manifest  that  no  other 
name  was  seriously  considered  for  the  nomination.  He  arrived  at 
Tuskaloosa,  during  the  called  session  in  April,  1841,  on  his  way 
to  North-Alabama,  which  he  canvassed  extensively  and  earnestly, 
with  great  eifect.  Col.  James  W.  McClung,  who  had  been  Speaker 
of  the  House  for  many  sessions — a  Whig,  but  moderate  in  tone, 
and  withal  of  such  commanding  abilities  that  he  seldom  failed  of 
an  election  for  a  seat  in  the  Legislature — was  his  opponent.  The 
tide  of  Whig  strength  flowed  in  1840;  and  while  the  leaders  of 
that  party  went  into  the  canvass  of  1841  with  every  desire,  not 
only  to  hold  the  ground  they  had  gained  the  year  before,  but  to 
advance  to  further  conquests,  the  result  of  the  August  election 
was  disastrous  to  that  party.  Col.  Fitzpatrick  was  elected  Gov 
ernor,  the  vote  returned  to  the  Legislature  being,  for  Fitzpatrick, 
27,974;  for  McClung,  21,219  votes.  Showing  a  Democratic  ma 
jority  of  6,755,  out  of  an  aggregate  vote  of  49,193.  Both  branches 
of  the  Legislature  were  largely  Democratic,  but  the  Whigs  had 
the  gratification  of  witnessing  the  repeal  of  the  General  Ticket 
system  at  the  ballot-box,  on  an  issue  of  approval  or  disapproval. 
Considering  the  importance  which  had  been  attached  to  the  meas 
ure,  in  its  political  consequences,  the  result  was  no  small  victory 
to  the  Whigs. 

As  an  event  of  much  interest  at  the  time,  it  may  be  mentioned 
here,  that  in  March  and  April,  1841,  an  extensive  scheme  to  prac 
tice  frauds  upon  the  State  Bank  and'  Branches,  by  means  of  ficti 
tious  bills  of  exchange,  to  which  the  recommendations  of  mem 
bers  of  the  Legislature  had  been  obtained  under  various  acts  and 
pretenses,  was  discovered,  and  for  a  time  was  the  sensation.  Indeed, 
the  public  mind  was  not  only  exercised,  but  amazed,  at  the  appre 
hended  extent  of  this  scheme,  and  the  injury  it  came  near  inflict 
ing  upon  the  pockets  of  the  people;  for  just  to  the  extent  that 
these  "bank  frauds/'  as  they  were  called,  succeeded,  just  so  far 
was  the  public  credit  aifected  and  the  people  liable  to  taxation. 
But  like  most  schemes  conceived  upon  a  stupendous  plan  of  dis 
honest  plundering,  it  was  discovered  in  time  to  prevent  much  mis 
chief.  Many  parties  were  arrested,  and  prosecutions  instituted 
against  them,  and  for  sometime  the  occasional  reference  to  bank 
frauds  and  robbers,  was  sounded  in  different  portions  of  the  State ; 
but  I  am  not  aware  that  any  legal  punishments  were  inflicted.  A 
number  of  men  who  stood  high  in  society,  and  some  who  occupied 
place  were  prostrated  by  it.  Some  of  these  moved  West,  and 
others  drooped  at  home  from  the  contact.  Then  the  occasion 
passed  away,  and  was  lost  sight  of  in  a  few  years  in  the  midst  ot 
other  events;  and  it  is  only  alluded  to  here  as  an  occurrence  quasi 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  213 

political,  inasmuch  as  the  banks  were  public  property,  but  without 
identifying  either  party  or  any  individual  with  it. 

The  Legislature  met  on  the  first  Monday  in  November,  1841. 
The  attendance  of  members  was  good,  and  while  many  gentle 
men  held  over,  or  were  reflected,  as  members  of  the  last  Senate, 
and  have  been  more  particularly  noticed  in  a  preceding  chapter, 
there  was  an  addition  of  several  new  Senators,  who  increased  the 
stock  of  character  and  talent  already  there. ,  Among  the  number, 
several  may  be  specially  mentioned: 

Arthur  Foster,  of  Cherokee ; 

John  S.  Hunter,  of  Lowndes,  who  has  already  been  noticed  as 
a  member  of  the  House  the  preceding  year; 

Milton  McClanahan,  of  Morgan ; 

Walker  Keith  Baylor,  of  Jefferson  ; 

Walter  R.  Ross,  of  Wilcox,  and 

Daniel  B.  Turner,  of  Madison. 

These,  together  with  the  members  holding  over  and  reelccted, 
constituted  the  Senate,  a  very  respectable  body  for  character  and 
ability. 

Nathaniel  Terry,  of  Limestone,  was  unanimously  elected  Pres 
ident  of  the  Senate.  For  Secretary,  there  were  three  candidates, 
and  the  votes  stood:  For  B.  A.  Philpot,  15;  Johnson  J.  Hooper, 
4;  David  Woodruff,  9.  Major  George  B.  Clithnall  was  elected 
Assistant  Secretary,  and  C.  Donoho,  Door-Keeper. 

In  the  House  many  changes  had  occurred,  and  new  members 
took  the  place  of  old  ones,  who  had  long  occupied  scats.  Among 
the  leading  men  in  the  work  of  legislation  may  be  mentioned: 

John  Steele,  of  Autauga; 

John  L.  Hunter  and  Hugh  L.  Crawford,  of  Barbour ; 

Thomas  A.  Walker  and  John  Cochran,  of  Benton ; 

Walter  H.  Crenshaw,  of  Butler; 

Charles  McLemore  and  Matthew  Phillips,  of  Chambers; 

Lorenzo  James,  of  Clarke; 

William  L.  Yancey,  of  Coosa; 

William  O.  Winston,  of  DeKalb; 

Felix  G.  Norman,  of  Franklin; 

Elisha  Young  and  Solomon  McAlpin,  of  Greene ; 

Tandy  W.  Walker,  of  Lawrence; 

David  Moore,  Jeremiah  Clemens,  and  George  T.  Jones,  of 
Madison ; 

John  B.  Hogan,  Blanton  McAlpin,  and  Isaac  H.  Erwin,  of 
Mobile  ; 

Charles  E.  B.  Strode,  of  Morgan ; 

Robert  J.  Ware  and  Joseph  J.  Hutchinson,  of  Montgomery; 

John  Barron  and  A.  Q.  Bradley,  of  Perry; 

Norman  McLeod,  of  Pike; 


214  Hemlniscences  of  PMic  Men  in  Alabama. 

Wade  H.  Griffin  and  John  S.  Storrs,  of  Shelby; 

Samuel  F.  Rice,  of  Talladega ; 

Hardin  Perkins,  Robert  Jemison,  Jr.,  and  William  R.  Smith, 
of  Tuskaloosa. 

Besides  these  gentlemen,  there  were  many  others  who  partici 
pated  more  or  less  actively  in  the  business  of  the  session. 

Dr.  David  Moore  was  unanimously  elected  Speaker  of  the 
House;  Thomas  B.  Tunstall  was  elected  Clerk;  Algernon  Cook, 
Assistant  Clerk;  William  C.  Bibb,  Engrossing  Clerk,  and  James 
H.  Owen,  Door-Keeper. 

The  relative  position  of  members  may  be  somewhat  indicated 
by  the  appointment  of  chairmen  of  the  most  important  working 
committees.  In  the  Senate,  Judge  Thornton  was,  as  usual,  Chair 
man  of  the  Judiciary  Committee. 

Gen.  Toulmin,  Chairman  of  the  State  Bank  and  Branches; 

Walker  K.  Baylor,  of  Jefferson,  on  Education; 

Gov.  McVay  on  Propositions  and  Grievances. 

In  the  House  of  Representatives,  Col.  John  B.  Hogan,  of 
Mobile,  was  Chairman  of  the  State  Bank  and  Branches; 

Thomas  A.  Walker,  of  Benton,  on  the  Judiciary ; 

Isaac  H.  Erwin,  of  Mobile,  on  Internal  Improvement ; 

Elisha  Young,  of  Greene,  on  Education; 

Gen.  Taylor,  of  Fayette,  on  Propositions  and  Grievances ; 

Lorenzo  James,  of  Clarke,  on  Ways  and  Means. 

The  Governor's  annual  message  was  delivered  on  Tuesday,  by 
James  D.  Bagby,  his  private  Secretary.  It  has  been  noticed  in 
another  chapter,  containing  a  review  of  the  administration  of 
Gov.  Bagby ;  but  the  closing  paragraph  is  here  inserted  as  a  spe 
cimen  of  his  official  style : 

This  is  the  last  annual  message  I  shall  have  the  honor  of  submitting  to  the 
General  Assembly.  A  few  days  will  terminate  my  connection  with  the  office  of 
Chief  Magistrate  of  the  State  of  Alabama,  to  which  I  may,  with  perfect  sincerity, 
say  I  have  been  twice  elected,  without  solicitation  on  my  part,  by  the  people.  In. 
looking  forward  to  the  moment,  now  almost  at  hand,  which  is  to  dissolve  my  offi 
cial  connection  with  the  General  Assembly,  I  should  do  injustice  to  my  own  feel 
ings  if  I  were  not  to  express  the  deep  and  abiding  sense  of  obligation  I  am  under 
to  that  body  for  the  uniform  courtesy  and  indulgent  liberality  and  kindness  I 
have  experienced  at  their  hands,  in  my  humble  but  honest  efforts  to  administer 
the  Government  of  Alabama.  And  permit  me,  gentlemen,  through  you,  to  avail 
myself  of  this  last  public  occasion,  to  render  to  the  great  body  of  my  fellow- 
citizens,  the  deep  and  lasting  sense  of  gratitude  I  feel,  and  shall  never  cease  to 
cherish  towards  them,  for  the  multiplied  proofs  they  have  given  me  of  their  kind 
ness  and  confidence;  and  to  assure  them  that  I  shall  carry  into  the  retirement 
that  awaits  me  the  same  devotion  to  their  interest  and  happiness  by  which  I  have 
endeavored  to  be  governed  in  my  public  career;  and  that  I  shall  never  cease  to 
supplicate  Divine  goodness,  to  continue  to  them  the  enjoyment  of  those  rich  and 
countless  blessings  which  He  has  heretofore  been  pleased  to  bestow  upon  them. 

On  Monday,  the  22d  day  of  November,  1841,  Gov.  Fitzpatrick 
was  installed  into  office,  after  having  delivered  his  Inaugural 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  215 

Address  to  the  two  Houses,  and  in  the  presence  of  a  vast  con 
course  of  citizens,  who  had  visited  the  Seat  of  Government  upon 
the  occasion,  which  was  made  one  of  great  eclat  by  the  programme 
reported  by  the  Committee  of  Arrangements.  Indeed,  the  whole 
demonstration  was  complimentary  to  the  Governor  elect,  and 
showed  the  high  estimation  in  which  he  was  held.  His  Inaugu 
ral  Address  was  short,  pointed,  and  practical,  giving  earnest  of  an 
administration  with  which  the  writer  became  subsequently  fa 
miliar,  in  the  integrity  of  its  design,  its  practical  simplicity,  and 
earnest  devotion  to  the  public  welfare.  This  administration 
formed  an  important  era  in  the  history  of  Alabama,  and  requires 
particular  notice,  that  justice  may  be  done  to  its  distinguished 
head. 

The  ceremonies  of  inauguration,  respecting  Gov.  Fitzpatrick, 
are  laid  down  in  the  programme  of  the  Committee,  which  were 
duly  observed  in  the  following  manner: 

Mr.  Reese,  from  the  Committee  of  Arrangements  on  the  part  of  the  Senate,  in 
relation  to  the  inauguration  of  the  Governor  elect,  made  the  following  report : 

The  Joint  Committee  of  Arrangements  have  agreed  on  the  following  plan  for  the 
order  of  procession  at  the  installation  of  Gov.  Fitzpatrick  : 

First  floor  of  the  House  to  be  appropriated  for  the  accommodation  of  the  ladies, 
members,  and  balance  of  the  procession,  which  is  to  be  in  the  following  order: 

Music, 

Tuskaloosa  Guards, 

Masonic  Societies  in  dress, 

Citizens  generally,  two  and  two, 

Judges  of  the  Circuit  and  County  Courts, 

Clerks  and  Sheriffs, 

Judges  of  the  Supreme  Court  and  Clerks, 
Faculty  of  the  University,  preceded  by  the  Students, 

Clergy  generally, 

Door-Keeper  and  Messenger  of  the  House  of  Representatives, 
Clerk  and  Assistant  Clerk  of  the  House  of  Representatives, 

Speaker, 
Members  of  the  House  of  Representatives,  two  and  two, 

Door-Keeper  and  Messenger  of  the  Senate, 
Secretary  and  Assistant  Secretary  of  the  Senate, 

President, 

Senators,  two  and  two, 

Secretary  of  State,  Comptroller,  and  Treasurer, 
Dr.  Manly,  Chaplain,  sustained  by  two  of  the  Committee, 
Governor  Bagby,  sustained  by  two  members  of  the  Committee, 
Governor  Elect,  sustained  by  the  Committee  of  Arrangements. 
The  two  Houses,  with  the  military,  will  assemble  at  the  hour  of  eleven  o'clock, 
and  will  proceed  from  the  Capitol  to  the  residence  of  the  Governor  elect,  at  Col. 
Donaldson's,  where  the  procession  will  be  formed  under  the  direction  of  the  Mar 
shals,  in  conformity  with  the  foregoing  programme. 

Citizens  and  strangers  are  invited  to  join  the  procession. 
A  National  salute  will  be  fired  in  front  of  the  Capitol  at  sunrise,  and  at  12  M. 
Generals  Dent  and  Carroll,  Marshals  of  the  day. 
Which  report  was  concurred  in  by  the  Senate. 
On  motion  of  Mr.  Reese,  the  Senate  then  took  an  informal  recess. 
At  the  time  agreed  upon,  Benjamin  Fitzpatrick,  the  Governor  elect,  appeared 
in  the  hall  of  the  House  of  Representatives,  and  in  the  presence  of  the  two 
Houses. 


216  Reminissences  of  PMtc  Men  in  Alabama. 

Mr.  Speaker  administered  to  Mm  the  usual  oaths  of  office,  which  oaths  wer6 
to  support  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States,  the  Constitution  of  the  State  of 
Alabama,  and  faithfully  discharge  his  duty  as  Governor  of  said  State. 

The  Senate  then  withdrew  to  their  Chamber. 

It  will  1)6  seen  that  Dr.  Manly,  President  of  the  University, 
acted  as  chaplain.  In  his  prayer  he  embraced  every  point  of  pe 
tition  appropriate  to  the  occasion,  but  one.  There  was  no  petition 
in  behalf  of  the  retiring  Governor,  nor  the  least  allusion  to  him, 
which  Avas,  no  doubt,  an  oversight  on  the  part  of  the  learned  and 
kind-hearted  chaplain.  John  Cochran,  Esq.,  who  was  a  member 
from  Benton,  and  in  his  seat,  happened  that  day  to  be  in  a  thought 
ful  and  devotional  mood;  and  after  the  services  had  concluded,  he 
remarked  to  some  gentlemen  that  "he  never  before  knew  the  for 
lorn  condition  of  a  man  retiring  from  office — that  he  was  beyond  the 
prayers  of  the  Church."  The  example  of  the  Episcopal  Church, 
in  its  established  forms,  of  praying  for  the  "President  of  the 
United  States,  and  all  others  in  authority,"  is  much  to  be  com 
mended;  and  from  a  similar  motive  of  piety  and  good-will,  the 
Governor  who  had  just  retired  from  the  cares  of  State,  might  have 
been  properly  included  in  the  invocation  for  blessings.  At  least 
the  sympathies  of  Mr.  Cochran  seemed  to  run  in  this  channel, 
with  very  approved  observation. 

The  condition  of  the  banks  and  the  currency,  and  especially 
the  allegations  of  "  bank  frauds "  which  were  discovered  in  the 
early  Spring,  engaged  the  attention  of  the  Legislature  to  the  ex 
clusion  of  almost  everything  else.  There  was  a  conviction  in  the 
minds  of  members  that  extensive  operations  had  been  planned, 
and  to  some  extent  carried  out  by  conspirators,  with  a  view  of 
possessing  themselves  of  the  contents  of  the  banks  by  fraudulent 
combinations  artfully  managed.  The  whole  subject  was  more  or 
less  veiled  in  mystery,  which  doubtless  gave  width  to  its  dimen 
sions.  Men  were  afraid  of  it,  and  in  some  measure  afraid  of  each 
other;  for  while  one  felt  conscious  that  he  himself  was  clear  of 
any  imputation,  or  complicity  in  this  matter,  it  was  as  far  as  he 
could  go.  There  was  but  little  mutual  confidence  upon  the  sub 
ject  between  members. 

There  was  some  delay  in  moving  an  investigation.  In  the 
meantime  rumors  had  thickened  almost  to  a  fog.  On  the  20th  of 
November,  Mr.  Jemison,  of  Tuskaloosa,  oifered  the  following  pre 
amble  and  resolutions : 

Whereas,  charges  have  been  officially  made,  in  the  report  of  the  Commissioners 
appointed  to  examine  the  Branch  of  the  Bank  of  the  State  of  Alabama  at  Decatur, 
against  members  of  the  Legislature,  of  attempting  improperly  to  tamper  with  the 
Directors  of  said  Bank ;  and  whereas,  the  names  of  the  members  alluded  to  have 
been  officially  reported  to  this  House,  and  in  the  remarks  by  honorable  members 
on  this  floor,  they  have  made  grave  and  serious  charges  of  favoritism  and  corrup 
tion  against  the  Directors  of  said  Bank — 

Resolved,  therefore,  That  (the  whole  subject  be  referred  to  a  select  committee. 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Mm  in  Alabama.  217 

Resolved,  That  said  committee  have  power  to  send  for  persons  and  papers,  or 
take  testimony  by  deposition  or  otherwise,  in  all  cases  giving  reasonable  notice  of 
testimony  intended  to  be  taken,  and  a  fair  opportunity  of  cross  examination, 
which  was  adopted. 

The  committee  thus  raised  was  afterward  made  joint  with  a 
committee  of  the  Senate,  who  proceeded  on  the  work  assigned 
them.  A  good  deal  of  testimony  was  taken,  only  a  small  part  of 
which,  however,  was  made  public.  After  engaging  a  large  portion 
of  the  time  of  the  two  Houses,  the  whole  matter  may  be  compre 
hended  in  the  following  extract  from  the  House  Journal  of  De 
cember,  1841 : 

Mr.  Young,  from  the  Joint  Examining  Committee,  made  the  following  report : 
The  undersigned,  members  of  the  Joint  Examining  Committed  on  Bank  Frauds, 
ask  leave  to  place  on  the  Journals  of  the  House  the  reasons  which  will  prevent 
them  from  discharging  the  duty  assigned  to  them.  During  the  early  part  of  the 
session,  resolutions  were  adopted  raising  a  joint  committee  to  examine  into  the 
frauds  alleged  to  have  been  committed  against  the  State  Bank  and  Branches,  as 
well  as  the  misconduct  of  the  officers  of  those  institutions.  Subsequently,  a  law 
was  passed  through  both  Houses,  and  approved  by  the  Governor,  conferring  upon 
that  committee  powers  adequate  to  the  accomplishment  of  the  ends  for  which 
they  were  appointed,  and  provided  that  those  powers  should  continue  in  force 
until  the  1st  of  May,  1842:  Under  the  authority  of  this  act  the  committee  have 
been  earnestly  engaged  in  the  investigation  of  the  several  matters  assigned  to 
them,  and  in  the  examinations  already  made,  they  have  discovered  the  existence 
of  a  disgraceful  league  to  plunder  the  Banks,  and  swindle  the  people  of  the  State. 
Men  high  in  office,  members  of  the  Legislature,  and  Bank  Directors  are  supposed 
to  be  implicated,  and  it  is  believed  that  disgraceful  partiality  and  management 
might  be  shown  to  have  existed  in  some  of  the  Banks.  With  all  these  facts  before 
them,  the  Senate  has  seen  proper  to  dissolve  their  portion  of  the  committe.  This 
renders  it  impossible  for  us  to  act  efficiently,  and  we  therefore  tender  our  resigna 
tion  to  the  House  of  which  we  are  members. 

JEREMIAH  CLEMENS, 
K.  C.  McALPIN, 
R.  JEMISON,  JR., 
T.  W.  WALKER. 

Mr.  Young  also  reported  or  submitted  to  the  House  the  journal  of  the  commit 
tee  appointed  for  the  purpose  of  investigating  bank  frauds,  to  bo  at  the  disposal 
of  the  House  of  Representatives. 

On  motion  of  Mr.  Clemens: 

Resolved,  That  the  Journal  of  the  Joint  Examining  Committee  on  Bank  Frauds, 
as  well  as  the  private  memoranda  of  the  members  thereof,  be  forthwith  handed  to 
the  Governor,  with  the  request  that  he  should  retain  the  same  until  the  meeting 
of  the  next  Legislature. 

The  testimony  alluded  to  was  included  in  a  large  bound 
record  volume,  with  the  Journal  of  the  Committee,  and  many  pa 
pers,  letters,  and  memoranda,  which,  by  order  of  the  Governor, 
were  placed  in  the  care  of  the  Secretary  of  State,  under  the  seal 
of  secresy,  where  it  has  remained  to  this  day,  so  far  as  the  writer 
is  advised.  The  House  spent  many  days  in  secret  session,  in 
which  the  writer  happened  to  be  present,  and  heard  the  testimony 
read,  and  much  other  information  given  on  the  floor.  But  if  any 
of  the  testimony  was  ever  repeated  outside  of  the  Hall  he  never 


218  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

heard  it;  and,  as  an  evidence  that  members  observed  strictly  their 
obligations  of  secresy,  he  may  add,  that  he  never  failed  in  those 
days  to  ascertain,  by  indirection  or  otherwise,  more  or  less  of  the 
daily  transactions  of  the  two  Houses.  This  book  of  testimony, 
when  the  writer  left  the  State  Department,  in  1852,  remained 
under  the  same  seals  of  secresy.  The  excitement  passed  away  in 
a  few  years;  but  its  prevalence,  in  1841,  was  general,  and  operated 
to  prepare  the  public  mind  for  decisive  action  relative  to  the  State 
Bank  and  Branches,  as  will  hereafter  appear. 

In  the  discussions  and  incidental  remarks  in  the  House  touching 
the  alleged  bank  frauds,  Mr.  Young,  of  Greene,  drew  pictures, 
founded  on  facts  which  had  come  to  his  knowledge  from  witnesses, 
that  almost  bewildered  the  imagination,  at  the  extent  and  enormity 
of  the  schemes  to  plunder  the  banks  by  false  papers,  and  the  cer 
tificates  of  members  of  the  Legislature  as  to  the  solvency  of  the 
parties,  induced  either  by  a  promised  share  of  the  proceeds,  or 
through  ignorance,  or  too  great  a  desire  to  conciliate  favor  which 
might  be  useful  at  the  ballot-box,  or,  what  was  no  doubt  too  gen 
erally  the  case,  by  an  obliging  and  careless  confidence  in  the  rep 
resentations  of  men  who  asked  for  certificates,  either  for  themselves 
or  for  their  friends,  promising  their  word  and  honor  that  all  was 
right  in  regard  to  the  quality  of  the  paper  submitted.  There 
seemed  to  be  an  amount  of  iniquity  concealed  sufficient,  in  design, 
to  deplete  the  banks  of  all  their  available  funds,  and  to  entail  upon 
the  people  the  necessity  of  making  up  the  loss  to  bond -holders 
and  public  creditors  by  taxation.  These  were  fearful  apprehen 
sions,  well  calculated  to  remove  the  danger,  in  future,  by  winding 
up  the  entire  banking  system,  which  the  State  had  adopted  to 
raise  the  necessary  revenue  for  the  support  of  Government,  and 
for  the  purposes  of  education. 

Mr.  Young  said,  in  effect,  that  the  investigations  made  by  the 
Committee  had  just  afforded  a  glimpse  of  the  grand  conspiracy, 
and  the  deep-laid  intrigues  which  had  been  formed  to  swindle  the 
banks  and  to  rob  the  people;  but  the  chain  of  facts  had  to  be 
welded  link  by  link  to  arrive  at  the  real  parties  who  had  con 
cocted,  and  who,  with  their  subordinates  in  guilt,  were  to  profit  by 
the  operation,  probably  to  the  extent  of  several  hundred  thousand 
dollars.  This  labor  had  been  attempted  by  the  Committee;  but 
as  it  advanced  new  prospects  were  opened,  "Alps  on  Alps"  con 
tinued  to  rise,  until  the  boundary  of  vision  was  closed  by  the  hori 
zon,  and  the  Committee  could  go  no  farther  in  the  work  assigned 
them.  The  last  day  of  the  session  was  drawing  nigh,  and-  they 
had  only  to  bring  the  result  before  the  House,  to  be  resumed  at  a 
future  time,  when  circumstances  might  be  more  auspicious  to  the 
discovery  and  punishment  of  the  guilty  parties,  should  the  Legis 
lature  deem  further  investigation  necessary. 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  219 

The  subject  of  the  banks  engaged  the  attention  of  the  Legisla 
ture  in  every  conceivable  form;  but  with  no  definite  beneficial 
results.  The  difficulties  in  their  management  were  constantly  in 
creasing  in  magnitude,  owing  to  imprudent  discounts  in  the  shape 
of  relief,  under  acts  of  the  Legislature,  and  by  the  too  prodigal 
accommodations  of  the  directors,  probably  from  good  motives  at 
the  time.  These  imposed  a  duty  to  provide,  by  taxation,  for  the 
future  wants  of  the  Government,  from  which  burden  members 
were  disposed  to  shrink,  in  view  of  the  possible  consequences  of 
loss  of  popular  favor  at  home.  Col.  James,  Chairman  of  the  Com 
mittee  of  Ways  and  Means,  reported  a  revenue  bill  to  defray  the 
expenses  of  the  State,  and  used  every  effort,  without  success,  to 
procure  its  passage.  In  this  spirit  of  indecision  the  Legislature 
drifted  to  adjournment.  The  members  who* thus  hesitated,  at  least 
many  of  them,  were  behind  the  people  on  this  question,  as  ap 
peared  at  the  next  election. 

An  important  bill  passed  into  a  law  at  this  session,  which  has 
been  engrafted  upon  the  statute-book,  to  prevent  the  sacrifice  of 
real  estate  by  sale,  under  judgment  and  execution,  by  allowing 
the  right  of  redemption  in  two,  years,  on  refunding  the  amount 
advanced  by  the  purchaser,  with  interest.  The  writer,  a  Tennes- 
seean,  having  witnessed  in  that  State  the  beneficial  operations  of 
the  law  in  preventing  the  sacrifice  of  land,  drafted  the  original 
bill,  which  was  introduced  and  advocated  by  Walker  K.  Baylor, 
Esq.  Since  the  passage  of  the  law,  it  has  been  amended  some, 
but  the  essential  feature  remains,  and  is  likely  to  remain,  a  part 
of  our  system. 

The  law  of  1840,  establishing  the  General  Ticket  form  of  elec 
tion  for  Representatives  in  Congress,  was  repealed  at  this  session, 
in  conformity  with  the  voice  of  the  people.  The  subject  of  Fed 
eral  politics  engaged  but  little  attention  in  the  Legislature  during 
the  session.  The  Whig  party  was  divided  in  Congress,  and  their 
proposed  measures  frustrated  by  the  vetoes  of  President  Tyler, 
defeating  the  establishment  of  a  National  Bank,  or  a  Fiscal  Agent 
of  the  Government,  for  the  collection  and  disbursement  of  the 
public  revenue.  A  reactionary  tide  was  evidently  setting  against 
that  party,  growing  out  of  its  own  broils  and  dissensions,  since  its 
accession  to  power,  on  the  4th  of  March,  1841,  and  perhaps  from 
other  causes  not  necessary  to  be  stated  here.  The  Democrats  saw 
this  reaction,  and  were  satisfied  to  "  let  well  enough  alone,"  in  this 
respect.  There  was  then  no  Committee  on  Federal  Relations,  as 
now,  and  has  been  for  many  years,  in  the  Alabama  Legislature, 
.-and  not  such  inducements  foe  members  to  bring  forward  high- 
Bounding  resolutions  for  political  effect.  The  session  was  shorter, 
by  a  week,  than  the  last — both  Houses  adjourning  sine  die  on  the 
first  of  January,  1842. 


220  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

Many  gentlemen  who  participated  in  the  deliberations  of  the 
General  Assembly  deserve  mention  here,  not  only  on  account  of 
the  positions  they  filled  then,  but  those  they  subsequently  attained. 

In  the  Senate  there  was  ARTHUR  FOSTER,  of  Cherokee,  who 
came  from  Georgia  a  few  years  previously,  where  he  compiled  and 
published  a  digest  of  the  laws  from  1820  to  1830,  as  a  continua 
tion  of  Prince's  Digest.  After  the  expiration  of  his  term  in  the 
Senate,  he  was  elected  President  of  the  State  Bank,  which  was 
then  in  liquidation — but  required  a  President  to  meet  some  legal 
obligations  connected  with  the  bank.  In  1847,  he  was  elected 
Judge  of  the  County  Court,  of  Tuskaloosa  county,  which  office  he 
held  for  a  few  years,  and  soon  afterwards  he  died. 

The  abilities  of  Judge  Foster  were  above  mediocrity.  He  was 
a  faithful  public  servant.  In  1840,  he  was  a  candidate  before  the 
Legislature  for  Judge  of  the  County  Court  of  Cherokee,  and  was 
beaten  in  caucus  by  Mathew  J.  Turnley,  Esq.  Dissatisfied  with 
the  ruling  of  "King  Caucus,"  he  appealed  to  the  Legislature^ 
where  he  was  defeated  by  the  nominee.  He  returned  home,  and, 
at  the  next  election,  declared  himself  a  candidate  for  the  Senate, 
in  opposition  to  Solomon  C.  Smith,  Esq.,  the  Senator  from  the  dis 
trict,  who  voted  for  Judge  Turnley,  and  for  the  General  Ticket 
Bill,  which  course  was  unpopular  in  the  mountain  counties.  Avail 
ing  himself  of  the  disiavor  with  which  the  General  Ticket  System 
was  regarded,  Mr.  Foster,  for  the  double  purpose  of  avenging 
himself  on  Mr.  Smith  for  voting  for  Judge  Turnley,  and  for  se 
curing  to  himself  the  honor  of  a  seat  in  the  Senate,  engaged 
warmly  in  the  canvass  on  that  hobby,  advocating  the  District  Sys 
tem,  in  preference  to  the  General  Ticket,  which  latter  had  always 
prevailed  in  Georgia,  where  he  grew  to  old  age,  with  the  inter 
mission  of  two  years,  when  the  District  System  was  adopted  by 
the  Clark  party,  who  had  a  majority  in  the  Legislature,  in  1825. 
At  the  next  session,  in  1826,  it  was  repealed  by  the  Troup  majority 
of  that  year.  At  the  polls,  in  August,  1841,  Mr.  Foster  distanced 
his  competitor,  Mr.  Smith,  and  took  his  seat  in  the  ensuing  session 
for  a  term  of  three  years. 

A  proof  of  the  tenacity  of  purpose  with  which  Mr.  Foster  pur 
sued  his  objects,  was  given  at  the  session  of  1842,  on  the  4th  of 
December.  There  was  a  vacancy  in  the  office  of  Judge  of  the 
County  Court  of  Mobile,  caused  by  the  death  of  the  Hon.  John 
F.  Everett,  a  former  Mayor  of  the  city.  It  was  considered  one  of 
the  best  paying  offices  of  the  State,  and,  for  that  and  other  reasons, 
it  was  eagerly  sought.  George  F.  Lindsay,  Esq.,  held  the  office 
by  Executive  appointment,  and  was  a  candidate  for  continuance 
in  it.  Two  other  gentlemen,  non-residents  of  Mobile,  viz :  Samuel 
F.  Rice,  Esq.,  of  Talladega,  and  Solomon  Heydenfeldt,  Esq.,  of 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Hen  in  Alabama.  221 

Russell,  were  likewise  candidates.  In  addition  to  these,  there 
was  a  fourth  candidate  in  the  Hon.  John  A.  Cuthbert,  who  had 
recently  removed  from  Georgia  to  Mobile.  This  gentleman  had 
been  a  Representative  in  Congress  from  Georgia  in  1819-'21,  and 
between  1830  and  1835  was  editor  of  the  "Federal  Union,"  a 
newspaper  published  at  Milledgevillc — was  several  years  Secre 
tary  of  the  Senate,  and  also  Secretary  to  the  Executive  Depart 
ment,  under  the  administration  of  Gov.  Lunipkin.  He  possessed 
fair  legal  abilities,  and  was  finished  and  courtly  in  his  address,  and 
better  adapted  to  figure  in  the  Senate  of  the  United  States  than 
to  mingle  with  a  promiscuous  crowd  of  men,  or  to  engage  in  con 
tests  for  subordinate  offices.  It  was  understood  that  his  large  for 
tune  had  melted  away,  from  a  too  generous  hospitality  in  former 
years. 

These  facts  are  mentioned  to  show  on  what  foundation  Mr. 
Foster  rested  his  hopes  of  success,  when  he  announced  Mr.  Cuth 
bert  as  a  candidate  before  the  Convention  of  the  two  Houses. 
Besides  the  other  gentlemen  named,  Mr.  Ogden,  of  Mobile,  had 
also  been  announced  as  a  candidate.  The  roll  was  called,  and  on 
the  first  ballot  Mr.  Cuthbert  received  13  votes,  Mr.  Hcydenfeldt 
19,  Mr.  Lindsay  34,  Mr.  Ogden  26,  and  Mr.  Rice  37.  According 
to  the  usual  practice,  after  the  first  ballot,  the  friends  of  the  hind 
most  candidate  were  appealed  to  by  the  otherg  to  withdraw  him, 
and  to  unite  on  some  one  of  the  others  to  increase  the  chances  of 
success.  But  Mr.  Foster,  knowing  the  meritorious  qualities  of 
his  friend,  determined  to  keep  his  name  on  the  list  to  the  final 
issue,  believing  that  he  held  the  balance  of  power,  and  would 
ultimately  prevail.  For  ten  ballots  Mr.  Cuthbert  received  about 
the  same  13  votes.  Occasionally  he  would  fall  two  or  three  votes 
below  it,  but  none  above  that  number  —  Mr.  Foster  alone  of  the 
Senate  voting  for  him  each  time.  At  the  end  of  every  ballot,  lie 
was  signalled  to  the  lobby,  and  representations  were  made  to  dis 
courage  any  further  attempt  in  behalf  of  his  candidate,  whose  ruin 
was  certain,  it  was  alleged,  by  keeping  his  fiag  at  the  masthead. 
All  this  pleading  had  no  effect.  The  ballots  proceeded.  After 
the  tenth  ballot,  members  began  to  feel  of  Mr.  Cuthbert,  anxious 
to  terminate  the  contest  and  adjourn  for  dinner.  His  vote  in 
creased,  and  on  the  thirteenth,  he  was  elected.  During  the 
whole  time,  Mr.  Cuthbert  sat  in  the  gallery,  quietly  looking  on 
the  scene  below,  and  perhaps  never  exchanged  a  word  with  any 
individual.  His  fate  was  in  the  hands  of  his  old  cherished  per 
sonal  and  political  friend  of  the  Clark  party  in  Georgia,  and  both 
since  of  the  Democracy  in  Alabama.  It  was  indeed  a  triumph 
rarely  secured  under  such  an  unpromising  commencement. 

Judge  Cuthbert,  by  the  efficient  discharge  of  his  official  duties, 
fully  justified  the  confidence  reposed,  and  the  hopes  entertained 


222  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

by  his  friends.  Mr.  Rice,  one  of  his  competitors,  has  since  pre 
sided  on  the  bench  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  Alabama,  and  Mr. 
Heydenfeldt  has  received  similar  promotion  in  the  State  of  Cali 
fornia.  All  these  circumstances  contribute  to  the  picture  in  1842, 
of  the  scene  while  the  ballots  were  progressing,  and  invest  it  with 
no  small  degree  of  romance.  They  certainly  teach  a  lesson  of 
perseverence,  whether  it  results  in  immediate  success,  or  brings 
other  and  brighter  rewards  at  a  future  day.  Such  is  the  kaleido 
scope  of  life !  It  was  reserved  for  Mr.  Foster  himself  to  become 
the  President  of  a  bank,  and  also  a  Judge  of  the  County  Court, 
and  to  leave  behind  him  an  honorable  record  to  testify  his  virtues 
as  a  man. 

ANGUS  MCALLISTER  represented  the  District  composed  of 
Covington  and  Dale  counties,  for  many  years  in  the  Senate.  He 
was  a  quiet,  modest  gentleman,  of  a  youthful  appearance,  and 
seldom  ever  participated  in  debate;  but  from  his  sound  judgment 
he  was  a  safe  man  in  counsel,  which  gave  him  position  in  the 
dominant  party,  of  which  he  was  a  member.  When  he  retired 
from  the  Senate,  he  left  a  good  impression  among  his  many 
friends  as  to  his  legislative  and  social  qualities.  He  now  resides 
in  the  county  of  Limestone. 

MACE  T.  B.  BRINDLEY  entered  the  House  from  Blount  county 
in  1839.  At  the  session  of  1841,  he  took  his  seat  in  the  Senate, 
in  which  he  continued  to  serve  his  constituents  faithfully  to  the 
close  of  1855,  when  he  retired  from  public  life.  He  had  been 
many  years  Clerk  of  the  County  Court  of  Blount,  was  at  one 
time  a  Bank  Director  at  Decatur,  and  had  studied  the  banking 
system  of  Alabama  attentively.  He  was  well  informed,  with  a 
small  degree  of  vanity  in  his  composition,  and  rather  philo 
sophic  in  his  turn  of  mind.  In  the  debates,  he  frequently  took 
part,  and  was  generally  heard  with  attention  by  his  fellow- 
members  because  of  the  uprightness  of  his  character,  and  the  sin 
cerity  of  his  manner.  His  disposition  was  kind,  and  his  deport 
ment  inoffensive,  which  exempted  him  from  enemies.  He  had 
passed  through  pecuniary  vicisitudes  without  a  blemish  on  his 
reputation,  and  was  at  all  times  cheerful,  even  in  adversity,  which 
showed  the  true  character  of  the  man.  Mr.  Brindley  died  Au 
gust  30,  1871,  at  quite  an  advanced  age,  leaving  a  good  character 
as  an  inheritance  to  his  family. 

MILTON  MCCLANAHAN,  a  native  of  Tennessee,  became  a  citi 
zen  of  Alabama  at  an  early  period.  He  represented  Morgan 
county  in  the  House  from  1836  to  1841,  and  then  served  five 
years  in  the  Senate,  closing  his  term  at  the  session  of  1845.  In 


Reminiscences  of  PubliG  Men  In  Alabama.  223 

a  few  years  thereafter,  he  removed  to  Texas,  where  he  was 
defeated  for  the  Legislature,  and  died  several  years  ago.  He 
belonged  to  the  plain,  solid  and  practical  class  of  men  in  the  Leg 
islature  in  his  day,  and  was  diligent  and  faithful  to  all  trusts  con 
fided  to  him.  He  had  a  degree  of  self-confidence  which  enabled 
him  to  partake  freely  in  discussion,  always  with  good  sense,  and 
directly  to  the  point,  yet  in  a  style  not  remarkable  for  beauty,  of 
which;  fact  he  seemed  to  be  wholly  unconscious.  He  persuaded 
himself  that  he  was  capable  of  throwing  light  upon  almost  any 
question,  and  indeed,  to  some  extent,  he  was  correct ;  for  his  ideas 
were  generally  good,  always  under  the  control  of  strong  common 
sense.  That  he  was  no  orator,  and  that  his  address  on  the  floor 
was  by  no  means  courtly,  did  not  in  the  least  militate  against  his 
claims  to  that  fair  degree  of  personal  respect  which  his  irre 
proachable  character,  and  his  honest  face,  never  failed  to  inspire. 
The  cultivation  of  his  mind  had  been  neglected  in  his  youth,  and 
being  ambitious  to  center  political  life,  and  to  lead  among  his  peo 
ple,  he  had  to  contend  with  many  difficulties. 

WALKER  KEITH  BAYLOR,  of  Jefferson,  was  born  and  educated 
in  Kentucky.  He  was  a  brother  of  the  Hon.  R.  E.  B.  Baylor, 
who  represented  the  Tuskaloosa  District  in  Congress,  1829-31, 
and  afterward  moved  to  Texas.  They  were  related  to  the  Bled- 
soes,  of  Kentucky,  a  family  distinguished  for  learning  and  ability; 
and  to  Dr.  Bledsoe,  the  very  able  editor  of  the  Southern  Review, 
heretofore  published  in  Baltimore,  which  periodical  has  since 
been  adopted  by  the  General  Conference  of  the  Methodist  Epis 
copal  Church,  South,  and  taken  under  its  patronage. 

Mr.  W.  K.  Baylor  settled  in  Alabama  about  1830,  and  engaged  in 
the  practice  of  the  law  at  Ely  ton.  I  first  knew  him  in  public  life 
when  he  took  his  seat  in  the  Senate  at  the  commencement  of  the 
session  of  1841.  He  served  through  the  session  of  1842,  and  in 
1843,  Gov.  Fitzpatrick  appointed  him  Judge  of  the  Third  Judi 
cial  Circuit,  to  which  office  he  was  elected  at  the  ensuing  session 
of  the  Legislature.  He  continued  on  the  Bench  until  the  Sum 
mer  or  Fall. of  1845,  when  he  visited  his  brother  in  Texas,  and 
where,  in  examining  the  workmanship  of  a  newly-invented  pistol, 
the  weapon  was  accidentally  discharged,  and  killed  him. 

The  intellect  and  learning  of  Judge  Baylor  justly  ranked  him 
with  the  leading  minds  of  his  day.  His  reading  and  acquirements 
were  various,  and  his  force  of  analysis  was  very  great.  His  polit 
ical  information  was  extensive  and  accurate,  which  made  him  a 
prominent  man  of  the  Democratic  party.  He  also  paid  much  at 
tention  to  philosophy  and  astronomy,  and  spent  many  evenings 
and  nights  at  the  University  Observatory,  examining,  with  Prof. 
Barnard,  the  planetary  system,  aided  by  the  newly  improved 


224  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

instruments  ordered  from  London,  and  constructed  upon  a  plan 
prescribed  by  the  learned  Professor.  Judge  Baylor  was  the  friend  • 
and  patron  .of  education,  of  which  committee  he  was  chairman  in 
the  Senate.  His-  social  nature  and  his  bachelor  habits  led  him 
into  convivial  temptations,  which  have  proved  the  ruin  of  many 
bright  intellects  in  the  State.  He  was  somewhat  eccentric,  and 
was  a  strong  believer  in  the  doctrines  of  phrenology  and  physiog 
nomy;  and  his  convictions  were  often  acted  upon  by  measuring, 
with  a  tape  line,  the  face  and  %head  of  candidates  for  office,  to  de 
terminate  their  fitness. 

In  person.  Judge  Baylor  was  tall,  and  angular  in  his  features. 
On  first  seeing  him,  a  stranger  would  be  apt  to  inquire  who  he 
was,  from  his  remarkable  appearance.  To  a  practised  observer  of 
men,  and  to  one  well  acquainted  with  the  influences  on  character, 
there  would  be  no 'difficulty  in  deciding  that  the  high  gifts  of  na 
ture  in  the  external  man,  had  suffered  in  their  full  development 
by  an  excess  of  wine,  or  other  stimulant  notf  essential  to  physical ' 
or  mental  beauty.  He  was  a  rare  compound  of  worth  ^nd  in 
firmity,  and  while  his  melancholy  fate  excited  general  sympathy 
and  regret,  his  character  for  integrity  will  ever  survive  in  the 
memory  of  those  who  knew  him  best. 

WALTER  R.  Ross,  of  Wilcox,  dated  his  citizenship  in  Alabama 
at  an  early  period.  I  think  he  was  once  Sheriff  of  Montgomery 
county.  My  acquaintance  with  him  began  in  1837,  when*  he  was 
a  member  of  the  House  from  Wilcox.  He  served  almost  contin-^ 
uously  in  one  or  the  other  branch  of  the  Legislature  until  the  end 
of  the  session  of  1842.  By  industry  and  good  management  he 
had  acquired  a  large  fortune.  Being  a  widower,  he,  in  the  mean 
time,  married  Mrs.  Bozeman  of  the  neighborhood  of  Havana, 
Greene  county,  to  which  he  removed,  where  he  established  a  high 
reputation  as  a  planter,  and  ad4ed  to  his  extensive  property.  He 
died  .many  years  ago. 

Mr.  Ross  was  a  Whig  in  politics,  honest*  and  .decided  in  his 
opinions,  and  always  resp'e*ctful  to  those  from  whom  he  differed  in 
sentiment.  He  belonged  to  the  class  of  quiet  and.  useful  .men 
who  adorn  any  station  which  they  fill  by  their  social,  virtues,  and 
uprightness  of  character. 

DANIEL  B.  TURNER,  of  Madison, .was  a  native  of  the  Old  too-' 
minion,  and  came  to  Alabama  when  a  young  man.  He  was  elected 
Sheriff  of  the  county,  and  afterwards  held  the  responsible  office 
of  Post-master,  "at  Huntsville,  for  many  years.  In  1839,  he  came 
into  the  Senate,  where  he  served  a  term  of  three  years,  of  which 
body  he  was  an  active  and  intelligent  member.  A  Democrat,  from 
the  wealthy  county  of  Madison,  he  felt  himself  justified  in  yielding 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  225 

to  his  inclination  for  prominency  in  the  political  counsels  of  the 
State,  and  in  gratifying  the  harmless  opinion  he  entertained  that 
he  was  the  equal  of  other  men  who  aspired  to  higher  positions  in 
public  life.  This  idea  rendered  Mr.  Turner  a  frequent  debater, 
but  never  a^  very  tedious  one.  On  committees  he  was  quite  indus 
trious,  and  his  reports  were  always  sensible,  and  to  the  point. 

After  retiring  from  the  Legislature,  Mr.  Turner  engaged  largely 
in  trade  and  money  transactions  with  the  varied  fortunes  usually 
attending  such  pursuits.  In  the  latter  years  of  his  life,  he  was 
much  afflicted,  and  in  1866  he  died.  He  had  been  a  long  time  in 
membership  with  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  and  enjoyed  a 
good  position  in  social  life. 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

of  1841,  and  Sketch  of  Members,  Continued. 

Having  paid  his  respects,  in  due  form,  to  a  number  of  gentle 
men' of  the  {Senate,  the  writer  now  proceeds  to  make  some  observa 
tions  relative  to  the  House  of  Representatives,  the  larger  body. 
The  business  ilarrative  will  be,  for  a  while,  suspended,  to  give 
place  to  an  examination  of  character.  Occasionally  there  may  be 
fragments  of  the  record  introduced  in  the  brief  history  o£  mem 
bers,  as  they  appeared  in  the  House,  or  in  giving  the  impressions 
Avhich  they  created.  Brevity  and*  condensation  will  be  the  aim  of 
the  writer,  in  his  personal  sketches. 

* 

JOHN  STEELE,  of  Autauga,  was  bom  in  Tennesse,  and  settled 
in  Alabama  soon  after  the  formation  of  the  State  Government. 
He  was  originally  a  trader  in  stock,  and  while  engaged  in  this 
*  business,  he,  no  doubt,  formed  those  traits  of  character,  as  a  dealer 
in  pmperty,  which  distinguished  his  subsequent  life,  and  enabled 
him  to  acquire  a  very  large  estate.  He  was  a  Democrat,  national 
in  his  feelings  and  views,  which  led  him  to  espouse  the  side  of 
Mr;  Douglas,  in  the  Presidential' contest  of  1860.  He  served  in 
the  Legislature  several  years,  in  all  which  time  be  exhibited  a 
clear,  discriminating,  practical  mind,  which  made  him  a  safe  and 
useful  public  servant.  Mr.  Steele  filled  a  large  space  in  the  busi 
ness  relations  of  life,  and  was  distinguished  for  his  liberality  and 
15 


226  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

charity.  He  was  a  prominent  member  of  the  Methodist  Protestant 
Church,  at  the  time  of  his  death,  which  occurred  about  the  close 
of  the  war  between  the  States. 

JOHN  L.  HUNTER  came  to  the  House  from  Barbour  county,  one 
session  only,  which  was  that  of  1841;  but  he  had  been  for  several 
years  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  the  University,  which 
drew  him  annually  to  the  seat  of  government,  where  he  mingled 
largely  in  political  and  social  circles.  He  was  a  Democrat,  and 
after  his  term  of  service  in  the  Legislature,  he  was  elected  a 
Major-General  of  militia.  He  removed  to  Texas  several  years 
ago,  and  has  since  died. 

The  mind  of  Gen.  Hunter  was  well  cultivated,  and  his  address 
was  marked  by  great  suavity.  He  was  a  fair  specimen  of  the 
olden  school,  and  was  raised  in  South  Carolina,  from  Huguenot 
ancestry.  In  addition  to  his  general  intelligence,  he  was  a  scien 
tific  patron  of  agriculture,  and  was  usually  assigned  the  front  rank 
in  all  conventions  and  societies  of  this  class,  of  which  he  -was  a 
member.  The  polish  and  grace  of  manner,  with  all  the  etiquette 
of  good  breeding,  never  forsook  him,  even  when  he  found  it  neces 
sary  to  insult  a  man,  an  instance  of  which  was  related  by  Mr. 
John  Cochran,  when  George  L.  Barry,  Esq.,  had  been  employed 
against  Gen.  Hunter  in  a  cause  then  pending  in  court,  and  took 
occasion  to  use  language  which  the  latter  gentleman  considered  un 
called  for  in  the  line  of  his  profession,  and  far  transcending  the 
propriety  of  a  legal  argument  on  the  facts  in  evidence.  Resenting 
the  attack  on  his  character,  Gen.  Hunter  blandly  approached  and 
thus  addressed  him :  "  Judge  Barry,  it  is  painful  to  me  as  a  gentle 
man  to  feel  obliged  to  say  to  you  what  I  feel  compelled,  in  justice 
to  myself,  to  say — really,  sir,  it  is  repugnant  to  my  feelings  to 
speak  of  you  as  the  circumstances  demand — but  I  feel  bound  in 
honor  to  say  to  you  that  you  are  wry  much  of  a  rascal."  Those 
who  knew  General  Hunter  will  at  once  appreciate  the  anecdote  as 
perfectly  consistent  with  his  style  and  delicacy.  He  had  a  pleas 
ant  voice,  and  a  handsome  flow  of  language,  which,  added  to  his 
good  judgment,  made  him  a  welcome  figure  in  debate,. whenever 
he  chose  to  occupy  the  floor  of  the  House. 

HUGH  N.  CRAWFORD,  of  Barbour,  was  a  member  of  the  House, 
for  the  first  time,  at  the  session  of  1841.  He  was  from  Georgia, 
and  related,  perhaps  remotely,  to  the  distinguished  family  of  that 
name.  He  was  very  neat  in  his  person,  witty  and  humorous  in 
debate,  and  often  put  the  House  in  a  roar  of  merriment.  But 
these  moods  were  so  frequently  indulged  that  they  soon  lost  their 
piquancy.  In  other  respects  he  sustained  himself  in  quite  a  cred- 
itabje  manner,  He  had  a  friendly  nod  and  word  for  all  his  friends 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  227 

every  time  they  met,  and  he  was  esteemed  as  an  agreeable  com 
panion,  rather  of  the  comic  order,  but  always  welcome.  His 
society  was  much  sought  by  the  mirth-loving  class,  and  sometimes 
by  the  grave  seniors  who  desired  a  relaxation  from  heavy  thoughts 
as  necessary  to  refresh  their  burdened  spirits.  After  serving  a 
number  of  years  at  the  old  Capitol,  he  was  a  member  two  sessions 
after  the  removal  of  the  seat  of  government  to  Montgomery,  to 
which  city  he  changed  his  residence  from  Euiaula,  to  practice  the 
profession  of  the  law.  He  died  about  the  year  1855. 

JOHN  COCHRAN  is  a  native  of  East-Tennessee,  and  settled  in 
Jacksonville  for  the  practice  of  the  law,  in  1835.  In  1837,  he 
was  elected  a  trustee  of  the  University.  In  1838,  he  was  a  candi 
date  for  the  House  of  Representatives,  and  was  beaten,  although, 
for  a  young  man,  he  bore  the  contest  gallantly,  and  received  a 
flattering  vote.  In  1839,  he  was  elected,  and  again  in  1841  and 
1842.  Having  married  a  daughter  of  Gen.  William  Wellborn, 
of  Eufaula,  Mr.  Cochran  removed  to  Barbour  county.  In  1845, 
he  was  a  candidate  for  Congress,  and  canvassed  the  district,  in  op 
position  to  the  Hon.  Henry  W.  Hilliard,  and  was  defeated.-  In 
1848,  he  was  on  the  Cass  Electoral  Ticket.  In  1851,  he  opposed 
Captain  James  Abercrombie  for  Congress,  and  was  again  beaten  in 
the  race.  In  1853  and  1855,  he  was  a  member  of  the  House,  and, 
at  both  sessions,  was  Chairman  of  the  Judiciary  Committee,  which 
is  considered  the  post  of  honor.  In  the  Secession  Convention  of 
1861,  Mr.  Cochran  took  an  active  part  as  a  delegate.  In  18(51,  he 
received  the  Executive  appointment  as  Judge  of  the  Circuit  Court, 
to  which  office  he  was  afterward  elected  by  the  people. 

To  make  such  a  record  requires  talents  of  no  ordinary  character, 
and  Judge  Cochran  possessed  them.  His  powers  upon  the  stump 
were  massive,  and  his  eloquence  commanding  and  forcible.  Withal 
he  is  witty  and  pleasant  in  social  life,  and  has  many  friends  in 
different  parts  of  the  State  who  love  to  speak  of  him,  and  his 
many  engaging  qualities. 

Besides  his  political  and  judicial  honors,  it  is,  perhaps  necessary 
to  mention  that  Judge  Cochran  was  a  delegate  from  Alabama  to 
the  Southern  Commercial  Convention,  held  at  Savannah,  in  De 
cember,  1856,  over  which  the  Hon.  James  Lyons,  of  Virginia, 
presided.  Among  his  colleagues  in  the  Convention,  were  the 
Hon.  B.  S.  Bibb  and  Johnson  J.  Hooper,  Esq.,  of  Montgomery, 
and  John  G.  Barr,  Esq.,  of  Tuskaloosa.  These  gentlemen  were 
placed  on  important  committees,  and  aided  in  carving  out  the  busi 
ness  and  guiding  the  deliberations  of  the  Convention. 

Judge  Cochran  has  also  a  literary  reputation,  established  as  far 
back  as  1841,  when  he  was  quite  a  young  man.  The  "Philo- 
mathic  Society "  of  the  University  of  Alabama,  invited  him  to 


228  ,  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

deliver  the  usual  address  at  Commencement,  and,  on  the  llth  De 
cember,  he  complied,  by  delivering  what  the  committee  was  pleased 
to  style  a  "  manly,  interesting,  and  highly  instructive  address/7 
which  was  solicited  by  John  G.  Barr,  Felix  G.  Christmas,  and 
Claudius  H.  Perkins,  in  behalf  of  the  society,  for  publication. 
The  orator  took,  as  the  burden  of  his  discourse,  "  The  Evidences 
of  Decline 'in  the  American  Government."  Only  one  passage  is 
here  quoted  as  referring  to  an  event  thirty  years  in  the  past,  which 
was  a  new  era  in  Presidential  campaigns,  and  since  then  there  has 
been  a  constant  loss  of  national  dignity  on  all  such  occasions.  Mr. 

Cochran  thus  referred  to  it: 

• 

The  canvass  of  1840,  for  President  of  the  United  States,  diifered  from  most 
others  only  in  the  importance  it  possessed,  and  the  memorable  struggle  for  the 
ascendency  which  then  occurred.  No  one  can  deny  the  magnitude  of  the  ques 
tion  which  was  then  to  be  decided;  and  it  is  equally  clear  that  the  people  should 
have  decided  that  great  matter  after  the  most  candid  investigation,  and  in  the  ex 
ercise  of  the  most  dispassionate  judgment.  How  was  the  public  mind  prepared 
for  that  event  ?  I  shall  now  attempt  to  answer  that  question  in  all  candor.  The 
first  thing  done  was  to  fan  political  opinions  into  passions,  and  drown  the  voice  of 
reason  in  the  din  of  party  strife.  By  way  of  reproach,  one  party  declared  that 
the  other  was  supporting  a  candidate  whose  highest  ambition  would  be  fully  sat 
isfied  with  a  log  cabin  for  a  dwelling  house,  and  hard  cider  for  a  beverage.  And 
the  other  party,  instead  of  treating  so  foolish  a  remark  with  silent  contempt, 
seized  upon  it  as  a  matter  of  persecution  on  the  part  of  its  opponents,  and  as  an 
evidence  of  the  aristocratic  principles  of  those  by  whom  it  was  urged  as  an  objec 
tion  :  and  the  contest  was  not  so  much  one  for  principle,  as  it  seemed  to  be  which 
party  should  render  itself  most  ridiculous. 

To  do  Judge  Cochran  justice,  it  should  be  claimed  for  him,  that 
his  natural  gifts  are  of  a  high  order,  and  that  by  diligent  cultiva 
tion,  and  a  correct  taste,  he  has  mastered  a  style  of  public  speak 
ing  which  few  can  surpass.  His  moods,  however,  are  not  always 
the  same.  At  times,  it  would  seem  that  his  efforts  were  almost 
failures;  and  then,  at  other  times,  he  was  overwhelming  in  argu 
ment,  and  soared  in  the  loftiest  regions  of  eloquence.  Distin 
guished  as  he  is,  he  has  never  reached  the  proper  destiny  nature 
has  pointed  out. 

WILLIAM  H.  MUSGROVE,  of  Blount,  was  an  elderly  gentleman 
who  for  many  years  served  alternately  in  the  Senate  and  House. 
He  was  from  Tennessee,  and  removed  to  Alabama  about  the  time 
of  its  admission  into  the  Union,  in  1819.  He  was  a  faithful, 
working,  quiet  member,  who  consumed  but  little  of  the  public 
time  in  debate,  yet  he  was  constant  in  his  attendance  upon  the 
House  and  Committees.  He  had  a  placid  face  and  agreeable  fea 
tures,  which  indicated  a  good  heart.  If  still  living,  he  must  be 
much  advanced  in  years. 

MATTHEW  PHILLIPS,  of  Chambers,  was  from  Georgia,  in  the 
Legislature  of  which  State  he  had  been  a  Representative  from 


Itenimiscmces  of  Public  Mm  in  Alabama.  229 

Jasper  county,  about  the  year  1828.  He  was  a  lawyer  by  profes 
sion,  of  moderate  abilities,  making  up  by  his  attention  to  business 
for  what  he  lacked  in  other  respects.  This  was  probably  the  se 
cret  of  any  success  he  had  in  life.  He  was  quite  genial  in  his 
disposition,  and  very  neat  in  his  person  and  dress,  and  moved  in 
a  very  respectable  circle.  Messrs.  John  T.  Hemin,  of  Talladega, 
and  William  H.  Barnes,  of  Lee,  both  since  distinguished  for  legal 
ability,  studied  law  under  his  direction. 

LORENZO  JAMES,  of  Clarke,  was  a  South  Carolinian,  and  a 
lineal  descendant  of  Captain  James,  of  Revolutionary  fame.  He 
graduated  at  Yale  College,  in  1824,  and,  marrying  a  daughter  of 
Gen.  Thomas  Scott,  he  settled  as  a  planter  in  Lowndes,  which  he 
represented  in  the  Senate  in  1836,  being  the  first  Senator  from 
that  county.  Afterward,  he  removed  to  Clarke,  where  he  was 
surrounded  by  a  large,  intelligent,  and  influential  family  connec 
tion.  In  1841,  he  was  elected  to  the  House,  where  he  took  rank 
as  a  leading  member.  Placed  at  the  head  of  the  Committee  of 
Ways  and  Means,  he  succeeded  in  reporting  a  revenue  bill  to 
relieve  the  Banks  of  the  further  charge  of  supporting  the  State 
Government,  by  substituting  taxation.  But  the  House,  not  com 
ing  up  to  his  standard  of  duty  in  this  trying  emergency,  the  bill 
failed,  much  to  the  mortification  of  Col.  James,  and-  many  other 
gentlemen  who,  convinced  of  the  necessity,  were  anxious  to  brace 
and  guard  the  public  faith  by  returning  to  the  system  of  direct 
taxation,  which  had  been  suspended  several  years.  In  1849,  he 
was  again  a  member  from  Clarke,  and  afterward  served  a  num 
ber  of  sessions  in  the  Senate,  in  which  he  displayed  tact  and 
talent  of  no  ordinary  degree. 

Col.  James  was  a  good  debater,  without  attempting  very  often 
to  engage  the  attention  of  the  House,  preferring  his  practical 
business  habits  of  investigation,  and  acting  upon  it  as  the  best 
means  of  promoting  the  public  welfare.  His  conversational  pow 
ers  are  very  good,  and  he  abounds  with  the  spice  of  wit,  anecdote 
and  general  humor.  Few  gentlemen  living  have  mingled  more 
extensively  in  the  higher  circles  of  society  in  the  State.  Time 
has  dealt  gently  and  kindly  with  him,  and  with  a  well-balanced 
mind  and  temperament,  it  is  hoped  that  he  may  enjoy  still  many 
years  of  life  and  happiness.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church.  One  of  his  sisters  married  Frederick  S. 
Blount,  Esq.,  of  Mobile,  a  gentleman  of  fine  personal  worth,  and 
a  half-brother  of  the  Hon.  John  H.  Bryan,  a  Representative  in 
Congress  from  North  Carolina  in  1825-7,  and  a  distinguished 
member  of  the  bar  of  that  State. 


230  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

WILLIAM  O.  WINJSTOX,  of  DeKalb,  was  born  in  Fauquier 
county,  Virginia,  in  the  year  1804,  and  came  with  his  father  to 
Hawkins  county,  East-Tennessee,  in  1812.  He  was  admitted  to 
the  bar  in  1826,  practiced  his  profession  successfully,  and  was 
elected  Clerk  of  the  County  Court  in  1822,  in  which  office  he 
served  two  years,  and  resigned  to  remove  to  Alabama,  where  he 
settled  in  DeKalb  county,  1830. 

From  time  to  time,  commencing  in  1840,  he  served  in  both 
branches  of  the  Legislature  for  fifteen  years,  and  as  Solicitor  in 
the  Huntsville  District  for  seven  years.  He  resigned  the  latter 
office  to  take  the  Presidency  of  the  Will's  Valley  Railroad  Com 
pany,  which  position  he  held  up  to  the  time  of  the  war,  and  since 
the  war  until  1867.  He  originated  the  internal  improvement  bill 
giving  State  aid  to  railroads,  drew  and  reported  it,  and  used  his 
influence  for  its  passage.  He  was  an  Elector  on  the  Buchanan 
ticket  in  1856,  and  was  a  member  of  the  State  Conventions  of 
1861  and  1865. 

He  was  opposed  to  Secession,  and  voted  against  the  ordinance, 
just  before  doing  which  he  addressed  the  Convention,  pledging 
himself  to  stand  by  the  State  in  the  troubles  which  might  follow. 
He  was  in  favor  of  referring  the  ordinance  to  the  people  for  their 
action  before  finally  adopting  it,  and  of  calling  a  convention  of 
the  slave  States,  to  prepare  as  an  ultimatum  certain  concessions  to 
be  made  by  the  Northern  people,  which,  if  not  granted,  would  be 
sufficient  cause  for  a  separation.  In  view  of  the  passage  of  the 
ordinance,  Col.  Winston  closed  his  speech  as  follows: 

This  done,  Alabama  stands  forth  an  independent  sovereignty  —  in  anticipation 
of  which  event,  he  had  written  to  his  son,  then  a  cadet  at  the  Military  Academy 
at  West-Point,  to  resign  his  position  there  and  return  home,  that  he  might  unite 
his  destiny  with  that  of  his  native  State;  that,  for  nearly  two  years  in  that,  excel 
lent  school,  the  knowledge  he  had  acquired  of  military  tactics  might  be  of  some 
service  in  the  approaching  stormy  times.  He  assured  gentlemen  that  what 
ever  glory  might  attach  to  this  work  of  precipitation  would  belong  to  the  leaders  of 
that  movement — to  all  of  which  they  were  most  clearly  entitled. 

Col.  Winston  was  a  quiet,  modest,  retiring  gentleman,  entirely 
free  from  ostentation  or  undue  pretension,  and  yet  he  was  an 
active,  working  member  in  all  the  dejiberative  bodies  in  which  I 
ever  saw  him.  Well  informed  on  most  subjects  of  legislation,  he 
naturally  drifted  into  those  channels  which  best  promote  the  good 
of  the  people,  with  whom  his  heart  ever  beat  in  sympathetic  uni 
son.  Though  he  frequently  engaged  in  debate,  he  was  economi 
cal  of  the  public  time,  and  never  remained  long  on  the  floor,  to 
the  discomfort  of  his  fellow-members  by  inflicting  on  them  te 
dious  and  vapid  harangues.  What  he  had  to  say  sprang  from 
his  honest  convictions,  and,  in  supporting  or  opposing  a  measure, 
he  at  once  came  to  the  point,  and  then  his  duty  was  discharged. 


lieminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama*. 

in  person,  he  was  muscular  and  stout.  His  voice  was  strong  and 
pleasant,  which  greatly  aided  his  effectiveness.  Col.  Winston 
died  in  the  early  part  of  1871. 

FELIX  G.  NORMAN,  of  Franklin,  was  born  and  educated  in 
Tennessee.  He  represented  Franklin  for  the  first  time  at  the 
session  of  1841,  and  by  continuous  elections,  he  served  in  the 
House  until  the  close  of  the  session  of  1847-8,  since  which  time 
he  has  been  in  private  life,  engaged  in  the  practice  of  the  law. 
While  in  the  Legislature,  Col.  Norman  was  a  very  efficient  mem 
ber,  both  in  debate  and  in  Committees.  He  was  a  Democrat 
from  honest  conviction,  and  never  departed  from  that  faith,  but 
always  kept  himself  in  the  path  of  duty  according  to  the  best  of 
his  judgment.  Acting  on  this  principle,  he  opposed  at  every  step 
the  resolutions  of  the  General  Assembly  accepting  Alabama's 
portion  of  the  proceeds  of  the  public  lands.  In  the  same  manner, 
he  opposed  what  he  considered  the  improper  identity  in  the  same 
resolution,  on  the  Constitutional  amendment  providing  for  bi 
ennial  sessions  of  the  Legislature,  and  for  the  removal  of  the  Seat 
of  Government  at  the  session  of  1845.  In  all  this,  he  only 
yielded  to  a  sense  of  duty,  to  prevent  injustice,  or  an  unsafe  pre 
cedent.  However  laudable  his  purpose,  his  course  on  the  ques 
tion  of  removal  resulted  to  his  injury,  through  influences  subse 
quently  brought  to  bear  against  him,  in  a  political  sense. 

For  many  years,  Col.  Norman  was  Grand  High  Priest  and 
Grand  Master  of  the  Masonic  fraternity  of  Alabama,  who  pre 
sented  him,  on  his  retirement,  appropriate  medals,  commemo 
rating  his  services  to  the  craft. 

From  his  bearing  in  the  Legislature,  the  courtesy  he  always 
exhibited  in  debate,  the  intelligence  with  which  he  handled  ques 
tions,  and  the  easy  and  graceful  elocution  which  seemed  natural  to 
him,  Col.  Norman  was  unquestionably  cast  in  a  large  intellectual 
mould,  capable  of  expansion  beyond  the  limits  within  which  it 
was  his  fortune  to  be  confined  as  a  political  aspirant.  Although 
rigid  in  the  tenets  of  his  party,  and  at  times  somewhat  acrimo 
nious  under  provocation,  he  was  not  blind  to  the  merits  of  a 
measure  because  it  may  have  originated  with  his  opponents.  He 
was  bold  and  fearless,  often  displaying  the  gallantry  of  ancient 
knighthood  in  the  legislative  arena,  shivering  a  lance  with  friend 
or  foe  without  personal  malice.  His  face  was  luminous  with  good 
feeling,  and  his  whole  deportment  was  that  of  a  gentleman  sensi 
ble  of  the  rights  of  others,  and  careful  of  his  own,  in  all  that 
relates  to  the  substantial  etiquette  of  life.  Had  his  lot  permitted 
a  more  congenial  opening  for  the  development  of  his  character 
after  the  inward  model,  there  is  no  doubt  that  Col.  Norman  would 
have  filled  a  large  space  before  the  public,  and  achievecl  a 


Remini&tences  of  Pu&lic  Men  in  Alabama. 

reputation  as  proudly  National  as  that  which  he  now  enjoys  is, 
in  a  local  view,  distinguished  for  ability  and  honor.  Perhaps  the 
greatest  obstacle  to  his  advancement  to  higher  places  has  been  a 
certain  measure  of  self-respect  and  honorable  sensibility,  which 
made  intrigue  and  management,  the  usual  medium  of  success, 
repugnant  to  his  nature.  He  has  abundant  reason,  however,  to  • 
be  satisfied  with  the  result,  in  his  own  high  and  unimpeachable 
character.  He  is  still  in  the  meridian  of  life,  and  resides  in 
Tuscumbia. 

JOHN  S.  KENNEDY,  of  Lauderdale,  is  a  native  of  Alabama, 
and  was  educated  at  LaGrange  College.  He  studied  law,  and, 
when  young,  was  elected  a  Representative  in  the  Legislature,  in 
1841,  and  served  again  in  1842,  after  which  he  engaged  more 
earnestly  in  the  practice  of  the  law.  In  1847,  he  was  a  Repre 
sentative,  and  was  elected  Solicitor  of  the  Florence  Circuit,  and 
was  reflected  in  1851  and  in  1855. 

From  early  life,  Mr.  Kennedy  evinced  good  judgment  in  form 
ing,  and  energy  and  perseverance  in  the  prosecution  of,  his  plans. 
Withal  he  possessed  the  faculty  too  much  wanting  in  young  men, 
of  husbanding  and  using  their  means  profitably.  Following  this 
dictate  of  prudence,  he  has  been  led  on  to  independence  and  use 
fulness  as  a  manufacturer.  Before  the  war  he  had  engaged  largely 
in  this  pursuit  in  North- Alabama.  During  that  period,  when  the 
Federal  troops  invaded  that  portion  of  the  State,  he  became  a 
refugee,  and  made  his  abode  at  Tuskaloosa,  where,  in  connection 
with  other  gentlemen,  he  controlled  the  cotton  factory  in  that 
place.  Since  then,  he  has  built  a  factory  a  few  miles  from  Tuska 
loosa,  which  is  appropriately  called  Kennedale—an  establishment 
likely  to  exert  no  little  influence  in  advancing  the  interest  of  the 
surrounding  country.  In  his  history  and  success  he  is  a  striking 
example  of  what  may  be  reached  by  persevering  industry  and  fru 
gality.  Much  to  his  credit,  he  is  liberal  and  public-spirited  in  the 
application  of  his  means.  • 

Perhaps  this  is  a  proper  occasion  for  the  indulgence  of  a  few 
thoughts,  intended  chiefly  for  young  men.  In  the  fortunes  of  Mr. 
Kennedy  it  is  seen  what  may  be  accomplished  by  good  manage 
ment,  from  early 'youth.  When  he  came  to  the  Legislature,  in 
1841,  he,  no  doubt,  marked  out  for  himself  a  bright  career  in  the 
public  service.  It  required  considerable  nerve  to  change  the 
Constitution,  so  as  to  legalize  biennial  sessions  of  the  Legislature1, 
and  to  reduce  the  quota  of  Senators  and  Representatives  as  pre 
viously  fixed  bylaw.  Yet  he  offered  resolutions  for  this  purpose, 
which  passed  the  House,  but  were  defeated  in  the  Senate.  His 
proposition,  however,  in  regard  to  biennial  sessions  afterward 


Ifeminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  233 

became  engrafted  on  the  Constitution,  where  it  remained  until  that 
instrument  became  a  prey  to  the  misfortunes  which  fell  upon  the 
South  in  1865,  as  the  results  of  the  war.  His  experience  in  Legis 
lative  halls*  and  in  the  judicial  tribunals,  no  doubt  satisfied  his 
curiosity,  without  perhaps  surfeiting  his  manly  ambition ;  and  he, 
therefore,  directed  his  mind  to  other  pursuits  as  likely  to  confer  a 
better  reward.  Hence,  he  became  a  manufacturer  of  cotton  goods, 
and  was  probably  the  first  lawyer  in  Alabama  who  abandoned  his 
profession,  and  all  political  preferment,  to  engage  in  this  laudable 
work.  Now,  he  has  &finandal  influence  felt  and  recognized  by  the 
public,  constituting  him,  by  way  of  preeminence,  a  man  of  the 
solid  doss,  while  hundreds  and  thousands  of  young  men  still  linger 
on  the  threshold  of  the  learned  professions,  or  in  comparative  idle 
ness,  who  might  profitably  emulate  the  example  of  Mr.  Kennedy, 
and  at  once  secure  their  own  fortunes  and  the  prosperity  of  their 
native  South.  Let  the  voice  be  heard  and  respected. 

NATHANIEL  DAVIS,  of  Limestone,  was  first  elected  to  the 
House  in  1840,  and  was  a  member  in  1841,  '42,  '43,  and  '44.  In 
1847,  he  was  a  Senator  from  the  district  composed  of  Limestone 
and  Morgan  counties.  In  1848  and  1851,  he  was  again  returned 
to  the  House,  and,  at  the  latter  session,  was  a  candidate  for  Speaker, 
but  was  defeated.  This  closed  his  public  course,  and  in  a  few 
years  thereafter  he  died. 

Mr.  Davis  was  an  uncultivated  man,  especially  in  his  early 
public  life,  but  made  some  progress  by  his  association  with  mem 
bers  of  the  Legislature,  and  with  official  men  at  the  Capital.  He 
had  a  good  opinion  of  himself,  and  felt  competent  to  grapple  with 
master  minds  in  discussion,  and  this  idea  caused  him  to  occupy  the 
floor  frequently  as  a  debater.  His  remarks  were  generally  scatter 
ing,  and  he  always  made  the  impression  on  others  that  he  started 
with  an  argument  in  his  mind,  but  that  it  had  slipped  away  from 
him  before  he  could  give  it  expression.  Still  he  persisted  in  ad- 
dre^ing  the  House,  and  sometimes  there  was  pungency  and  wit  in 
his  fcniarks,  although  it  by  no  means  formed  the  staple  of  his  long- 
winded  harangues.  He  was  known  among  the  members  by  the 
cognomen,  Thanney  for  short,  it  is  supposed,  to  designate  a  some 
what  privileged  character,  who  took  a  hand  in  almost  every  ques 
tion,  and  indulged,  at  times,  a  little  too  much  familiarity  with  his 
brother  members,  who  did  not  always  appreciate  the  fact,  however 
innocent  the  motive  which  prompted  it.  In  the  latter  years  of 
his  public  life,  however,  he  improved  in  decorum,  and  established 
a  pretty  good  reputation. 

In  December,  1852,  when  the  Presidential  Electors  cast  the 
vote  of  Alabama  for  Mr.  Pierce,  they  appointed  Mr.  Davis,  Mes 
senger,  to  deliver  the  vote,  in  due  form,  to  the  authorities  at 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabaina. 

"Washington.  The  mission  was  executed;  but  in  what  manner 
and  with  what  address  he  contrived  to  deport  himself  amid  the 
ceremonies  of  reception  at  the  White  House,  always  tendered  to 
the  Messengers,  I  have  not  been  informed.  There  is  no  doubt 
that  his  self-possession  did  not  desert  him  at  this  trying  juncture. 
It  was  the  last  of  his  public  services. 

As  Mr.  Davis  was  playful  and  jolly,  it  may  reasonably  be  ex 
pected  that  he  would  encourage  a  good  thing  of  that  class,  even 
though  it  should  a  little  trench  upon  the  dignity  of  legislation. 
Accordingly  he  was  the  first  to  second  in  his  place  a  certain  resolu 
tion,  concerning  which  the  following  extract  is  made  from  a  Tuska- 
loosa  paper,  published  December  29,  1841 : 

• 

SATURDAY,  DECEMBER  25. 

r  The  House  met  at  10  o'clock,  pursuant  to  adjournment;  but  after  the  journal 
was  read,  no  order  could  be  preserved  by  the  Speaker,  and  his  attempts  to  en 
force  it  were  wholly  abortive.  Some  members  were  more  conspicuous  than  others 
for  irregularities  of  conduct  in  the  House. 

Mr.  Clemens  moved  the  following  resolution : 

"Be  it  resolved  by  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives  of  the  State  of  Alabama, 
in  General  Assembly  convened,  That  the  two  Houses  assemble  in  the  Hall  of  the 
House  of  Representatives,  at  11  o'clock  this  day,  for  the  purpose  of  singing  the 
following 

JOINT  SONG. 

Now  Christmas  comes,  and  merry 

Let  every  bosom  be ; 
Lay  down  thy  mallet,  TERRY, 

And  let  the  Senate  free. 
This  is  no  time  for  spouting, 

Make  no  resolves  to-day ; 
Thy  voice  is  great  at  shouting 

The  merry  roundelay. 

The  Senators  are  dozing — 

The  thing  is  quite  evident ; 
They  all  feel  like  reposing — 

Some  are  at  least  half  bent. 
Let  PHILPOT  and  the  MAJOR 

Have  holiday,  I  pray,  * 

And  I  will  lay  a  wager, 

They  are  sober  half  the  day  ! 

Look  not  so  grave  in  glasses, 

Most  gracious  Doctor  MOORE; 
Adjourn  the  House  of  asses 

And  let  them  bray  no  more. 
Bring  down  thine  ivory  hammer, 

And  let,  its  voice  proclaim, 
One  day's  respite  to  grammar, 

One  day  to  eggs  and  game  ! 


jRermnisc&nees  of  PulUe  Men  in  Alabama.  £35 

For  where's  the  use  of  brawling 

To-day,  about  the  Law? 
Some  members  are  thrown  sprawling, 

And  some  are  in  the  straw. 
Fresh  bowls  they  say  are  foaming, 

More  eggs  are  coming  in; 
Another  boat  is  coming, 

With  oysters  and  gin!" 

"The  Speaker  (Mr.  Rice  in  the  chair,)  decided  the  motion  was  out  of  order, 
soon  after  which  the  House  ad|ourned  to  Monday." 

Mr.  CLEMENS  informed  us  (the  editor)  that  the  song  was  prepared  by  Mr. 
SMITH,  one  of  the  Representatives  from  Tuskaloosa. 

It  is  unnecessary  to  describe  the  scene  presented  in  the  House, 
or  the  particular  manifestations  of  sympathy  by  Mr.  Davis.  A 
Baltimore  editor,  after  reading  the  song,  and  imagining  the  condi 
tion  of  affairs  about  that  time  in  the  House,  with  the  entertain 
ment  it  must  have  afforded  to  spectators,  declared  that  he  would 
cheerfully  make  the  trip  to  the  Capital  of  Alabama  to  witness 
such  another  exhibition. 

Another  demonstration  of  Mr.  Davis  may  here  be  referred  to 
before  concluding  this  notice.  He  had  seen  leading  members  of 
the  House,  while  in  debate,  read  public  documents  and  other 
books  in  support  of  their  views.  It  had  to  him  the  appearance  of 
great  learning  and  tact.  Between  March  1,  and  April  26,  1843, 
the  editor  of  the  "Monitor"  had  published  "Heads  of  the  Legisla 
ture"  of  the  preceding  session,  which  had  been  afterward  printed  in 
a  volume  of  178  pages.  The  sketches  were  given  in  the  order  of 
the  roll,  for  each  member  in  the  House  and  Senate.  In  one  place 
it  was  stated  that  the  editor  did  not  report  in  the  House  during 
the  session  of  1840,  but  was  then  a  reporter  in  the  Senate.  Sub 
sequently  he  commented,  in  his  paper,  upon  the  action  of  the 
House  at  the  session  of  1840,  though  he  did  not  claim  to  be  an 
eye-witness.  To  this  passage  Mr.  Davis  had  an  objection,  as  im 
pugning  his  party.  He,  therefore,  wrent  to  a  book-store  and  pur 
chased  a  copy  of  the  "Heads,"  to  be  read  as  authority  in  order  to 
weaken  the  statement  of  the  editor,  in  making  it  appear  that  he 
had  written  the  article  on  the  report  of  another.  Laying  the  book 
in  his  desk  he  patiently  waited  for  a  suitable  occasion  to  make  the 
correction  in  some  debate  on  the  floor,  touching  the  matter  to  which 
the  article  referred.  No  such  opportunity  came,  and  the  learning 
evidenced  by  reading  a  book  as  authority,  and  his  boasted  triumph 
vanished  away  in  gas,  like  most  of  his  parliamentary  efforts. 

To  show  that  Mr.  Davis  wielded  a  certain  influence  in  the 
Legislature,  and  that  his  character  \vas  socially  respected,  he  was 
selected  by  Col.  William  R.  King  to  announce  his  name  for  the 
United  States  Senate,  in  the  joint  convention  of  the  two  Houses 
at  the  first  session  at  Montgomery,  in  1847.  Connecting  him  in 


236  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in 

this  form  with  a  very  distinguished  public  man,  who  died  Vice- 
President  of  the  United  States,  Mr.  Davis  is  here  consigned  to 
the  judgment  of  his  countrymen,  on  the  record  indited  by  no 
unfriendly  hand. 

GEORGE  T.  JONES,  of  Madison,  had,  many  years  previously, 
served  in  the  Legislature.  He  was  elected  to  the  House  in  1841, 
which  was  the  last  session  in  which  he  took  his  seat,  as  age  and 
infirmity  were  gathering  upon  him,  afcd  he  declined  all  further 
calls  to  the  public  service.  He  still  lived  in  the  county,  at  an  ad 
vanced  age.  At  the  election  held  8th  November,  1870,  he  had 
himself  carried  to  the  polls,  and  addressed  a  few  words  to  his  old 
neighbors  and  friends,  telling  them  that  it  was  likely  he  was  cast 
ing  his  last  vote.  Mr.  Jones  was  generally  a  silent  member,  but 
well  informed  as  to  his  duties — indeed,  a  man  far  in  advance  of 
the  largest  number  of  his  fellow  members — and  with  a  firmness 
that  could  not  be  shaken.  If  not  a  Roman,  he  was  the  descend 
ant  of  one.  Mr.  Jones  died  in  the  early  part  of  1871. 

JOHN  B.  HOGAN,  of  Mobile,  was  a  conspicuous  man  in  his  day, 
qualified  by  courage  and  intelligence  to  fill  respectably  any  station 
within  the  gift  of  the  people.  In  1835  and  1836  he  was  appointed, 
by  Gen.  Jackson,  as  United  States  Agent  for  the  location  of  Indian 
Reserves  in  the  Creek  Nation,  and  in  discharging  his  duties  he 
had  to  encounter  the  stratagems  of  many  speculators  in  purchasing 
the  Indian  lands  for  a  mere  trifle,  availing  themselves  of  the 
ignorance  of  the  tribe.  Some  of  these  fraudulent  operations  were 
reported  to  the  War  Department,  and  were  referred  to  by  Gen. 
Oa«s,  in  the  United  States  Senate,  May  19,  1852,  as  may  be  seen 
in  the  Appendix  to  the  Congressional  Globe,  vol.  xxv.  p.  596. 

Previous  to  1840,  Col.  Hogan  had  occupied  a  seat  in  the  Senate 
from  Mobile,  and  had  been  Collector  of  the  port,  until  he  was 
reformed  out  by  President  Harrison.  In  1841,  he  canvassed  for  a 
seat  in  the  House,  and  was  elected.  Col.  Hogan  was  a  gentleman 
of  a  high  order  of  intellect  and  business  qualities,  well  cultivated 
and  developed.  He  was  industrious  and  prompt,  and,  as  Chair 
man  of  the  Bank  Committee,  (a  laborious  position,)  he  sustained 
himself  to  the  satisfaction  of  his  fellow  members,  and  the  public. 
From  first  to  last,  he  filled  a  large  space  in  the  political,  business, 
and  social  circles  of  Mobile.  The  session  of  1841  was  the  last  in 
which  he  served,  and,  his  health  declining,  he  died  a  few  years 
thereafter. 

CHARLES  E.  B.  STROBE,  of  Morgan,  came  from  Virginia  a  young 
man,  and  located  in  Somerville,  for  the  practice  of  the  law.  In 
1839,  1840,  and  1841,  he  was  returned  to  the  House.  At  the 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  237 

latter  session,  lie  was  elected  Solicitor  of  the  Seventh  Judicial 
Circuit,  which  terminated  his  public  life.  Proud  of  his  Virginia 
birth,  blood,  and  education,  and  withal  not  a  little  ambitious  and 
vain,  he  never  failed  to  assert  his  claims  .to  applause  and  admira 
tion,  on  account  of  his  superior  literary  accomplishments,  by  an 
address  at  once  lofty  and  pretentious.  In  the  meantime,  that  his 
refined  scholarship  might  appear,  he  was  exceedingly  fastidious  in 
his  pronunciation,  even  in  the  agony  of  physical  suffering,  an  in 
stance  of  which  is  here  given  as  illustrative  of  his  character  in 
this  respect. 

In  the  Summer  of  1843,  a  personal  friend  of  Mr.  Strode,  of 
whose  literary  cultivation  he  formed  a  high  estimate,  visited  the 
Blount  Springs,  to  improve  his  health  by  a  brief  sojourn  at  that 
popular  watering  place.  In  a  few  days  thereafter  Mr.  Strode 
arrived,  in  quite  a  prostrate  condition,  and  inquired  of  his  friend 
if  any  baths  could  be  had  to  refresh  him  after  a  dusty  travel  in 
the  stage.  The  reply  was,  that  baths  would  be  speedily  furnished 
by  the  proprietor  of  the  Springs,  either  hot,  cold,  or  tepid,  pro 
nouncing  the  latter  word  as  tea-pid,  from  a  habital  carelessness  in 
consulting  his  dictionary  for  the  standard  pronunciation  of  short 
words.  Mr.  Strode  made  no  criticism  at  the  time,  but  soon  ordered 
.a  warm  bath,  in  which  he  indulged  to  his  satisfaction.  They  en 
joyed  each  other's  company  until  bed-time,  and,  by  request,  they 
occupied  rooms  adjoining.  At  a  late  hour  of  the  night,  Mr.  Strode 
had  a  very  painful  attack  of  colic,  and  called  on  his  friend  to  break 
open  the  door,  as  it  was  locked  inside,  and  he  was  unable  to  leave 
his  bed.  Before  doing  this,  his  friend  waked  up  the  landlord, 
who  soon  brought  a  physician.  In  the  meantime,  however,  the 
door  had  been  prized  open,  and  Mr.  Strode's  friend  entered  the 
chamber,  to  afford  him  all  the  relief  in  his  power.  The  sufferer 
exclaimed,  in  great  agony,  "Oh,  my  dear  M.  I  shall  die;  yes,  I 
shall  be  cut  off!  Oh,  horrible!  What  pain;  farewell!  I  can  not 
survive  this  attack.  I  never  had  such  pains  before.  Hold  me; 
rub  me;  my  bowels  are  as  hard  as  sticks.  I  am  to  die  in  the 
prime  of  life.  Yes,  I  am  dying  just  as  honors  begun — Oh,  horrid — 
what  a  sharp  pain  now  darts  through  my  vitals — my  honors  were 
just  blooming.  I  always  thought  well  of  you,  my  dear  M.  Oh,' 
my  distress!  can  I  bear  it  ten  minutes  longer?  Surely  the  Doctor 
will  help!  You  must  pardon  my  candor  in  the  hour  of  death. 
My  last  hour  has  come — death  or  the  Doctor !  You  have  done  all 
you  could  possibly  do  for  me.  Oh!  oh,  how  sharp  the  sting! 
Think  not  hard  of  me — you  caused  me  pain,  not  this  mfcmal 
colic.  Oh,  can  I  have  time  to  tell  you  what  pain  you  inflicted  on 
my  literary  taste !  Oh,  mercy  —  I  shall  die!  But,  Mr.  M — ,  you 
did  pronounce  that  word  tepid  horribly ;  I  expected  better  things 
of 


238  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

Here  the  arrival  of  the  doctor  and  landlord,  with  hot  baths, 
mustard  plasters,  stimulants,  and  anodynes,  and  servants  to  assist, 
broke  up  the  conversation,  which  was  then  assuming  a  very  crit 
ical  turn.  In  the  course  of  an  hour,  Mr.  Strode  was  entirely 
relieved,  and  fell  into  a  gentle  slumber.  His  friend  watched  by 
his  bed-side  during  most  of  the  night,  and  the  first  remark  he 
made  on  waking  up  was,  "M.  how  kind  you. are?  I  thought  you 
were  a  refined  scholar,  as  your  style  denotes;  but  then  you  must 
mind  your  pronunciation.  It  is  unworthy  of  your  character  in 
other  respects,  and  you  ought  by  all  means  to  be  a  finished 
gentleman." 

This  anecdote  is  related  merely  to  show  the  fastidious  ideas  of 
Mr.  Strode.  His  whole  conduct  and  aims  seemed  to  correspond 
with  this  standard.  As  such,  it  was  natural  for  him  to  feel  a  great- 
contempt  for  his  colleague,  Col.  McClanahan,  who  had  never  been 
a  student  at  College,  or  even  of  an  Academy.  For  this  deficiency 
of  education  alone,  his  colleague  was  regarded  as  only  a  coarse, 
illiterate  countryman;  and  yet,  strange  to  say,  this  rough,  ignorant 
man,  as  Mr.  Strode  was  pleased  to  consider  him,  always  led  the 
ticket,  leaving  Mr.  Strode  to  bring  up  the  rear  on  the  same  Dem 
ocratic  platform.  Mortified  at  this  result,  the  Virginia  aspirant 
tried  hard  to  change  it,  and  get  himself  in  front,  yet  always  with 
out  success.  But  in  his  electioneering  tours,  he  had  shown  con 
siderable  dexterity,  and  made  a  favorable  impression  upon  a  plain 
man,  who  complimented  Mr.  Strode  upon  the  manner  in  which 
he  bore  himself  in  the  Legislature  and  in  the  canvass,  and  went 
so  far  in  panegyric  as  to  say  that,  if  he  continued  a  few  years  lon 
ger,  he  would  no  doubt  become  as  great  a  man  as  Col.  McClana 
han!  This  was  a  damper  to  Mr.  Strode's  ambition,  and  very 
inconsistent  with  the  opinion  he  entertained  of  his  own  merits, 
and  of  Col.  McClanahan's  inferior  qualifications.  So  he  looked 
about  for  a  door  to  escape  from  such  darkness,  and  became  a  can 
didate  for  Solicitor  of  another  Judicial  Circuit,  to  which  office  he 
was  elected,  and  he  thereupon  changed  his  residence  to  Living 
ston,  Sumter  county,  one  hundred  miles  from  the  scene  of  his 
mortification. 

But  Mr.  Strode  had  one  opportunity  of  taking  revenge  in  the 
spirit  of  a  true  gentleman,  as  he  was  in  all  the  traits  of  his  char 
acter.  The  old  Door-Keeper  of  the  House,  from  Morgan,  op 
posed  his  election  before  the  people,  but  failed  to  defeat  him. 
When  the  next  election  for  Door-Keeper  came  on,  the  old  incum 
bent  was  again  a  candidate,  and,  fearing  that  Mr.  Strode  would 
vote  and  use  his  influence  against  him,  sent  a  friend  to  the  latter 
gentleman  to  make  terms.  The  representative  of  the  candidate 
was  asked  what  he  .wanted,  and,  on  disclosing  his  business,  Mr. 
Strode  replied,  "Tell  him  I  will  vote  for  him  for  Door-Keeper, 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  239 

I  consider  him  well  qualified,  and  only  fit  to  wait  upon  gen 
tlemen/7 

From  this  picture,  the  individuality  of  Mr.  Strode  may  be 
deduced.  He  was  a  good  speaker,  very  chaste  in  his  diction,  and 
much  in  the  habit  of  quoting  Sluikspeare  and  the  classics  in 
debate.  In  social  intercourse,  he  was  very  agreeable  and  con 
fiding. 

JAMES  CAIN,  of  Walker,  was  first  elected  to  the  House  in 
1837,  and  was  occasionally  returned  up  to  1849,  which  was  prob 
ably  his  last  session.  He  was  a  Whig,  and  in  his  Democratic 
county,  had  to  watch  his  chances  to  get  into  the  Legislature. 
Honest  and  popular,  he  was  a  man  of  good  habits,  of  very  little 
pretension,  and  grew  largely  in  the  esteem  of  public  men,  for  the 
probity  and  consistency  of  his  character.  By  industry  and  econ 
omy,  he  had  acquired  before  the  war  a  good  property,  and  was 
hospitable  and  charitable  in  his  relations  to  society. 

In  October,  1862,  the  writer  was  called  to  Chattanooga,  in  an 
attempt  to  find  a  son  who  was  suffering  from  the  casualties  of 
war.  At  the  car-shed  he  met  with  Mr.  Cain,  on  his  way  to 
Knoxville  on  a  similar  business.  We  were  both  fatigued  and 
care-worn,  but  soon  stirred  up  the  old  acquaintance  and  friend 
ship.  Time  had  dealt  gently  with  the  old  man,  and  his  face  wore 
the  same  pleasant  expression  as  in  former  years.  In  the  din  of 
that  crowd,  we  for  a  time  forgot  our  cares  and  surroundings,  and 
lived  over  some  of  the  scenes  enjoyed  a  quarter  of  a  century 
before,  in  the  old  Capitol  at  Tuskaloosa.  He  was  still  living  a 
short  time  ago. 

Mr.  Cain  is  a  favorable  specimen  of  a  class  of  men  who  have 
been  aptly  styled  "the  bone  and  sinew  of  the  country."  With 
out  the  aid  of  books,  he  possessed  a  sound,  practical  judgment  in 
the  every-day  affairs  of  life,  doing  justice  to  all  men,  and  requir 
ing  the  same  equivalent.  In  proportion  as  his  character  was 
understood,  it  increased  in  public  estimation. 

JAMES  M.  RUSHING,  of  Sumter,  belonged  to  the  legal  profes 
sion,  and  Avas  elected  to  the  House  in  1841,  the  only  session  in 
which  he  served.  He  was  then  a  candidate  for  Judge  of  the 
County  Court,  and  was  beaten  by  Gideon  B.  Frierson,  Esq.  In 
politics  he  was  a  democrat.  At  the  bar  he  made  no  very  distin 
guished  figure,  as  he  was  naturally  diffident,  and  had  no  great 
ambition.  Morally  and  socially  his  standing  was  good,  although 
he  was  no  star  in  society.  In  truth,  Mr.  Rushing  was  rather  slow 
and  heavy  in  conversation,  and  very  plain  in  his  manners.  The 
companionship  of  cultivated  men  seemed  to  communicate  no  polish 
to  him.  His  nature  resisted  all  such  aggression,  still  he  was 


240  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

reliable  in  the  business  of  his  profession,  and  always  had  a  respect 
able  practice.  He  rarely  addressed  the  jury,  and  never  ventured 
upon  a  flight  of  eloquence,  or  of  fancy,  to  gain  his  point.  If  he 
could  not  succeed  without  such  agency  he  preferred  defeat.  Al 
ways  calm,  he  was  always  prudent,  and  never  forcible.  He  might 
justly  be  compared  to  a  timid  ray  of  light  feeling  its  way  quietly 
into  a  fog,  rather  than  to  a  thunder-bolt,  smiting  the  atmosphere 
in  a  blaze.  Safe  and  certain  was  his  motto. 

Though  a  bachelor,  Mr.  Rushing  was  chairman  of  the  Com 
mittee  on  Divorce  and  Alimony,  to  whom  all  applications  and 
records  on  these  domestic  troubles  were  referred.  Having  no 
sympathies  by  experience,  he  was  the  better  qualified,  perhaps, 
to  adhere  strictly  to  the  law,  which  he  always  did  in  his  reports 
to  the  House. 

HARRISON  W.  COVINGTON,  of  Sumter,  was  a  native  of  North 
Carolina,  and  a  graduate  of  the  University  of  that  State  in  the 
class  of  1834.  He  was  a  lawyer  by  profession,  and  was  elected 
to  the  House  from  Sumter  in  1841.  Owing  to  indisposition  most 
of  the  time,  his  attendance  on  the  sittings  of  the  House  was  irregu 
lar,  though  he  had  impressed  his  fellow-members  forcibly  as  to 
talent  and  propriety  of  conduct.  He  did  not  serve  at  any  future 
session  of  the  Legislature.  After  remaining  several  years  in 
Alabama,  with  what  degree  of  success  the  writer  has  not  been 
informed,  Mr.  Covington  returned  to  the  State  of  his  nativity. 

Among  the  other  graduates  of  the  University  of  North  Carolina 
who  have  served  in  the  Legislature  of  Alabama,  are  the  following 
gentlemen  whose  names  occur  to  the  writer : 

Isaac  Croom,  of  Greene,  who  graduated  in  the  class  of  1815; 

Pleasant  H.  May,  of  Tuskaloosa,  1818; 

Pleasant  W.  Kittrell,  of  Greene,  1822; 

John  Rains,  of  Marengo,  1823; 

Archibald  Gilchrist,  of  Lowndes,  1826; 

Thomas  McCarroll  Prince,  of  Mobile,  1827. 

By  referring  to  the  roll  of  practising  attorneys  in  Alabama,  in 
1845,  the  names  of  many  gentlemen  will  be  seen  who  were  like 
wise  graduates  at  Chapel  Hill. 

LEROY  GRESHAM,  of  Tallapoosa,  was  returned  to  the  House  in 
1841,  and  again  in  1842,  and  served  through  both  sessions  with 
commendable  diligence  and  attention  as  a  Representative.  He 
was  a  lawyer,  and  though  moderate  and  unpretending,  he  often 
took  part  in  discussions  on  the  floor.  Before  the  close  of  the  last 
session  in  which  he  served,  he  was  elected  Judge  of  the  County 
Court  of  Tallapoosa  county,  the  duties  of  which  office  he  faithfully 
dischaged  for  many  years.  He  was  a  Whig  in  politics;  and  with 


RemmisGences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  241 

many  strong  points  of  character,  he  combined  many  elements  of 
popularity;  but  in  a  free  and  ungoverned  use  of  them,  they  be 
came  the  instruments  of  his  ruin.  He  died  a  few  years  ago. 

JABEZ  MITCHELL,  of  Tuskaloosa,  was  elected  to  the  House 
in  1838,  and,  except  one,  was  reflected  every  year  thereafter  to 
1845,  including  which  made  seven  elections  by  the  people.  His 
career  was  terminated  by  sudden  death.  He  possessed  a  good, 
discriminating  mind,  well  stored  with  political  and  other  knowl 
edge,  which  enabled  him  to  appear  to  an  advantage  in  debate, 
where  he  was  always  calm  and  deliberate.  He  was  a  Whig,  and 
exerted  a  strong  influence  in  his  day  upon  the  masses  of  the  peo 
ple.  From  some  cause  he  had  lost  his  right  arm,  which  seemed 
rather  to  increase  his  prestige  with  his  constituents.  He  was  a 
planter,  and  his  intelligence  reflected  credit  upon  that  useful  class 
of  his  fellow-citizens. 

WYATT  HEFFLIN  was  a  Georgian,  and  settled  in  Randolph 
county  soon  after  its  organization,  when  the  Indians  vacated  East- 
Alabama,  in  1836.  He  was  elected  a  member  of  the  House  in 
1841,  and  again  in  1843  and  1845.  After  this  his  health  became 
infirm,  and  he  persistently  declined  the  repeated  calls  made  upon 
him,  by  the  people,  for  further  service  in  the  Legislature.  He 
belonged  to  that  class  of  plain,  practical  men  who  are  generally 
safe  and  useful  in  a  legislative  body.  He  was  far  above  the  aver 
age  in  ability,  and  enjoyed  throughout  his  connection  with  the 
Legislature  the  respect  and  esteem  of  his  fellow-members.  In 
the  days  of  Troup  and  Clark,  in  Georgia,  he  was  a  Democrat  on 
the  Clark  model. 

Mr.  Hefflin  is  the  father  of  Judge  John  T.  Hefflin,  of  Talla- 
dega;  of  the  Hon.  R.  S.  Hefflin,  a  Representative  in  Congress; 
and  of  Dr.  Wilson  S.  Hefflin,  of  Louina,  Randolph  county.  ' 

WILLIAM  HARRISON  GREEN,  of  Livingston,  Sumter  county, 
is  entitle4  to  a  respectful  notice,  not  only  for  his  personal  merits, 
but  in  conformity  with  the  rule  in  regard  to  candidates  before  the 
Legislature.  At  the  session  of  1841,  he  took  part  in  the  canvass 
for  Solicitor  of  the  Seventh  Circuit.  The  ballot  was,  for  C.  E.  B. 
Strode,  a  member  of  the  House,  73;  for  Samuel  F.  Austill,  27; 
for  William  H.  Green,  11;  and  for  Lemuel  Cook,  10. 

In  early  manhood,  Mr.  Green  removed  from  North  Carolina, 
and  settled  at  Livingston,  Alabama,  in  1835,  where  he  opened  a 
law  office.  In  1836,  he  married  a  relative,  Matilda,  the  daughter 
of  his  uncle,  Simmons  Harrison,  Esq.,  of  Kemper  county,  Missis 
sippi.  By  this  connection,  he  became  allied  to  Nathan  B.  Bush, 
Dr.  Lewis  Bush,  Dr.  Alexander  Sledge,  Dr.  Levin  B.  Lane; 
16 


242  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

others  who  wielded  a  large  family  influence  in  Marengo  county. 
By  this  marriage  he  became  the  brother-in-law  of  Jacob  Giles  and 
James  Bryan  Shine,  of  Kemper  county. 

Mr.  Greene  was  a  gentleman  of  fine  literary  taste,  and  of 
sound  professional  judgment.  At  the  request  of  the  citizens,  he 
delivered  a  public  eulogy,  in  1836,  on  ex-President  Madison,  which 
was  much  admired.  He  afterward  formed  a  law  partnership  with 
Murray  F.  Smith,  Esq.,  which  commanded  a  large  practice  for 
many  years.  Mr.  Greene  had  a  large  fund  of  common  sense, 
which  he  carried  into  the  practical  concerns  of  life.  His  moral 
character  was  of  the  highest  standard.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
Episcopal  Church,  and  died  several  years  ago,  His  exemplary 
life  is  worthy  of  all  respect, 


CHAPTER  XV. 

Legislature  of  1842 —  List  of  Members — Banks  placed  in  Liquida 
tion —  White  Basis — Events  of  the  Session. 

The  events  and  developments  of  the  session  of  1841  had  the 
effect  to  arouse  the  public  mind  throughout  the  State,  and  to  pre 
pare  it  for  the  elections  of  1842.  The  people  came  up  to  the 
occasion,  and  met  the  exigency  with  prudence  and  energy.  The 
best  men  were  selected  for  the  Legislature  in  most  of  the  coun 
ties — practical,  safe  men,  who,  in  their  circumstances  and  charac 
ter,  were  above  the  influence  of  the  Banks,  and  would  do  their 
duty  toward  restoring  the  currency  to  the  proper  standard.  The 
result  was  the  election  of  the  strongest  House  in  this  respect  that 
had  for  years  been  returned  to  the  Capitol. 

The  General  Assembly  met,  under  a  change  of  time,  on  5th 
December,  1842.  The  attendance  was  large  in  both  Houses.  In 
the  Senate,  thirty  of  the  thirty-three  Senators  were  present.  Col. 
NATHANIEL  TEREY,  of  Limestone,  was  reflected  President, 
unanimously;  George  B.  Clithnall,  Secretary;  Thaddeus  Scales, 
Assistant  Secretary,  and  A,  R.  Thomas,  Door-Keeper. 


Reminiscmces  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  243 

The  members  of  the  Senate,  representing  Districts  composed 
of  one,  two,  or  more  counties,  were  the  following: 

Counties.  Senators. 

1.  Autauga  and  Coosa Dixon  Hall, 

2.  Cherokee  and  DeKalb Arthur  Foster, 

3.  St.  Glair  and  Jefferson Walker  K.  Baylor, 

4.  Blount  and  Marshall Mace  T.  P.  Brindley, 

5.  Barbour  and  Russell Jeiferson  Buford, 

6.  Macon  and  Tallapoosa Samuel  C.  Dailey, 

7.  Morgan  and  Walker Milton  McClanahan, 

8.  Franklin Benjamin  Hudson, 

9.  Tuskaloosa Dennis  Dent, 

10.  Sumter John  Edmund  Jones, 

11 .  Pickens Peyton  King, 

12.  Lauderdale Hugh  McVay, 

13.  Dallas .William  S.  Phillips, 

14.  Wilcox Walter  R.  Ross, 

15.  Greene Harry  I.  Thornton, 

16.  Mobile Theophilus  L.  Toulmin, 

17.  Bibb  and  Shelby Daniel  E.  Watrous, 

18.  Fayette ' Burr  W.  Wilson, 

19.  Jackson Thomas  Wilson, 

20.  Lawrence Hugh  M.  Rogers, 

21.  Talladega Felix  G.  McConnell, 

22.  Butler Asa  Arrington, 

23.  Clarke,  Baldwin  and  Washington ....  Gerard  W.  Creagh, 

24.  Madison William  Fleming, 

25.  Marengo William  B.  Moores, 

26.  Montgomery . .    Samuel  C.  Oliver, 

27.  Limestone Nathaniel  Terry, 

28.  Benton , Thomas  A.  Walker, 

29.  Perry Richard  B.  Walthall, 

30.  Monroe  and  Conecuh John  Watkins, 

31.  Henry,  Dale  and  Covington Angus  McAllister, 

Lowndes John  S.  Hunter, 

Chambers James  E.  Reese. 

The  House  consisted  of  the  following  members : 

Counties.  Representatives. 

1.  Autauga William  S.  Morgan  and  John  E.  Mitchell, 

2.  Baldwin William  H.  Gasque, 

3.  Barbour John  W.  A.  Pettit  and  John  Jackson, 

4.  Benton. William   B.  Martin,   Miles   W,  Abernathy, 

and  John  Cochran, 


244  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

Counties.  Representatives. 

5.  Bibb Robert  Hill  and  Kenneth  Morrison, 

6.  Blount Godfrey  Fowler  and  Isaac  Wharton, 

7.  Butler. Thomas  H.  Watts  and  H.  S.  Henderson, 

8.  Cherokee Thomas  B.  Cooper  and  J.  M.  Hendrix, 

9.  Chambers Charles  McLemore  and  William  G.  Morgan, 

10.  Clarke Peter  Dubose, 

11.  Conectih . .  Churchill  Jones, 

12.  Coosa Anderson  H.  Kendrick, 

13.  Covington Josiah  Jones, 

14.  Dallas William  H.  Norris  and  James  M.  Calhoun, 

15.  DeKalb William  O.  Winston  and  James  M.  Langford, 

16.  Fayette James  M.  Morris  and  Elijah  Marchbanks, 

17.  Franklin Felix  G.  Norman,  B.  R.  Garland,  and  John 

T.  Richeson, 

18.  Greene John  Erwin,  J.  M.  Witherspoon,  and  William 

G.  Jones. 

19.  Henry John  Pynes  and  William  Gamble, 

20.  Jackson Alva  Finley,  E.  W.  Williams,  James  Mundy 

and  Robert  T.  Scott, 

21.  Jefferson Samuel  S.  Earle  and  L.  G.  McMillion, 

22.  Lawrence Tandy  W.  Walker,  Denton  H.  Valliant  and 

David  Hubbard, 

23.  Lauderdale Jonathan  Douglass,  John   S.  Kennedy   and 

Henry  D.  Smith, 

24.  Limestone Elbert  H.  English  and  Waddy  Tate, 

25.  Lowndes Alfred  Harrison  and  J.  W.  Dunklin, 

26.  Macon Whiting  Oliver, 

27.  Madison David  Moore,  C.  C.  Clay,  Jr.,  James  Robin 

son  and  J.  W.  McClung, 

28.  Marengo Joseph  Pickett  and  John  W.  Henley, 

29.  .Marion Leroy  Kennedy, 

30.  Marshall William  M.  Griffin  and  James  Fletcher, 

31.  Mobile Isaac  H.  Erwin,  Thomas  W.  McCoy,  John 

A.  Campbell  and  William  D.  Dunn, 

32.  Monroe William  Cunningham  and  John  Morrissette, 

33.  Montgomery . . .  Robert  J.  Ware,  and  John  Caffey, 

34.  Morgan Francis  M.  Roby  and  Green  P.  Rice, 

35.  Perry William  S.  Miree,  John  Barron  and  Andrew 

B.  Moore, 

36.  Pickens Nathan  Smith,  Thomas  Williams  and  Reuben 

Gardner, 

37.  Pike James  H.  Crowder  and  B.  W.  Hodges, 

38.  Randolph Jeremiah  Murphy, 

39.  Russell Brittain  D.  Harris, 

40.  Shelby. . . .  T . .  .John  S.  Storrs  and  Wilson  M.  Kidd, 


foermniscenees  of  PuMie  Men  in  Alabama.  245 

Ckni/niies.  Representatives. 

41  /  St.  Clair James  B.  Bothwell, 

42.  Sumter William  Woodward,  Isaac  F.  Dortcli  and  John 

A.  Winston, 

43.  Talladega John  W.  Bishop  and  A.  R.  Barclay, 

44.  Tallapoosa Leroy  Gresham, 

45.  Tnskaloosa Benjamin  F.  Porter,  William  P.  Meriwether, 

Marion  Banks,  and  William  R.  Smith, 

46.  Walker James  Cain, 

47.  Washington B.  L.  Turner, 

48.  Wilcox Charles  Dear  and  John  W.  Bridges, 

49.  Dale  and  Coffee,  Levin  S.  Skipper. 

In  the  House  of  'Representatives,  ninety-four  of  the  one  hun 
dred  members  answered  to  their  names.  John  Erwin,  of  Greene, 
was  elected  Speaker — the  vote  being,  for  Erwin,  65 ;  and  for 
Charles  McLemore,  27.  Joseph  Phelan  was  elected  Principal 
Clerk ;  A.  B.  Clitlierall,  Assistant  Clerk;  W.  C.  Bibb,  Engrossing 
Clerk,  and  James  H.  Owen,  Door-Keeper. 

In  the  Senate,  one-third  held  over.  Some  changes  in  the  newly 
elected  Senators  may  be  noted.  Dr.  John  Watkins  succeeded  Mr. 
S.  S.  Andress,  from  Monroe;  Col.  Richard  B.  Walthall  took  the 
place  of  Henry  C.  Lea,  from  Perry;  Major  William  Fleming  re 
turned  to  his  seat,  from  Madison,  which  had  been  occupied  by  D. 
B.  Turner;  Gen.  Thomas  A.  Walker  succeeded  Col.  John  R. 
Clarke,  from  Benton;  and  Mr.  James  S.  Reese  took  the  place  of 
his  brother,  George  Reese,  of  Chambers.  Judge  Thornton  was 
Chairman  of  the  Committee  on  the  Judiciary;  Gen.  Toulmiu,  of 
Mobile,  on  State  Bank  and  Branches;  Mr.  Walker  at  the  head  of 
the  Committee  on  Federal  Relations;  Mr.  Walthall,  on  Internal 
Improvement;  Mr.  Baylor,  on  Education;  and  Gov.  McVay,  on 
Propositions  and  Grievances. 

In  the  House,  there  was  an  abundance  of  talent  and  experience, 
coupled  with  character  of  a  high  order.  The  chairmen  of  the  most 
important  Committees  are  here  given  to  indicate  the  position  of 
members : 

On  State  Bank  and  Branches,  John  A.  Campbell,  of  Mobile; 

On  Ways  and  Means,  John  W.  Bridges,  of  Wilcox; 

On  the  Judiciary,  James  W.  McClung,  of  Madison; 

On  Education,  John  Cochran,  of  Beuton; 

On  Propositions  and  Grievances,  David  Moore,  of  Madison ; 

On  Internal  Improvement,  R.  J.  Ware,  of  Montgomery; 

On  Public  Printing,  Andrew  B.  Moore,  of  Perry. 


^Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

The  Governor's  annual  message  was  transmitted  to  the  two 
Houses,  on  Tuesday,  of  which  the  Senate  ordered  1,500,  and  the 
House  5,000  copies  to  be  printed.  An  abstract  of  this  document, 
and  portions  quoted  from  it,  are  given  under  the  head  of  Gov. 
Fitzpatrick's  Administration.  The  topic  most  extensively  dwelt 
upon  by  the  Governor,  was  the  regulation  of  banks  and  the  cur 
rency.  Soon  after  the  message  was  read,  Mr.  Pettit,  of  Barbour, 
offered  the  following  resolution : 

Resolved,  That  the  State  Bank  system  of  Alabama  has  failed  to  answer  the 
design  for  which  it  was  created,  and  ought  to  be  discontinued ;  and  it  is  the  duty 
of  the  present  Legislature  to  adopt  measures  for  bringing  the  same  to  a  close,  at 
such  time,  and  in  such  a  manner  as  may  best  consult  the  public  interest. 

On  motion  of  Mr.  Martin,  of  Benton,  the  resolution  was  laid  on 
the  table. 

The  peculiar  state  of  the  times,  the  echoes  from  the  people,  and 
the  practical  teachings  of  the  message,  added  to  the  high  intellect 
ual  and  moral  tone  of  leading  members,  soon  induced  an  earnest 
application  of  legislative  energy  for  reform  and  improvement, 
looking  to  the  public  interest.  The  principal  matters  may  be 
thus  classed: 

1.  Retrenchment  in  all  the  departments  of  the  Government, 
scarcely  omitting  an  office,  to  diminish  the  burden  of  taxation. 

2.  The  placing  of  the  State  Bank  and  Branches  in  liquidation, 
with  a  view  to  winding  up  their  affairs,  etc. 

3.  The  passage  of  a  revenue  bill  to  pay  the  expenses  of  the 
State  Government,  and  looking  to  the  maintainance  of  the  public 
faith ;  the  first  tax  law  of  force  in  Alabama  for  many  years. 

4.  Districting  the  State  for  the  election  of  Representatives  in 
Congress,  upon  the  basis  of  white  population. 

As  the  latter  measure  was  rather  novel,  and  to  many  unexpected, 
it  will  be  first  noticed,  from  its  inception  to  the  final  passage  of 
the  bill.  It  had  its  origin  in  the  following  resolution,  offered  by 
Mr.  Hubbard,  of  Lawrence : 

Resolved,  That  the  Select  Committee  to  whom  was  referred  so  much  of  the  Gov 
ernor's  message  as  relates  to  laying  off  the  State  into  Congressional  districts,  be 
instructed  to  report  a  bill  for  that  purpose,  having  regard  to  the  white  popu 
lation  only,  as  the  basis  of  such  Congressional  representation. 

The  resolution  was  adopted  by  a  vote  of  46,  all  Democrats  ex 
cept  one,  (Mr.  Cain,  of  Walker,)  in  the  affirmative,  to  38,  includ 
ing  all  the  Whig  members  of  the  House,  and  a  few  Democrats, 
whose  names  are  given  below  in  italics,  in  the  negative.  As  this 
principle  was  probably  the  first  of  the  kind  ever  brought  forward 
in  a  Southern  Legislature,  and,  as  it  gave  rise  to  heated  and 
protracted  discussion  while  the  bill  was  pending,  it  is  deemed 


lleminiscences  of  Public  Men  m  Alabama.  247 

necessary,  as  a  part  of  the  record,  to  give  the  yeas  and  nays  on  the 
adoption  of  the  resolution.     Those  who  voted  for  it  were,  Messrs : 

Abernathy.  Kennedy  of  Landerdale, 

Bishop,  Lankford, 

Both  well,  Marchbanks, 

Cain,  McClnng, 

Clay,  McMillion, 

Cochran,  Miree, 

Dortch,  Moore  of  Madison, 

Douglass,  Mundy, 

Dubose,  Norman, 

Dunklin,  Rice, 

Earle,  Richeson, 

^English,  Robinson, 

Finley,  Roby, 

Fletcher,  Skipper, 

Fowler,  Smith  of  Lauderdale, 

Garland,  Tate, 

Gasque,  Turner, 

Griffin,  Valliant, 

Heudrix,  Walker, 

Hubbard,  "Wharton, 

Jones  of  Covington,  Williams  of  Jackson, 

Kennedy  of  Marion,  Winston  of  DeKalb. 

The  members  of  the  House  who  voted  against  the  resolution 
were,  Messrs: 

Speaker  Erwin,  Kidd, 

Banks,  Martin, 

Barron,  McCoy, 

Bridges,  Meriwethcr, 

Caffey,  Mitchell, 

Calhoun,  Morgan  of  Autuaga, 

Campbell,  Morgan  of  Chambers, 

Crowder,  Morrisette, 

Dear,  Norris, 

Dunn,  Oliver, 

Erwin  of  Mobile,  Pettit, 

Harris,  Pickett, 

Harrison,  Porter, 

Henley,  Smith  of  Pickens, 

Hill,  Storrs, 

Jackson,  Ware, 

Jones  of  Conecnh,  Watts, 

Jones  of  Greene,  Winston  of  Sumter, 

Kendrick,  Witherspoon. 


248  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

Without  noticing  the  action  of  the  House,  in  all  its  details,  oil 
the  subject  introduced,  the  whole  matter  is  explained,  and  may  be 
understood,  as  it  was  viewed,  on  the  passage  of  the  bill,  by  the 
respective  parties.  The  Journal  of  the  House,  from  page  396  to 
398  inclusive,  shows  the  following  protests: 

Mr.  Jones,  of  Greene,  submitted  the  following  Protest  against  the  passage  of  the 
resolution  offered  by  Mr.  Hubbard,  on  the  subject  of  laying  off  the  Congressional 
districts  on  the  basis  of  white  population  alone  : 

We,  the  undersigned  members  of  the  House  of  Representatives,  who  voted  in 
the  minority  against  the  passage  of  the  resolution  instructing  the  select  committee 
to  lay  off  the  Congressional  districts  on  the  basis  of  white  population  alone,  without 
regard  to  the  slave  population,  feel  it  tiue  to  ourselves  and  our  constituents  to  pro 
test  against  the  passage  of  the  above  mentioned  resolution,  for  the  following  reasons : 
First,  Because,  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States  provides  that  a  represen 
tation  in  Congress  shall  be  based  on  numbers,  and  that  the  number  entitled  to 
representation  "  shall  be  determined  by  adding  to  the  whole  number  of  free  persons, 
including  those  bound  to  service  for  a  term  of  years,  and  excluding  Indians  not 
taxed*  three-fifths  of  all  other  persons;"  and  the  resolution,  in  our  opinion,  is  a 
plain  and  direct  violation  of  the  provisions  of  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States. 
Second,  Because,  the  right  of  the  people  of  the  Slave-holding  States  to  an  in 
creased  representation  in  Congress  on  account  of  their  slaves,  is  one  of  the  strongest 
guarantees  in  the  Constitution  against  unjust  interference  on  the  part  of  the  Gene 
ral  Government  with  the  popular  institutions  and  rights  of  the  slave-holding  States  ; 
and  the  resolution  tends  to  impair  that  right,  and  overthrow  that  guarantee. 

Third,  Because,  heretofore  in  Alabama,  and  so  far  as  we  are  informed,  in  all 
the  other  slave-holding  States,  Congressional  districts  have  uniformly  been  laid 
off  on  the  basis  prescribed  by  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States,  and  never  on 
the  basis  of  white  population  alone ;  and  this  resolution,  unnecessary  and  without 
being  called  for  by  the  people,  violates  and  overthrows  this  uniform  and  long 
established  usage,  and  introduces  an  alarming  and  dangerous  innovation. 

Fourth,  Because,  the  resolution,  though  not  intended  for  such  a  purpose,  does, 
in  our  opinion,  countenance  and  accord  with  the  doctrines  of  the  abolitionists, 
tends  to  encourage  them  in  their  wicked  schemes,  and  gives  to  the  rights  and  in 
stitutions  of  the  slave-holding  States  the  most  dangerous  blow  that  they  ever  re 
ceived  from  southern  men. 

Fifth,  Because,  the  resolution,  in  its  practical  effects,  works  the  double  injus 
tice  of  giving  to  the  northern  part  of  the  State  an  undue  advantage  over  the  south 
in  electing  members  of  Congress, — and  to  the  dominant  political  party  in  the 
State,  an  equally  unjust  advantage  over  those  who  differ  with  them  in  opinion ; 
and  we  deem  it  impolitic  and  unwise  that  the  majority  should  make  an  innovation 
which  places  them  in  a  position  of  seeming  to  be  guilty  of  the  sin  of  oppression, 
and  tends  to  engender  in  the  minority  the  deep,  indignant  and  bitter  resentment, 
which  freemen  must  ever  feel  and  express  when  conscious  that  their  rights  are 
wantonly  violated. 

(Signed,)  WM.  G.  JONES,  JNO.  W.  HENLEY, 

ISAAC  H.  ERWIN,  WM.  H.  NORRIS, 

JOHN  BARRON,  JAS.  H.  CROWDER, 

,       ROBERT  J.  WARE,  JOHN  MORRISETTE, 

CHAS.  DEAR,  JOSEPH  PICKETT, 

THOS.  W.  McCOY,  WM.  C.  MORGAN, 

J.  S.  STORKS,  CHAS.  McLEMORE, 

WM.  1).  DUNN,  MARION  BANKS, 

BENJ.  F.  PORTER,  CHURCHILL  JONES, 

WHITING  OLIVER,  J.  M.  WITHERSPOON, 

JOHN  JACKSON,  THOMAS  H.  WATTS, 

WILSON  M.  KIDD,  JOHN  E.  MITCHELL, 

BRITTAIN  D.  HARRIS. 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  249 

Mr.  Campbell  submitted  the  following  protest : 

The  undersigned,  a  member  of  the  House  of  representatives  from  the  county  of 
Mobile,  having  voted  in  the  minority  on  the  resolution  of  Mr.  Hubbard,  in  regard 
to  the  manner  of  dividing  the  State  into  Congressional  districts,  avails  himself  of 
the  constitutional  privilege  of  placing  on  the  Journals  of  the  House  the  reasons 
for  his  vote. 

The  Constitution  of  the  United  States  provides  for  the  appointment  of  Repre 
sentatives  in  Congress,  and  designates  the  persons  by* whom  they  shall  be  chosen. 

The  apportionment  of  Representatives  is  made  among  the  several  States  inclu 
ded  in  the  Union,  according  to  the  population  of  the  States,  adding,  (among  other 
persons,)  three-fifths  of  the  slave"  population. 

The  persons  who  shall  elect  members  of  the  House  of  Representatives  are  ap 
pointed  in  the  Constitution. 

They  are  to  be  chosen  by  the  people  of  the  several  States.  Who  constitute  the 
"people"  of  the  State,  who  have  been  appointed  by  the  Constitution  of  the  United 
States  to  choose  Representatives  in  Congress? 

This  is  the  question  presented  in  the  resolution.  The  people  of  the  State  are 
those  who  have  succeeded  to  the  parties  that  formed  the  social  compact,  by  which 
our  State  was  called  into  existence.  They  are  the  successors  of  those  who  framed 
the  State  government,  and  are  recognized  in  its  constitution  as  the  source  of  all 
power.  They  are  those  who  can  alter,  abolish,  or  reform  the  government  at 
pleasure.  They  are  the  successors  of  those  who  gave  a  valid  assent  to  become 
members  of  the  Federal  Union.  These  are  the  persons  recognized  by  the  Consti 
tution  as  having  the  right  to  choose  the  members  of  the  House  of  Representatives 
to  the  Congress  of  the  United  States.  Slaves  are  not  recognized  as  parties  to  the 
compact.  They  are  not  a  part  of  the  people.  In  the  choice  of  Representatives — 
their  voice  is  not  heard. 

Who  then  constitute  the  "people"  of  the  State?  My  answer  is  the  free  white 
citizens  of  the  State. 

1  If  this  power  was  exercised  by  the  mass  of  the  people,  it  is  admitted  that  the 
existence  of  the  slave  population  would  not  be  regarded.  Under  the  general  ticket 
system,  the  free  white  persons  of  the  State  stand  upon  equal  terms.  The  district 
system  has  been  adopted  for  its  convenience,  because  the  representative  is  better 
known  to  his  constituents,  and  has  a  better  acquaintance  with  the  local  interests 
of  those  who  select  him.  Because  his  responsibility  is  more  direct,  and  the  con 
stituency  have  better  opportunities  to  form  their  judgment  upon  the  claims  of  can 
didates  for  their  suffrages. 

It  has  never  been  contended  that  the  basis  of  political  power  has  been  altered 
by  the  division  of  the  State  into  districts. 

If  the  people,  to  whom  the  power  of  choice  of  members  to  Congress  is  com 
mitted,  are  divided,  the  undersigned  conceives  that  the  power  should  be  distribu 
ted  in  the  same  proportion. 

If  the  people  at  large  are  the  depositories  of  the  .power,  and  for  the  conven 
ience  of  its  exercise,  the  people  are  distributed  in  parts,  the  power  should  be 
distributed  according  to  the  same  rule. 

The  vote  then  of  the  undersigned  against  the  resolution  was  not  founded  upon 
an  objection  to  the  principles  it  contained.  The  undersigned  preferred  an  ar 
rangement  of  the  districts  which  would  have  harmonized  both  opinions.  He  saw 
nothing  in  the  distribution  of  slave  population  in  the  State  that  made  it  necessary 
for  the  inquiry  to  be  made  that  is  contained  in  the  resolution. 

He  believes  that  an  equitable  arrangement  of  the  districts  could  have  been 
made,  which  would  have  yielded  to  the  free  white  citizen  all  his  rights  ;  which 
would  have  embodied  in  each  district  an  equal  portion  of  slave  population ;  which 
would  then  have  offended  no  party  or  sentiment. 

The  undersigned  at  various  dimes  expressed  this  opinion,  openly  and  distinctly 
to  the  House  of  which  he  is  a  member.  He  earnestly  invited  the  course,  which, 
being  followed,  would  have  prevented  discord,  and  yielded  quiet  and  satisfation. 
He  objected  to  the  resolution  and  amendment  as  mischievous  ;  calculated  to  bring 
no  aid  to  the  counsels  of  the  State,  or  good  to  the  people.  He  moved  to  lay  the 
subject  on  the  table. 


250  fteminiscenccs  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

Against  the  proceedings  of  the  undersigned  opposition  was  enlisted.  A  large 
majority,  composed  of  men  holding  both  opinions,  challenged  discussion.  Some 
who  opposed  the  resolution,  taunted  those  who  favored  the  moderate  course  de 
sired  by  the  undersigned,  as  men  wishing  to  dodge,  and  it  was  more  than  insinu 
ated  they  were  afraid  to  meet  the  issue. 

The  undersigned  felt  it  to  be  his  duty,  from  his  place,  to  rebuke  these  insinua 
tions,  and  upon  the  same  principle  of  duty,  he  enters  this  protest  against  the  votes 
of  the  majority  on  the  motion  to  lay  the  subject  on  the  table,  and  on  the  resolution. 

JOHN  A.  CAMPBELL. 

On  the  28th  January,  1843,  the  bill  to  divide  the  State  into 
seven  Congressional  Districts  finally  passed  the  Senate  by  a  vote 
of  15  to  13 — all  who  voted  in  the  affirmative  being  Democrats, 
and  all  in  the  negative  being  Whigs,  except  Mr.  McAllister,  of 
Henry.  Those  who  voted  for  the  passage  of  the  bill,  after  recon 
sidering  its  rejection  by  one  vote,  were,  Messrs: 

Baylor,  McConnell, 

Brindley,  McVay, 

Dailey,  Rodgers, 

Fleming,  Toulmin, 

Foster,  Walthall, 

Hudson,  Wilson  of  Fayette, 

Jones,  Wilson  of  Jackson. 
McClanahan, 

The  Senators  who  voted  against  the  passage  of  the  bill  were, 
Messrs : 

Arrington,  Oliver, 

Buford,  Phillips, 

B  Creagh,  Reese, 

"  Dent,  Ross, 

Hunter,  Thornton, 

King,  Watrous. 

McAllister,. 

The  discussions  on  the  bill,  at  its  various  stages,  in  the  Senate, 
like  those  in  the  House,  were  able,  animated,  and  sharp,  often 
assuming  an  asperity  similar  to  that  "which  marked  the  passage  of 
the  General  Ticket  Bill,  at  the  session  of  1840. 

MR.  CAMPBELL,  of  Mobile,  being  justly  regarded  as  a  gentle 
man  of  more  intellectual  discrimination  and  force,  and  of  a  greater 
capacity  for  analysis  than  any  in  the  House,  at  the  session  of  1842, 
which  was  preeminently  a  strong  House,  his  report  from  the  Bank 
Committee,  on  the  19th  December,  is  here  given  from  the  Journal, 
as  a  summary  of  all  the  facts  and  questions  presented: 

Mr.  Campbell,  from  the  Committee  on  the  State*  Bank  and  Branches,  made  the 
following  report : 

The  Committee  on  the  State  Bank  and  Branches,  to  whom  was  referred  that 
portion  of  the  message  of  the  Governor  that  relates  to  the  condition  and  manage 
ment  of  those  Banks ;  and  the  resolution  of  the  meeting  of  citizens  of  Kussell 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  251 

county,  in  regard  to  the  currency  and  the  policy  to  be  pursued  by  the  Banks  ;  and 
a  bill  from  the  House,  having  for  its  object  the  final  settlement  of  the  affairs  of 
the  Branch  Bank  at  Mobile,  have  had  the  subjects  referred  under  consideration, 
and  have  instructed  me  to  report — 

1.  The  bill  from  the  House,  having  for  its  object  the  liquidation  and  settlement 
of  the  affairs  of  the  Branch  of  the  Bank  of  the  State  of  Alabama  at  Mobile,  with 
several  amendments  ;  to  which  they  ask  the  concurrence  of  the  House,  and  re 
commend  the  passage  of  the  bill. 

2.  A  bill  for  the  regulation  of  the  Branch  of  the  Bank  of  the  State  of  Alabama 
at  Decatur,  having  for  its  object  to  pi  event  the  increase  of  its  debts  or  liabilities, 
and  the  security  and  preservation  of  its  assets. 

3.  A  bill   for   the   regulation    of  the  Bank   of  the  State   of  Alabama,  and  its 
Branches  at  Huntsville  and  Montgomery,  having  for  its  object  to  strenthen  them 
in  one  effort  to  resume  specie  payments,  and  fixing  the   day  for  that  purpose. 

4.  A  bill  having  for  its  object  the  regulation  of  the  expenses  of  the  Banks,  and 
the  promotion  of  efficiency  in  the  management  of  their  suspended  debt. 

5.  Joint  Resolutions,  embodying  the  sentiment  of  the  Committee  in  regard  to 
the  course  to   be  pursued   by   the  President  and   Directors  of  the  Banks  in  the 
collection  of  debts. 

6.  Joint  Resolutions,  having  for  their  object  to  procure  the  release  of  the  con 
ditions  on  which  the  State  of  Alabama  accepted  the  two  per  cent,  fund ;  and  also 
to  provide  for  the   establishment   of  the  claims  of  the   State   upon  the    Federal 
Government. 

The  Governor,  in  his  annual  message,  treats  the  subjects  of  reference  as  of 
paramount  importance  to  all  others  that  can  command  the  attention  of  the  Gener 
al  Assembly.  Your  Committee  have  approached  the  consideration  of  them,  im 
pressed  with  the  conviction  that  their  magnitude  and  importance  to  the  welfare  of 
the  people  could  hardly  be  exaggerated.  They  acknowledge  the  responsibility 
which  the  House  has  devolved  upon  them.  They  anticipate  the  consequences 
which  must  ensue,  if  the  Committee  or  the  House  shall  be  withdrawn  from  an 
honest  search  for  the  true  policy  to  be  adopted,  and  a  sincere  and  hearty  adher 
ence  by  the  people  to  whatsoever  that  policy  demands. 

The  people  of  the  State  bear  at  this  time  evils  of  no  ordinary  magnitude.  The 
derangement  of  the  currency  embarrasses  and  interrupts  the  transactions  of  civil 
and  commercial  intercourse.  The  citizen,  in  all  his  engagements  that  look  to  the 
future,  experiences  painful  anxiety  and  distrust.  He  does  not  know  what  altera 
tion  may  take  place  in  the  standard  to  which  he  now  refers  in  his  contracts.  He 
has  seen  the  most  rapid  and,  to  his  mind,  unaccountable  fluctuations  taking  place 
from  day  to  day  and  from  week  to  week  in  it.  He  has  seen  that  that  property,  the 
possession  of  which  it  was  supposed  would  command  every  other,  the  most  un 
certain,  unstable,  and  fluctuating  in  value  of  any. 

Your  Committee  can  not  but  believe  that  this  state  of  things  is  attended  with 
vast  injustice.  They  hold  it  to  be  the  duty  of  the  State  to  provide  that  contracts 
made  in  good  faith  should  be  executed  in  sincerity  and  justice.  That  the  habitual 
departure  from  good  faith  which  results  from  using  a  variable  and  uncertain  stand 
ard  of  value,  loosens  in  the  public  mind  the  obligations  to  maintain  it,  and  that 
such  a  course  tends  directly  to  a  dissolution  of  social  union.  There  is  a  direct 
obligation  in  every  State  to  preserve  and  maintain  this  standard. 

To  bring  men  into  closer  union — to  enable  men  to  have  the  benefit  of  associated 
powers  and  strength — is  the  first  object  of  the  State;  but  how  can  there  be  asso 
ciation  and  union  where  the  condition  of  the  currency  compels  men  to  withdraw 
from  commerce  and  intercourse  with  each  other  ? 

The  effect  of  a  depreciated  currency  upon  the  habits  of  men  in  their  business 
arrangements  and  relations,  is  not  the  smallest  evil  to  which  we  are  exposed.  The 
uncertainty  that  prevails  from  this  cause  renders  men  careless,  and,  to  some  ex 
tent,  reckless.  *  A  condition  of  hazard  is  the  condition  of  all  men  engaged  in  busi 
ness  ;  and  a  spirit  of  rash  adventure  and  giddy  speculation  must  be  engendered 
among  them.  The  sober  calculations  of  industry — the  just  conclusions  of  a  frugal 
and  temperate  enterprize — have  scarcely  a  better  chance  of  success  than  the 
Jiastiest  and  most  daring  scheme  of  thoughtless,  heedless  men.  The  qualities  that 


252  Reminisscnces  of  Public  Men  in  Alabaman 

strengthen  and  maintain  a  State,  that  promote  order  and  advance  its  civilization, 
have  become  depressed  and  discouraged. 

The  effects  on  the  laboring  man  are  still  more  oppressive.  His  very  means  of 
subsistence  are  exposed  to  danger.  Experience  has  shown  him  that  a  steady  de 
mand,  and  certain  wages  for  his  labor,  is  the  condition  most  suitable  to  his  position 
in  society.  A  variable  and  depreciated  currency  deranges  all  the  regular  opera 
tions  of  society.  The  capitalist  refuses  to  make  investments  because  all  is  uncer 
tain.  He  hopes  that  each  day  will  afford  a  better  market;  hence,  employment  to 
the  laborer,  becomes  uncertain  and  difficult.  The  effect  of  this  is  to  re'duce  his 
wages.  His  embarrassments  are  not  ended,  however,  even  when  employment  is 
obtained  and  his  wages  paid.  The  uncertainty  in  the  value  of  the  currency  leads 
him  into  immediate,  and  probably  improvident  expenditures,  He  does  not  know 
how  long  the  bill  he  receives  will. retain  its  present  value ;  hence,  idleness  and  in 
temperance  frequently  result — for,  confidence  being  destroyed  and  confusion  of 
mind  substituted  for  it,  the  tendencies  of  the  human  character  are  to  immorality,1 
dissoluteness,  and  crime.  Your  Committee  testify,  with  pleasure,  that  these  pic 
tures  of  public  demoralization  have  not  yet  found  their  counterpart  in  this  State. 
They  attribute  this  to  the  fact  that  most  men  thought  these  evils  were  remediable, 
and  that  they  would  find  the  remedy  in  the  action  of  the  General  'Assembly  now 
convened. 

Your  Committee  can  not  resist  the  conclusion,  that  if  the  General  Assembly 
does  falter  in  the  performance  of  its  duty,  that  the  character  of  the  State  will  be 
degraded  to  the  level  of  its  currency;  and  that  a  condition  will  be  attained,  to 
which  our  gloomiest  forebodings  have  not  yet  descended. 

With  these  impressions,  the  Committee  have  instructed  me  to  say  that  those  of  our 
public  Banks  that  show  no  ability  to  maintain  the  resumption  of  specie  payments, 
should  be  placed  in  a  state  of  liquidation ;  and  should,  for  a  time,  be  tolerated,  but 
disabled  from  doing  further  harm  by  an  increase  of  their  debts  to  the  community. 

The  bills  herewith  submitted,  are  prepared  to  effectuate  these  objects.  The  bill 
for  the  regulation  of  the  Branch  Bank  at  Mobile,  is  returned  to  the  House,  with, 
the  amendments.  These  amendments  do  not  affect  the  principle  of  the  bill. 

The  Committee  concur  entirely  in  the  sentiments  of  the  Governor  in  regard  to 
this  institution,  and  have  prepared  the  details  of  the  measure  so  as  to  render  the 
liquidation  economical,  and  at  the  same  time  complete.  Your  Committee  have  con 
sidered  the  arguments  that  have  been  advanced  in  support  of  this  institution. 
They  have  felt  that  the  condition  of  the  Bank  at  Mobile  has  been  a  commanding 
one ;  that  it  has  been  invested  with  powers  which,  had  they  been  prudently  ex 
erted,  would  have  yielded  a  rich  return  in  benefits  to  the  people ;  that  its  influence  * 
in  maintaining  the  circulation  and  currency  of  the  bills  of  the  other  Banks,  has 
been  important;  and  that  its  absence  may  expose  the  other  Banks  connected  with 
the  State  to  injurious  assaults.  Your  committee  have  considered  that  even  in  a 
suspended  condition,  its  machinery  may  have  afforded  conveniences  to  merchants 
and  men  of  business ;  and  that  its  removal  may  be  attended  with  inconvenience, 
and  produce  pressure. 

These  arguments  have  all  been  deliberately  weighed,  and  your  Committee  say 
in  reply  to  them,  that,  without  -an  especial  reference  to  the  acts  of  any  board  or  in 
dividual,  the  history  of  the  Bank  displays  a  management  characterized  by  much 
carelessness  and  inattention — that  its  losses  have  been  overwhelming ;  and  an  im 
portant  portion  of  those  losses  have  been  sustained  directly  from  those  who  had  it 
in  charge — that  its  expense  accounts,  in  some  years,  exhibit  a  disregard  of  the  re 
strictions  imposed  by  law,  and,  in  others,  profusion  and  extravagance ;  that  some 
of  its  settlements  betray  want  of  judgment  and  consideration;  and  some  of  its 
business  operations  have  not  been  judiciously  planned,  or  prosecuted  with  a  definite 
aim,  and  have  resulted  disastrously  to  the  Bank  and  to  the  State. 

Your  Committee  will  observe,  that  the  arguments  they  have  noticed,  apply  with 
some  force  in  favor  of  the  continuance  of  a  well  regulated  institution  in  that  city. 

Youj  Committee  do  not  consider  them  as  of  any  validity  when  applied  to  an  in 
stitution  in  which  fidelity,  intelligence,  and  strict  responsibility  are  absolutely 
requisite  to  its  successful  management ;  and  if  obtained  in  this,  it  is  rather  by  an, 
accident,  than  the  operation  of  any  principle  in  its  constitution. 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Hen  in  Alabama.  253 

Your  Committee,  therefore,  unanimously  recommend  that  this  Bank  should  close 
its  business,  and  bring  its  affairs  to  a  final  settlement. 

Your  Committee  agree  with  the  Governor,  that  the  amount  of  capital  introduced 
into  the  State  and  deposited  Avith  the  Banks,  exceeded  its  wants,  and  that  to  this 
fact  many  of  its  embarrassments  may  be  traced.  Large  numbers  of  our  people 
were  diverted  from  the  natural  and  sure  ways  of  wealth.  The  regular  profits 
from  industry  were  insignificant  compared  with  those  apparently  derived  from 
speculation — property  acquired  fictitious  values,  and  unreal  qualities.  It  circulated 
almost  with  the  facility  of  mercantile  paper,  and  at  each  change  of  hand,  at  an  in 
creased  denomination.  Money  constantly  depreciating,  and  prices  elevated  to  an 
unnatural  height,  encouraged  a  spirit  of  extravagance  and  wastefulness.  The 
necessary  result  of  this  feverish  condition  of  affairs,  was  prostration,  bankruptcy, 
and  ruin  to  all  who  had  suffered  from  the  delusion. 

Your  Committee  find  that  the  cause  is  removed.  The  aggregation  of  capital  so 
imprudently  made,  no  longer  exists.  It  passed  from  the  Banks  to  the  borrowers, 
and  has  escaped  from  them  in  their  visionary  schemes  for  increasing  wealth.  The 
cotton  speculations  of  1837,  adventures  in  uncultivated  lands,  and  unimproved 
town  property,  increase  of  slave  property  in  the  State  at  enormous  prices,  indul 
gence  in  habits  of  expense,  general  extravagance  and  profusion,  dissipated  the 
money  drawn  from  the  Banks ;  and  in  hundreds  of  instances,  the  debtor  is  with 
out  the  ability  to  make  payment.  There  can  be  little  doubt  that  every  Bank  in 
the  State  has  experienced  a  loss  of  a  portion  of  its  capital ;  and  where  there  is  no 
immediate  danger  of  loss  from  the  borrower  acknowledged,  it  is  conceded  in  such 
instances  that  the  money  drawn  from  the  Banks  has  been  invested  in  property 
yielding  moderate  returns  of  profit,  and  -that  the  Banks  must  consent  to  a  slow 
and  cautious  withdrawal  of  the,  amount,  or  the  insolvency  of  the  debtor  becomes 
certain.  Under  this  state  of  facts  our  banking  establishments  must  be  reduced  ; 
and  that  the  State  cannot  hesitate  to  deal  with  them  on  the  concession  of  the 
fact  of  their  inability  to  exercise  their  functions. 

This  necessity  has  induced  the  Committee  to  recommend  that  the  Branch  Bank 
at  Decatur  should  be  deprived  of  this  franchise.  In  its  present  condition,  it  can 
not  exercise  it  without  a  loss  to  the  State.  Its  location  is  such  that  with  a  new 
capital  it  could  not  continue  business  to  advantage. 

Your  Committee,  therefore,  believe  it  is  due  to  public  expectation,  as  it  cer 
tainly  is  consistent  with  sound  policy,  that  the  General  Assembly  should  place  its 
affairs  in  a  train  for  final  settlement. 

In  regard  to  the  Bank  of  the  State  of  Alabama  and  the  Branches  at  Huntsville 
and  Montgomery,  your  Committee  have  arrived  at  the  conclusion  that  no  final  ac 
tion  should  at  this  time  take  place.  The  charters  of  two  of  these  Banks  expire 
in  1845.  The  question  whether  they  should  go  out  of  existence  necessarily  pre 
sents  itself  to  the  people.  That  question  your  Committee  do  not  believe  has  yet 
been  decided.  The  Committee  are  deeply  impressed  with  the  conviction  that,  if 
any  step  is  taken  in  the  management  of  this  question,  calculated  to  surprise  the 
public  mind,  the  effect  might  be  to  overthrow  all  the  measures  that  are  now  held  to 
be  absolutely  necessary.  To  meet  the  exigences  in  the  condition  of  the  State,  the 
General  Assembly,  must  make  a  severe  exaction  upon  the  moral  force  of  the  peo 
ple.  Your  Committee  would  have  the  difficulties  in  which  the  State  is  involved 
met  firmly.  The  time  has  now  come  when  there  can  be  no  evasion.  Looking, 
then,  steadily  to  the  objects  of  reforming  the  currency  of  the  State,  and  making 
provisions  for  the  payment  of  the  public  debt,  it  is  the  duty  of  the  General  As 
sembly  to  move  steadily  and  deliberately. 

To  move  with  no  sudden,  hasty,  or  violent  effort,  but  with  a  calm  and  fixed 
purpose  to  attain  the  end — to  move,  not  from  the  impulse  of  a  speculative  opinion, 
or  even  the  just  conclusions  to  which  we  may  have  attained,  so  much  as  to  answer 
the  sober  demands  of  our  constituents.  For  it  has  been  well  remarked,  "that 
the  remark  can  scarcely  be  repeated  often  enough,  that  however  beneficial  any 
proposed  change  in  the  policy  of  a  country  may  be,  it  may  not  unfrequently  be 
productive  of  evils  on  its  sudden  introduction,  which  will  more  than  compensate 
the  good  it  is  fitted  eventually  to  confer."  Among  other  reasons  for  this  there  is 
one  peculiarly  applicable  in  a  country  whose  Government  is  constituted  like  ours : 


254  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

11  That  it  is  seldom  a  change  of  any  kind  in  the  political  or  social  relations  of 
society,  can  be  benefically  carried  into  execution  before  public  opinion  can  be  in 
duced  to  declare  decidedly  in  its  favor." 

Your  Committee  have  no  doubt  that  the  people  of  the  State  look  to  the  General 
Assembly  to  settle  a  day  for  the  resumption  of  specie  payments  by  the  .Banks. 
They  require  that  the  Banks  shall  make  one  effort  to  furnish  to  the  State  a  con 
vertible  currency.  Your  Committee  have  appointed  in  the  bill  a  day  quite  as  far 
distant  as  the  people  will  be  disposed  to  tolerate,  and  have  thus  preserved  to  the 
people  the  means  of  answering,  by  their  own  experience  and  observation,  whether 
the  Banks  have  entirely  failed  in  the  objects  of  their  creation,  and  whether  the 
charters  of  the  Banks  shall  be  continued.  Your  Committee  feel  satisfied  that  a 
course  less  temperate  than  this  will  be  productive  of  injurious  consequences. 

The  State  Bank  system  was  early  adopted  in  the  State.  To  its  benign  influence 
in  the  first  years  of  its  existence,  many  of  our  people  trace  their  prosperity. 
Within  the  last  few  years,  doubts  for  the  first  time  have  beeu  awakened  to  the  result 
of  the  experiment.  Against  these  doubts  the  community  at  large  has  struggled. 
Your  Committee  do  not  believe  that  the  disasters  which  have  overtaken  the  Banks, 
and  which  have  depreciated  their  character  and  currency,  have  had  the  effect  of 
destroying  this  confidence.  The  measure  of  its  prostration  should  be  resolved 
upon  by  the  people,  upon  a  view  of  its  deficiencies,  before  the  General  Assembly 
will  be  justified  in  adopting  it.  Your  Committee  have,  therefore,  refrained  from 
the  inquiry,  how  far  the  system  has  failed.  They  have  reported  a  bill  which 
guards  the  Banks  from  mismanagement  during  the  ensuing  year,  and  have  exposed 
the  system  to  a  plain  and  easy  test,  one  which  the  sense  of  the  community  has 
selected,  and  upon  its  ability  to  bear  that  test,  has  rendered  their  existence  de 
pendent. 

Your  Committee  will  not  discuss  at  length  the  details  of  the  bills  they  have 
presented.  These  details  comprise  a  change  in  the  mode  of  selecting  Directors  — 
a  chage  demanded  by  public  opinion. 

The  plan  proposed  by  the  Committee  contains  the  advantage  derivable  from  the 
power  of  appointment;  and  some  of  the  abuses  to  which  it  13  exposed  are  not 
comprehended  in  it. 

To  the  subject  of  the  reduction  of  the  number  of  officers  in  the  R"nk<*,  and  to 
the  retrenchment  of  other  expenses  of  the  Banks,  the  Committee  direct ed  iheir 
attention.  A  very  great  retrenchment  will  be  effected  under  the  bills  presented. 

The  joint  resolutions  submitted  in  regard  to  the  course  of  the  Bank  Directors 
in  the  management  of  the  Banks,  are  intended  to  answer  the  inquiries  continually 
made  for  the  course  to  be  taken  with  the  debts.  The  Committee  are  opposed  to 
the  passage  of  an  undiscriminating  relief  measure.  A  discretion,  regulated  by 
the  General  Assembly,  ought  to  be  confided  to  the  President  and  Directors. 

The  instructions  contained  in  these  resolutions  will  justify  these  officers  in  the 
adoption  of  a  forbearing,  and  even  indulgent  course  of  action.  Still,  there  should 
be  limits  to  these,  and  the  General  Assembly  can  not,  by  law,  accurately  mark 
these  limits.  The  subject  must  be  confided  to  the  Presidents  and  Directors. 

The  Committee  have  directed  some  attention  to  the  inquiry,  how  far  the  Banks 
were  able  to  meet  their  engagements.  The  result  of  these  inquiries  has  led  to  the 
report  of  resolutions  referring  to  the  application  of  means  not  entirely  within  the 
control  of  the  State,  but  providing  for  the  attainment  of  them.  The  Committee 
will  report  more  fully  hereafter  upon  the  subject  of  the  resources  of  the  Banks, 
and  their  ability  to  pay  the  interest  upon  the  public  debt  and  the  bonds  falling  due 
in  eighteen  hundred  and  forty-four ;  also,  upon  the  disposition  to  be  made  of  the 
specie  funds  in  the  Mobile  and  Decatur  Branches,  and  upon  the  measures  to  be 
taken  to  sustain  the  public  faith. 

The  Committee  can  not  conclude  their  report  without  declaring,  that  the  evils 
from  disordered  finances  crowd  upon  the  people. 

That  the  duty  of  the  General  Assembly  to  mitigate  these  evils,  by  an  examina 
tion  into  all  the  departments  of  expenditure,  has  become  an  imperative  obligation. 

That  efficiency  in  the  administration  of  all  the  departments  of  the  Government 
is  demanded,  and  that  efficiency  will  be  most  promoted  by  diminishing  the  number 
of  officers,  and  defining  with  precision  their  duties. 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  255 

Your  Committee  feel  assured  that  when  the  General  Assembly  shall  come  to  the 
people  with  evidence  that  their  interests  have  been  studiously  considered — that 
their  cause  has  suffered  no  harm  by  its  dereliction  of  duty — it  can  make  an  appeal 
to  the  people  to  maintain  the  public  faith  and  discharge  the  public  obligations, 
which  will  never  be  rejected.  Your  Committee  look  with  confidence  to  this  co-ope 
ration  between  the  General  Assembly  and  the  people,  as  the  means,  under  Provi 
dence,  left  us  for  the  preservation  of  the  honor  of  the  State,  and  the  maintenance 
of  its  faith  and  character ;  and  that  upon  the  General  Assembly  devolves  the  duty 
of  taking  the  first  measures  to  secure  that  co-operation. 

J.  A.  CAMPBELL,  Chairman. 

The  report  was  laid  on  the  table  and  five  hundred  copies  ordered  to  be  printed. 

Much  space  has  been  already  occupied  by  matter  from  the  Jour 
nal  of  the  House,  but  its  perusal  will  at  once  reward  the  labor  of 
examination.  While  drawing  so  freely  from  the  mind  and  ener 
gies  of  Mr.  Campbell,  to  indicate  the  action  of  the  House,  and  the 
measures  necessary  for  the  occasion,  a  still  further  resort  to  this 
enlightened  statesman  is  here  ventured  upon,  as  summing  up  the 
business  of  the  session.  On  the  Journal  of  February  14,  1843, 
the  day  before  adjournment,  the  following  report  appears : 

Mr.  Campbell,  from  the  select  Committee,  to  whom  was  referred  a  bill  to  raise  a 
revenue  to  maintain  the  plighted  faith  of  Alabama,  made  the  following  report — 

The  select  Committee  to  whom  was  referred  a  bill  to  be  entitled  an  act  to  raise  a 
revenue  to  maintain  the  plighted  faith  of  the  State,  have  had  the  subject  under 
consideration,  and  have  instructed  me  to  report — 

That  the  committee  acquiesce,  with  regret  and  difficulty,  in  the  conclusion  that 
no  action  can  be  taken  on  the  bill  at  the  present  session  of  the  General  Assembly. 
The  Committee  feel  that  a  review  of  the  measures  of  the  present  session  will  afford 
evidence  that  indifference  to  the  objects  of  the  bill  can  not  be  imputed  to  them. 

When  the  General  Assembly  convened,  it  found  that,  years  ago,  the  people  had 
been  discharged  from  the  office  of  maintaining  their  institutions.  That  the  Gov 
ernment  of  the  State,  its  officers  and  administration,  were  all  maintained  by  con 
tributions  from  the  public  Banks.  That  all  the  appropriations  in  favor  of  schools, 
and  for  internal  improvement,  were  derived  from  the  same  source. 

These  Banks  had  been,  for  years,  unable  to  maintain  their  own  engagements. 
They  had  furnished  to  the  people  an  irredeemable  currency,  which  was  constantly 
fluctuating  in  value. 

They  had  generated  in  the  State  a  spirit  of  improvidence  and  wastefulness. 
Their  management  had  been  characterized  by  abuse  and  extravagance.  They  had 
indulged,  in  more  instances  than  one,  in  fanciful  speculations,  to  the  great  detri 
ment  of  the  business  of  the  country.  They  had  already  occasioned  a  vast  loss  of 
capital  and  credit  to  the  State.  A  reform  was  imperiously  demanded. 

The  General  Assembly,  at  its  present  session,  have  passed  bills: 

1.  To  provide  by  taxation  a  sum  sufficient  to  meet  the  current  expenses  of  the 
present  year,  and  to  support  the  Government  until  the  taxes  can  be  collected  in 
the  succeeding  year. 

2.  The  appropriation  of  money  from  the  Banks  for  schools  has  been  withdrawn, 
and  no  application  for  internal  improvements  has  been  admitted. 

3.  The  powers  granted  to  the  Banks,  to  lend  money  or  to  increase  their  debts, 
have  been  revoked,  and  four  Branch  Banks  have  been  placed  in  liquidation. 

4.  The  system  of  bank  management  has  been  scrutinized.     The  number  of  offi 
cers  has  been  reduced,  their  salaries  curtailed,  and  efficiency  has  been  promoted. 

5.  Resolutions  enforcing  responsibility,   on  account  of   illegal  expenditures, 
have  been  adopted. 

6.  The  salaries  of  all  the  officers  in  the  Executive  and  Judicial  Departments 
have  been  reduced,  and  the  fees  to  subordinate  officers,  in  the  same  departments, 
have  been  diminished. 


256  Iteminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

7.  The  compensation  to  members  of  the  General  Assembly  was  reduced  in  the 
House.  The  Senate  refuses  to  permit  any  alteration  so  far  as  it  is  concerned. 
Your  Committee  trust  that  the  House  will  proceed  as  far  as  it  is  now  permitted, 
and  wait  for  instructions  from  the  people,  to  perfect  their  system  on  this  subject. 

9.  Bills  have  passed  the  House,  retrenching  expenses  of  suits  in  court,  and 
dispensing  with  the  expensive  machinery  employed  to  settle  controversies,  where 
no  controversy  exists  between  the  parties. 

The  measures  which  the  House  has  refused  to  pass  are  not  less  in  importance, 
in  their  conservative  influence,  than  those  that  were  adopted.  The  embarrass 
ments  of  the  people  are  known  to  be  great.  The  pecuniary  distress,  which  orig 
inated  in  causes  that  have  been  in  operation  for  years,  will  be  increased  by  the 
measures  of  the  session. 

The  General  Assembly  has  passed  no  law  to  obstruct  the  regular  administra 
tion  of  justice,  or  to  hinder  or  delay  the  creditor  in  the  collection  of  his  debt. 
The  debtors  of  the  Banks  have  received  no  preference  in  the  legislation  of  the 
State.  The  discrimination  and  indulgence  that  have  marked  the  laws  of  the  State 
for  their  benefit,  have  not  appeared  in  the  acts  of  the  House  of  Representatives. 

The  preparation  of  these  acts  was  necessarily  a  work  of  time,  requiring  much 
thought  and  discussion.  In  instances,  all  has  not  been  done  that  some  thought 
to  be  necessary  to  maintain  the  public  obligations.  And,  in  other  instances,  more 
has  been  done  than  many  esteemed  to  be  consistent  with  the  observance  of  a  pru 
dent  and  discreet  policy.  Differences  of  opinion  were  unavoidable. 

Examining  the  system  of  policy  as  a  connected  whole,  your  Committee  feel  con 
strained  to  say  that  a  great  and  radical  reform  has  been  accomplished.  That  the 
present  evils  may  be  more  severe  than  another  course  might  have  occasioned;  but 
if  such  should  be  the  fact,  the  people  will  have  a  compensation  afforded  to  them 
in  the  good  which  must  ultimately  flow  from  their  final  and  complete  abandonment 
of  a  vicious  arid  demoralizing  system. 

The  separation  of  the  State  from  all  dependence  on  the  Banks,  and  the  conces 
sion  of  the  fact,  that  years  will  elapse  before  they  can  discharge  their  debts  from 
their  resources,  imposes  the  duty  of  an  inquiry  into  the  obligations  of  the  State. 
The  result  of  this  inquiry  has  been  to  induce  the  conviction  that  the  State  should 
resort  to  taxation  to  provide  the  means  to  fulfil  the  public  engagements. 

The  Banks  were  created  by  the  State.  They  were  endowed  with  the  power  of 
making  contracts,  and  furnished  them  with  the  means  of  acquiring  credit  with 
the  community.  The  acknowledgment  of  these  facts,  results  in  the  conclusion  that 
the  State  should  refuse  to  withdraw  any  of  the  resources  placed  at  the  command  of 
those  institutions,  while  their  engagements  remain  unfulfilled.  It  is  true,  that  the 
State  may  safely  calculate  that  a  surplus  will  remain  after  the  payment  of  those 
debts.  It  is  not  less  true,  that  the  employment  by  the  State  of  that  surplus  in  ad 
vance  will  impair  the  public  confidence,  diminish  the  value  of  the  currency,  and 
thereby  increase  the  embarrassments  of  the  people,  and  violate  the  faith  of  the 
State  to  the  holders  of  the  bills  of  the  Banks. 

The.  surplus  that  shall  remain  of  the  assets  of  the  Banks,  after  the  payment  of 
their  debts,  should  be  applied  to  the  payment  of  the  principal  sum  due  on  ac 
count  of  their  capitals. 

The  debts  due  to  the  Banks  bear  interest,  while  the  debts  due  by  them  do  not 
carry  any  interest  in  favor  of  their  creditors.  Hence,  the  resources  of  the  Banks 
would  be  accumulatincr,  and  their  credit  wovld  improve  in  proportion.  If  the 
State  would  dedicate  the  resources  of  these  institutions  to  the  fulfilment  of  their 
engagements,  we  might,  within  a  very  few  years,  expect  the  currency  to  be  ab 
sorbed,  and  the  State  relieved  from  the  scourge  that  has  so  severely  afflicted  it. 

If  the  State  insists  upon  applying  the  assets  of  the  Banks  to  the  payment  of 
the  interest  on  the  State  bonds,  the  capital  of  the  Banks  will  soon  be  exhausted. 
The  charges  on  the  interest,  arising  from  the  separate  debts  of  the  Banks,  will 
not  be  met  by  the  amount  that  can  be  collected  from  that  source  during  the  present 
year. 

At  the  end  of  this  year's  transactions,  the  Banks  will  be  found  in  a  worse  con 
dition  than  they  now  are,  by  the  charges  that  are  already  imposed  upon  them. 

This  condition  of  things  will  be  continued  by  the  almost  constant  diminution 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  257 

of  the  debts  from  which  interest  will  be  derived,  by  means  of  payments  in  the  bills 
of  the  Bank,  .and  the  destruction  of  these  bills,  while  the  interest  payable  by  the 
State  on  account  of  its  bonds,  and  the  University  and  School  Funds,  will  exhibit 
no  diminution. 

Hence,  every  year  will  show  the  property  of  the  State  lessening  in  amount, 
while  its  debts  remain  stationary.' 

The  end  will  be  a  resort  to  the  people  for  taxes  of  a  much  larger  amount,  and 
imposing  a  severer  burden,  or  to  a  declaration  of  bankruptcy  by  the  State. 

Your  Committee  are  firmly  of  opinion  that  a  timely  resort  to  the  people,  for  the 
means  of  paying  the  interest  on  the  State  debts,  and  the  honest  application  of  the 
remaining  resources  of  the  Banks  to  the  extinguishment  of  the  principal  sum,  is 
the  policy  most  consistent  with  the  duty  and  honor  of  the  State.  The  idea  can  not 
be  tolerated  that  this  generation  shall  spend,  in  profusion  and  extravagance,  the 
money  borrowed  upon  the  public  credit,  and  that  posterity  shall  bear  the  conse 
quences.  It  would  be  a  most  atrocious  violation  of  all  the  obligations  we  owe  to 
our  children,  to  impose  upon  them  the  burden,  exclusively,  of  discharging  the 
public  debt.  Let  us,  at  least,  transmit  to  them  the  inheritance  of  a  State  relieved, 
as  far  as  possible,  of  the  incumbrances  which,  in  an  evil  hour,  we  imposed  upon  it. 
Let  those  incumbrances  be  a  tax  upon  our  industry,  our  comfort,  our  energies,  and 
not  upon  theirs. 

The  propriety  of  this  course  is  manifested  when  we  consider  the  condition  of  a 
portion  of  the  public  debt. 

There  has  been  disclosed,  at  the  present  session  of  the  General  Assembly,  a 
strong  disposition  to  withdraw  the  Sixteenth  Section  Funds  from  the  Banks.  The 
University  Funds  are  equally  sacred. 

These  provisions  for  public  education  have  their  origin  in  the  councils  of  the 
fathers  of  the  republic.  They  display  that  forethought  and  farsightedness,  which 
characterize  the  men  of  the  revolution.  They  exhibit  that  profound  and  earnest 
spirit  of  patriotism,  which  is  not  satisfied  by  a  transient  and  ephemeral  policy, 
but  which  comprehends  in  its  arrangements,  every  interest,  however  minute,  and 
every  person,  however  remote,  either  in  time  or  in  place,  who  is  concerned  in  the 
destinies  of  the  State.  Your  Committee  invoke,  for  our  counsels,  the  presence  of 
that  spirit. 

These  funds  should  be  carefully  and  religiously  preserved  in  the  wrecks  of  the 
Banks,  and  the  powers  of  the  State  should  be  employed  at  once  to  supply  them,  if 
they  have  been  lost. 

The  bonds  falling  due  in  1844,  by  the  act  under  which  they  were  issued,  were 
made  a  charge  upon  a  portion  of  the  assets  of  the  Banks.  The  payment  of  the 
principal  of  those  bonds  should  be  made  as  soon  as  practicable  from  these  assets. 
Your  Committee  conclude  that,  after  the  redemption  of  the  circulation,  and  the 
payment  of  the  depositors  of  the  Banks — after  the  security  of  the  University  and 
School  Funds,  and  the  payment  of  the  intesest  on  the  bonds  during  this  year  and 
the  next,  there  will  not  be  a  large  amount  of  the  resources  of  the  Banks  immedi 
ately  available. 

Some  of  the  debts  classified  as  good  must  be  extended  to  very  distant  periods. 
Much  of  the  real  estate  can  not  be  disposed  of,  and  the  bad  and  doubtful  debts 
will  afford  an  unsafe  dependence. 

Every  consideration  your  Committee  can  give  this  subject  only  fortifies  the  con 
viction  that  an  appeal  to  the  people  has  become  necessary  to  sustain  the  plighted 
faith  of  the  State.  Your  Committee  can  not  make  an  argument  in  favor  of  the 
obligation.  There  are  considerations,  however,  which  should  strengthen  us  to  a 
prompt  and  ready  obedience  to  it. 

The  American  name,  which  for  more  than  half  a  century  has  been  an  object  of 
interest  and  hope  to  mankind,  is  now  a  word  of  reproach.  It  has  become  so  from 
the  want  of  fidelity  on  the  part  of  the  States  in  paying  their  debts. 

The  energies  of  our  people  have  become  weak  and  enervated.  We  want  firm 
and  manly  public  spirit  in  our  legislation  to  restore  power  and  confidence  in  our 
people. 

The  bonds  of  the  American  States  have  been  distributed  through  European 
States.  The  pittance  of  the  laboring  man,  the  small  fortune  of  the  widow  and 

17 


258  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

the  orphan,  the  charities  of  the  humane  and  the  benevolent,  the  savings  of  honest 
industry,  were  cheerfully  and  trustingly  invested  in  the  promises  of  our  people. 

The  existence  of  these  facts  should  awaken  the  attention  of  our  people  to  the 
importance  of  prompt  and  efficient  action  on  this  subject.  They  surely  are  of  a 
character  to  aggravate  the  offense  of  any  default  on  their  part. 

Your  Committee  regret  that  the  work  of  preparation  had  not  been  commenced 
by  the  General  Assembly  at  its  present  session.  They  express  their  deliberate  con 
viction,  that  if  any  neglect  should  occur  on  the  part  of  the  Legislature  at  its  next 
session,  that  the  worst  of  consequences  may  happen.  They  can  not,  therefore,  return 
the  bill  to  the  House,  without  an  earnest  exhortation  to  the  people,  and  to  the 
General  Assembly  which  shall  succeed  this,  in  the  care  of  the  public  interests,  to 
go  on  to  the  full  accomplishment  of  this  work. 

All  of  which  is  respectfully  submitted. 

The  session  of  the  General  Assembly  for  the  year  1842-'3  was 
regarded  by  the  people  of  Alabama  with  great  expectation  and 
interest.  The  old  State  Bank  had  been  incorporated  in  1823,  and 
its  capital  had  been  composed  of  the  University  Funds,  the  Funds 
from  the  Sales  of  the  School  Lands,  the  Three  Per  Cent.  Fund, 
and  all  other  public  funds  of  the  State.  Its  operations,  for  years, 
were  simple  and  cautious,  and  its  loans  small  and  well  secured. 
It  assisted  many  persons  with  the  means  to  enter  their  lands  at 
the  public  offices,  and  was  thus  greatly  endeared  to  the  people  of 
the  State.  After  1832  and  to  1836,  branches  were  established  at 
Montgomery,  Mobile,  Decatur,  and  Huntsville,  and  the  bonds  of 
the  State  were  sold  to  establish  their  capital.  The  capital  of  the 
State  Bank  was  also  increased,  so  that  in  1842  the  public  debt  of 
the  State  was  near  $14,000,000,  which  was  represented  by  the 
assets  of  these  banks. 

There  were  reports  of  such  profits,  that,  in  the  year  1834,  all 
State  taxes  were  abolished,  and  the  civil  government  was  carried 
on  by  what  was  called  bank  profits. 

The  consequences  of  this  large  increase  of  bank  capital,  were, 
as  usual,  pernicious  and  baneful.  The  sober  expectations  of  in 
dustry,  together  with  the  prudent  courses  by  which  these  expecta 
tions  might  be  realized,  were  neglected  and  exploded.  Property 
attained  a  fictitious  value ;  speculations  were  engendered  in  every 
part  of  the  community;  and  a  demand  for  bank  credit  became 
universal.  The  office  of  bank  director  was  regarded  as  the  most 
lucrative  office  of  the  State,  and  the  Legislature  was  beset  by 
greedy  adventurers  who  sought  the  office  as  the  chief  object  of 
ambition.  The  Legislature  was  corrupted  by  the  struggles  for 
the  place,  and  all  the  mischiefs  of  log-rolling  and  huckstering  were 
resorted  to,  in  the  competitions  for  the  place. 

In  1837,  the  banks  suspended — a  revulsion  took  place  in  the 
affairs  of  the  people — relief-laws  became  necessary,  and  a  weighty 
mass  of  insolvency  was  produced.  From  1837  to  1842,  the  cur 
rency  was  depreciated,  till  it  became  inconvertible,  except  at  a  loss 
of  fifty  per  cent.,  for  specie.  The  interest  on  the  State  debt  was 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  259 

paid  by  purchases  of  cotton,  which  was  re-sold  at  a  heavy  loss. 
There  were  frauds  and  peculations,  and  the  apprehension  of  frauds 
became  prevalent;  a  panic  began  to  prevail;  the  bank  debtors 
dreaded  a  change,  and  the  bank  dependents  operated  to  prevent 
one.  No  measures  of  the  General  Assembly,  during  these  years, 
show  any  improvement. 

Gov.  Fitzpatrick  was  alive  to  this  condition  of  things  as  a  patriot, 
a  conservative  statesman,  and  as  the  leader  of  the  Democratic 
party,  which  had  been,  in  the  main,  opposed  to  the  enlargement 
of  the  banking  system,  and  which  had  been  carried  by  combinations 
of  a  minority  of  the  party  with  their  opponents — but  which  was 
now  held  responsible  for  the  consequences. 

In  the  Summer  of  1842,  during  the  session  of  the  Supreme 
Court,  the  Governor  had  long  and  earnest  consultations  with  his 
old  and  intimate  friends,  the  Hon.  Henry  Goldtwaite  and  John  A. 
Campbell,  Esq.,  upon  the  policy  to  be  adopted,  and  the  measures 
to  be  prepared  during  the  next  Winter;  and  the  last  named  gen 
tleman  agreed  to  be  a  candidate  for  the  Legislature,  to  assist  in 
the  consummation  of  the  policy  agreed  upon.  They  agreed  that 
the  State  Bank  System  was  pernicious  in  principle,  and  that  it 
should  be  abolished  whenever  it  could  be  done,  having  a  regard 
to  the  interests  of  the  people,  and  the  credit  of  the  State ;  that 
the  branches  at  Mobile  and  Decatur  should  be  immediately  de 
prived  of  the  powers  of  banks,  and  should  be  put  in  liquidation; 
and  that  the  course,  as  to  the  others,  should  depend  upon  the  de 
velopments  to  be  made. 

On  this  basis,  the  elections  in  1842  were  carried  by  the  Demo 
cratic  party,  which  had  a  large  majority  in  the  Legislature.  After 
the  elections,  the  Governor  took  the  most  efficient  measures  to 
have  the  subject  properly  presented  to  the  Legislature.  The  com 
missioners  for  examining  the  banks  were  selected  with  care  and 
discrimination,  and  searching  inquiries  were  made  into  the  condi 
tion  of  the  banks,  and  interrogatories,  prepared  by  Mr.  Campbell, 
were  sent  by  the  Governor  to  each  of  them,  to  be  answered  in 
their  reports.  Mr.  Campbell  also  prepared  the  bill  for  the  Mobile 
Branch  Bank  as  the  model  for  the  work  of  liquidation,  and  sub 
mitted  it  to  the  Governor,  and  adopted. 

With  this  preparation,  the  session  commenced.  At  the  meet 
ing  of  the  Legislature,  it  was  agreed  among  these  friends  that  John 
Erwin,  of  Greene,  should  be  the  Speaker  of  the  House.  He  was 
selected  for  his  efficiency — his  power,  as  a  presiding  officer,  to  hold 
a  deliberative  body  to  its  duty,  and  for  his  known  integrity,  and 
independence  of  all  Bank  connections.  The  selection  was  ad 
mirable. 

The  Bank  Committee  was  chosen  of  men  known  to  be  firm, 
consistent  and  conservative — of  men  who  could  understand  a. 


260  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

policy,  and  who  would  and  could  maintain  one.  As  soon  as  it  was 
fairly  understood  that  the  measures  for  a  complete  removal  of  the 
system  from  the  State  could  be  carried,  without  any  sacrifice  of  the 
public  honor  and  credit,  or  ruinous  concessions  to  the  public  debt 
ors,  the  Governor  and  his  friends  came  heartily  to  the  measures. 
All  the  acts  on  the  subject  of  the  Banks  were  prepared  by  the 
Bank  Committee.  The  measure  for  closing  the  mother  Bank  of1 
the  State  was  projected  by  that  Committee,  and  carried  by  its  in 
fluence. 

In  the  passage  of  these  measures,  the  wisdom,  providence  and 
tact  of  Governor  Fitzpatriek  were  displayed  in  their  full  vigor. 
With  the  measures,  there  was  a  restoration  of  taxation,  a  renewed 
pledge  of  the  determination  to  sustain  the  public  honor  and  cred 
it  ;  large  reduction  in  expenditure — a  careful  selection  of  compe 
tent  and  faithful  agents.  No  officer  ever  obtained  so  large  a  meas 
ure  of  popularity  in  the  same  time,  as  the  Governor,  and  none 
more  eminently  deserved  it. 

At  this  same  session,  the  Planters7  and  Merchants'  Bank  was 
put  in  liquidation — the  charter  of  the  City  of  Mobile  passed,  and 
provision  made  for  the  restoration  of  the  damaged  credit  of  that 
city,  and  also  a  -provision  against  the  creation  of  more  debts.  The 
whole  system  of  that  city  was  rescued  from  mismanagement  and 
insolvency  ;  and  the  management  of  the  public  trusts  of  the  State, 
and  public  funds,  was  duly  secured.  The  measures  were  so  com 
plete  and  efficient,  that  but  little  additions  were  found  necssary  at 
a  future  Legislature.  The  fruit  of  these  measures  was,  the  reduc 
tion  of  the  State  indebtedness  to  the  sum  of  $3,584,666,  which 
was  the  debt  in  1853. 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  261 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

Judicial  Elections,  1842 — Character  of  the  Judges. 

Among  the  duties  devolving  upon  the  General  Assembly  at  its 
long  and  laborious  session  of  1842— '3,  was  the  election  of  all  the 
Judges  of  the  Supreme  Court,  for  a  new  term,  and  several  Judges 
of  the  Circuit  Court.  Chief  Justice  Collier,  and  Associate  Jus 
tices  Goldthwaite  and  Ormond  were  reflected  without  opposition, 
for  the  first  tribunal.  For  four  of  the  Circuits  there  was,  like 
wise,  no  competition,  and  the  incumbents  were  reflected,  to-wit: 

For  Second  Judicial  Circuit,  Hon.  Ezekiel  Pickens; 
For  Third  Judicial  Circuit,  Hon.  Peter  Martin; 
For  Fourth  Judicial  Circuit,  Hon.  Daniel  Coleman ; 
For  Seventh  Judicial  Circuit,  Hon.  Samuel  Chapman. 

There  was  a  contest  in  relation  to  the  Sixth  Circuit,  as  shown 
by  the  ballotings  here  given : 

1st  Ballot.    2<l  Ballot.    3d  Ballot.    4th  Ballot.    &tk  Ballot. 

George  W.  Crabb 40  45  46  50  51 

John  Bragg 52  54  54  53  62 

Robert  McAlpin 12  8  8  8  0 

Joseph  Seawell 12  8  6  5  0 

Judge  Bragg  having  received  a  majority  of  the  whole  number 
of  votes  cast  was  declared  duly  elected. 

For  the  Ninth  Circuit,  Hon.  Eli  Shortridge  received  82  votes, 
and  George  W.  Stone  27.  Thus  ended  the  contest  for  Judicial 
offices  on  that  occasion. 

As  it  is  intended  to  furnish  in  this  work,  more  or  less  complete, 
a  series  of  sketches,  to  include,  not  only  Governors,  Senators  and 
Representatives  in  Congress,  and  members  of  the  Legislature,  but 
also  a  personal  sketch  of  some  of  the  Judges,  it  is  believed  that 
the  present  is  a  suitable  occasion  to  begin  the  task.  Nothing  like 
biography  will  be  attempted,  but  a  mere  outline  of  character,  with 
such  materials,  or  such  facts  as  may  be  at  command  to  give  it  form. 

HON.  EZEKIEL  PICKENS,  of  Dallas,  served  in  the  Senate  in 
1828,  but  was  on  the  Bench  of  the  Circuit  Court  in  1837,  when  I 
became  connected  with  the  State  Government,  and  continued  in, 


262  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Atabamd. 

office  until  1847,  when  he  was  defeated  for  reelection.  In  1850, 
when  the  election  of  Judges  was  given  to  the  people,  he  was  tri 
umphantly  restored  to  his  old  dignity,  and  remained  upon  the 
bench  several  years,  when  he  resigned  and  removed  to  Mississippi. 
He  died,  a  few  years  thereafter,  at  his  new  home. 

Besides  being  a  lawyer,  Judge  Pickens  was  also  a  planter  and  a 
bachelor.  His  legal  talents  and  acquirements  were  respectable, 
without  being  profound.  He  had  many  eccentricities  and  odd 
sayings,  and  an  odd  way  of  saying  things,  that  detracted  a  good 
deal  from  the  dignity  that  would  otherwise  have  attached  to  his 
character,  and  his  long  connection  with  the  bench.  His  charges 
to  the  jury  were  sometimes  intermixed  with  his  oddities,  and  fre 
quently,  in  court,  his  irony  burnt  like  caustic.  It  is  related  that  a 
man  was  tried  before  him  for  cutting  another  to  pieces  with  a  bowie- 
knife,  when  that  fearful  weapon  was  frequently  in  use.  Much  to 
the  surprise  of  everybody  the  jury  brought  in  a  verdict  of  not 
guilty,  at  which  the  Judge  exclaimed,  "My  God!"  a  common  ex 
pression  with  him.  The  next  case  was  that  of  another  man  who 
was  indicted  for  larceny,  in  having  stolen  a  hat,  and  jury  No.  2  re 
turned  him  guilty,  without  hesitation.  The  Judge  called  him  up 
to  receive  the  sentence  of  the  Court,  before  pronouncing  which, 
he  said,  in  a  soft,  sympathetic,  low  tone,  "  My  friend,  I  reckon  you 
have  not  lived  long  in  this  part  of  the  country,  and  don't  know 
the  way  crime  is  estimated  here.  Now,  you  have  made  a  mistake. 
If  you  had  cut  a  man  all  to  pieces  with  a  bowie-knife,  that  is  no 
crime  here;  but  if  you  steal  anything,  they  will  get  you  sure.7' 
This  was  no  doubt  intended  as  a  castigation  to  jury  No.  1,  who 
were  seated  in  the  box,  listening  to  the  judge. 

Another  instance  is  related,  where  a  young  man  of  respectable 
parentage  was  accused  of  an  offense  of  which  he  was.  found  guilty, 
and  the  punishment  was  confinement  in  the  Penitentiary  from  one 
or  two  to  four  years,  in  the  discretion  of  the  Court.  Sentence  was 
deferred  until  the  next  morning.  In  the  meantime,  the  father  of 
the  youth,  a  respectable  old  gentleman,  naturally  feeling  much  for 
his  son,  ventured  to  approach  the  Judge,  backed  by  the  indorse 
ment  of  friends,  asking  that  the  Judge,  in  consideration  of  the 
tender  age  of  the  prisoner,  and  his  previous  good  character,  would 
sentence  him  for  the  shortest  period.  The  Judge  took  the  night 
to  reflect  on  the  appeal  to  his  leniency,  and  next  morning,  after 
the  Court  opened,  he  directed  the  Sheriff  to  bring  in  the  prisoner. 
His  father  being  present,  Judge  Pickens  asked  him  to  conic  up 
and  take  a  seat  by  him.  In  the  interval,  while  the  Sheriff  was 
bringing  in  the  prisoner,  aud  while  the  father  promptly  complied 
with  the  invitation  of  the  Judge,  persuading  himself  that  it  was  a 
favorable  sign,  Judge  Pickens  told  him  that  he  had  been  thinking 
over  the  case  of  his  son,  and  concluded  it  would  be  better  for  him  to 


Uemim-scmces  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  263 

learn  a  trade  in  the  Penitentiary,  so  that,  when  his  term  would  ex 
pire,  he  would  be  ready  to  start  in  the  world;  and  now,  my  friend, 
said  he,  four  years  is  the  shortest  term  in  which  he  can  do  this — 
yes,  four  years  is  the  right  time;  so,  you  see,  my  friend,  I  will  send 
him  for  four  years. 

When  at  Tuskaloosa,  many  years  ago,  Mesmerism  and  Phrenol 
ogy  were  having  a  run,  and  the  Judge  was  fully  in  the  excite 
ment,  and  carried  away  with  astonishment  at  the  wonderful  exhi 
bitions  he  witnessed.  He  was  said  also  to  be  a  strong  believer  in 
Physiognomy;  but  Phrenology  was  his  divinity.  When  the  Mor 
gan  Masonic  excitement  occurred  in  1830-31,  Judge  Pickens  took 
decided  ground  in  favor  of  the  anti-Masonic  party,  and,  if  I  mis 
take  not,  was  President  of  a  Convention  held  in  those  days,  at 
Selma,  to  organize  an  anti-Masonic  party. 

It  is  said  that  in  his  earlier  days,  while  at  the  bar,  he  exhibited 
ability  as  a  public  speaker.  He  was  a  Democrat  from  principle, 
and  enjoyed  the  confidence  of  the  party.  In  person,  he  was  of  small 
stature,  much  below  the  ordinary  size.  This,  together  with  his 
peculiarities,  made  him  a  queer  looking  man.  He  possessed  great 
integrity  of  character,  and  was  useful  in  his  sphere,  with  com 
mendable  public  spirit. 

Hon.  PETER  MARTIN  was  born  and  educated  in  North  Car 
olina,  but  came  to  Alabama  when  a  young  man,  about  the  time 
the  State  was  admitted  into  the  Union.  He  soon  took  a  decided 
position  at  the  bar  and  in  politics,  and  served  a  number  of  ses 
sions  in  the  Legislature.  He  was  then  elected  Solicitor,  and  after 
ward  Attorney-General  of  the  State,  in  which  capacity  the  writer 
first  knew  him  for  the  prosecution  against  a  wealthy,  overbearing 
man,  who  had  collected  a  crowd  of  fellows  of  the  baser  sort,  and 
visited  in  an  unlawful  manner  the  house  of  a  poor  man  who  had 
offended  him,  inflicting  severe  chastisement.  It  was  an  aggra 
vated  battery,  and  it  was  pressed  with  great  zeal  and  ability  by 
the  Attorney-General,  who  succeeded  in  having  condign  punish 
ment  administered. 

On  the  promotion  of  Judge  Collier  to  the  Bench  of  the  Su 
preme  Court  in  183G,  Judge  Martin  was  elected  to  preside  over 
the  3d  Circuit,  a  position  he  continued  to  fill  until  1843,  when  he 
resigned,  probably  because  he  was  not  appointed  Judge  of  the 
Supreme  Court  to  fill  a  vacancy. 

In  1844,  he  was  brought  forward  on  the  Democratic  ticket  to 
represent  Tuskaloosa  county  in  the  Legislature,  and  entered  the 
canvass  with  his  accustomed  zeal  and  energy.  It  was  the  year  of 
the  Presidential  election,  and  all  other  contests  were  but  subsid 
iary.  Judge  Martin  was  elected  on  a  divided  ticket.  Upon  the 
organization  of  the  House,  he  was  appointed  Chairman  of  the 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in 

Committee  on  the  State  Bank  and  Branches,  justly  considered  in 
those  days  laborious  and  responsible.  He  was  an  active  member, 
frequently  engaging  in  the  debates,  for  which  he  was  always 
ready.  In  shaping  many  useful  measures  of  legislation,  he  ren 
dered  valuable  aid.  His  service  in  the  House,  in  1844,  was  the 
last  public  position  he  held.  He  resumed  the  practice  of  the 
law,  in  which  he  continued,  and  died  at  Tuskaloosa,  where  he  had 
lived  many  years. 

On  the  Bench,  Judge  Martin  gave  general  satisfaction,  by  the 
impartiality  with  which  he  presided.  His  face  had  by  no  means 
a  prepossessing  expression.  It  conveyed  the  idea  of  irregularity 
in  other  days,  and  was  very  deficient  in  those  graces  of  the  soul, 
of  which  the  countenance  is  said  to  be  the  representative  when 
they  really  exist  in  character.  Besides  a  general  insipidity  of 
feature,  and  rather  a  forbidding  scowl  of  the  brows,  his  enun 
ciation,  or  the  quality  of  his  voice,  with  a  sort  of  mincing  his  sen 
tences,  made  him  a  somewhat  disagreeable  speaker.  Yet,  in  spite 
of  all  these  defects,  there  was  so  much  good  sense,  and,  as  a 
Judge,  such  evident  honesty  of  purpose,  in  him,  as  to  smooth 
over  the  deformities  of  his  face,  and  to  create  an  interest  in  the 
subject-matter  upon  which  he  was  descanting.  On  first  vieAv,  a 
stranger  would  decide  that  Judge  Martin  was  a  very  coarse,  not 
to  say  stupid,  man.  Nature  had  not  dealt  bountifully  with  his 
exterior,  but  his  mind  was  a  gem  which,  rubbed  a  little  by  oppo 
sition,  gave  a  pure  light — the  light  of  intellect  and  knowledge, 
which  always  commanded  respect  in  whatever  public  situation  he 
was  placed.  As  Attorney-General,  as  a  Judge,  and  as  a  legisla 
tor,  he  has  left  behind  him,  in  the  memory  of  those  who  knew 
him  in  those  several  capacities,  an  impression  favorable  to  his 
character. 

Hon.  DANIEL  COLEMAX,  of  Limestone  county,  was  on  the 
Bench  in  North- Alabama,  and  was  but  little  known  personally 
south  of  the  mountain.  He  was  for  many  years  Judge  of  the 
Circuit  Court,  and  could  have  secured  higher  judicial  promotion 
if  he  would  have  accepted  it.  He  resigned  his  commission  as 
Circuit  Judge  in  1847,  for  the  purpose  of  engaging  in  the  mer 
cantile  business,  for  which  he  had  a  strong  inclination.  In  1848, 
he  was  placed  on  the  Electoral  Ticket  for  the  State  at  large,  but, 
having  no  taste  for  politics,  he  declined  the  honor.  In  June, 
1851,  upon  the  resignation  of  Mr.  Justice  Parsons,  he  was  pre 
vailed  upon  to  accept  the  appointment,  tendered  by  Gov.  Col 
lier,  to  fill  the  vacancy  in  the  Supreme  Court;  but  he  declined  an 
election  by  the  Legislature.  This  ended  his  public  connection 
with  the  State — a  connection  that  had  been  maintained  on  his 
part,  for  many  years,  with  great  probity  of  character,  and  an 


Hemmisccv.ces  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

Upright  administration  of  the  laws,  which  won  for  him  the  mer 
ited  title  of  the  "Good  Judge."     He  died  many  years  ago. 

Judge  Coleman  was  a  plain,  quiet,  unassuming  Christian  gen 
tleman,  who  exerted  in  his  intercourse  with  society  a  most  salu 
tary  influence.  Had  he  indulged  more  ambition,  with  his  solid 
attainments  as  a  jurist,  and  as  a  general  reader,  with  the  strong 
hold  he  had  upon  the  public  confidence  and  respect,  his  public 
career  might  have  been  more  varied  than  it  was.  He  was  a 
worthy  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  South. 

Hon.  SAMUEL  CHAPMAX  came  from  Alabama  to  Virginia  at  an 
early  period  of  the  State's  history,  and  settled  first  in  Nortli- 
Alabama,  to  pursue  the  practice  of  the  law.  He  was  on  the  Cir 
cuit  Bench  in  1837,  when  I  first  knew  him,  and  he  continued  in 
the  office  a  number  of  years.  In  1842,  he  was  reflected  by  the 
Legislature  without  opposition,  and  reflected  again  in  1847,  over 
his  competitors,  James  D.  Webb  and  Gideon  B.  Frierson,  Esqs. 
But  in  1850,  when  the  election  of  Judges  was  given  to  the  people, 
he  was  beaten.  This  ended  his  connection  with  public  life,  and 
in  a  few  years  thereafter  he  died  at  Livingston,  where  he  had 
resided  since  the  prime  of  his  days,  and  where  he  lost  his  wife 
in  1836. 

In  regard  to  his  defeat  before  the  people,  for  a  high  judicial 
station,  the  fact  should  be  kept  in  mind  that  he  was  a  gentleman 
of  the  olden  school,  high-minded,  sensitive,  and  wholly  unpre 
pared  by  habits  and  education  to  cater  to  the  popular  sentiment. 
Before  the  Legislature,  his  opportunity  was  very  different.  There, 
his  personal  dignity  was  no  barrier  to  success,  and  the  decorum  of 
his  manners  was  understood  and  appreciated  as  something  quite 
unlike  haughtiness,  which  the  people  were  apt  to  ascribe  to  a 
candidate  who  would  not  render  himself  familiar  on  their  own 
terms.  Judge  Chapman  had  been  in  a  station  many  years  which 
necessarily  precluded  these  interchanges  of  good-will  and  clever 
ness  with  the  people  as  a  mass.  His  personal  associations  and 
tastes  were  of  another  kind;  and  he  was  not  solitary  in  the  expe 
rience,  that  a  modest,  high-toned  gentleman  is  often  distanced  at 
the  polls,  by  a  man  whose  chief  merit,  perhaps,  is  to  gain  public 
favor  by  arts  and  appliances  from  which  a  lofty  nature  would 
shrink  in  disgust. 

The  high  character  of  Judge  Chapman,  socially  and  officially, 
calls  for  the  warmest  eulogy.  He  had  fine  stores  of  anecdote,  and 
much  humor  to  embellish  their  relation,  when  he  had  around  him 
congenial  minds,  those  who  could  value  and  enjoy  his  rich  offer 
ings.  When  thus  favorably  situated,  he  seldom  failed  to  con 
tribute  to  the  entertainment  of  his  friends  and  his  select  audience 
in  his  own  way,  reminding  the  looker-on  of  what  he  may  imagine 


266  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Atabamd. 

to  be  the  relaxation  of  an  English  "Peer  or  Lord  Chancellor, 
after  the  severe  labors  of  the  House  or  the  Wool-sack.  In 
physique,  in  the  breadth  and  symmetry  of  his  person,  the  round, 
intellectual  forehead  and  manly  features,  all  expressive  of  a  great 
soul,  Judge  Chapman  possessed  rare  advantages.  His  person  on 
the  Bench  was  a  power  of  itself.  He  not  only  acted  as  a  wise 
and  upright  Judge,  but  he  looked  the  character.  His  brother, 
Gov.  Chapman,  by  his  long  service  in  Congress,  and  by  his  term 
in  the  Executive,  seems  to  have  crowned  the  family  name,  in  Ala 
bama,  in  popular  estimation.  Much  as  I  respect  the  latter  gen 
tleman,  and  willing  as  I  am  to  render  him  full  justice,  I  believe 
I  do  not  claim  wrongfully,  when  I  bring  forward  his  judicial 
brother  as  best  entitled  to  that  distinction.  Merit  of  a  high  grade 
may  exist  in  both,  without  detracting  from  either. 

One  of  the  daughters  of  Judge  Chapman  married  the  Hon.  E. 
W.  Pettus,  late  a  Judge  of  the  Circuit  Court  in  Alabama,  and 
another  married  George  B.  Saunders,  Esq.,  the  present  Judge  of 
the  Probate  Court  of  Sumter  county. 

Hois\  ELI  SHORTRIDGE  was  a  native  of  Kentucky,  where  he 
commenced  the  practice  of  the  law.  His  liberal  education,  fine  lit 
erary  acquirements,  and  a  sweet,  persuasive  elocution,  soon  opened 
the  way  to  success.  About  the  year  1826  the  people  of  Kentucky 
became  divided  into  two  great  parties  in  relation  to  the  old  and 
the  new  court  system,  a  history  of  which  will  not  be  attempted 
here.  Mr.  Shortridge  allied  himself  with  the  latter  and  was 
elected  a  Judge  under  the  new  organization.  It  was  overthrown 
in  the  contest  of  1828,  which  resulted  in  the  election  of  Gov. 
Metcalf,  over  William  T.  Barry,  who  was  the  next  year  appointed 
Postmaster-General,  by  President  Jackson,  and  afterward  Min 
ister  to  Spain,  in  which  character  he  died  abroad. 

About  the  year  1830,  Judge  Shortridge  removed  to  Alabama, 
and  settled  in  Tuskaloosa,  where  he  at  once  took  a  high  position 
at  the  bar  and  in  politics.  He  was  a  Democrat,  and  it  was  not  long 
after  he  became  eligible,  from  citizenship,  before  he  was  elected  a 
Representative  in  the  Legislature,  where  his  influence  and  ability 
were  soon  felt  and  acknowledged.  In  1835,  he  was  elected  Judge 
of  the  Ninth  Judicial  Circuit,  then  just  formed,  the  duties  of  which 
office  he  discharged  with  firmness,  patience,  and  integrity.  Ho 
was  the  father  of  the  late  Hon.  George  D.  Shortridge,  who  also 
became  a  Judge  of  the  Circuit  Court,  and,  in  1855,  was  a  candi 
date  for  Governor;  and,  also,  the  grand-father  of  Bur  well  Boykin 
Lewis,  Esq.,  of  Shelby  county,  a  lawyer,  and  justly  regarded  as 
one  of  the  rising  young  men  of  the  day. 

It  is  due  to  the  memory  of  Judge  Shortridge,  who  has  been 
dead  many  years,  to  say  that  his  addresses  to  the  jury,  while  at 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  267 

the  bar  as  an  advocate,  were  models  of  beauty  and  eloquence,  so 
pronounced  by  competent  men  who  have  heard  him.  He  had  a 
peculiar  softness  and  euphony  in  his  voice  which  exerted  a  charm 
on  the  listeners.  Nothing  could  be  more  captivating.  It  was  like 
the  tones  of  a  parlor  organ,  rich  in  melody,  and  gushing  out  in  a 
perpetual  concord  of  sweet  sounds.  If  Cicero,  himself,  had  been 
present,  he  must  have  been  satisfied  that  the  Kentucky  and  Ala 
bama  orator  had  reached  as  near  perfection  in  this  respect,  as  it 
was  permitted  any  man  to  attain.  I  speak  of  the  art  or  gift  of  de 
livery  alone.  His  style,  however,  was  not  less  beautiful  in  the 
purity  of  diction;  and  it  seemed  as  if  he  always  held  a  check  on 
himself,  as  if  to  curb  a  vivid  imagination.  There  were  occasions, 
however,  when  he  soared  beyond  this  restraint,  though  never  to 
the  height  of  his  capacity.  In  his  youth,  he  had  drank  from  the 
purest  fountains  of  eloquence,  with  such  models  as  Clay,  Critten- 
den,  and  Barry,  all  of  the  first  order,  to  influence  his  taste. 

After  this  flattering  picture,  it  may  possibly  be  demanded  why, 
with  such  gifts,  Judge  Shortridge  did  not  figure  to  more  advantage 
in  the  public  arena?  The  reply  is  brief,  and  made  with  regret. 
He  was  truly  social,  and  the  most  entertaining  of  company.  Con 
viviality  ripened  into  habit,  and  the  strong  man — the  prince  of 
orators — the  best  of  Judges — gradually  languished,  and  then  his 
light  perished  in  the  ruin.  Strength  and  -weakness,  how  mysteri 
ously  combined! 

HON.  JOHN  J.  ORMOND  was  upon  the  Bench  of  the  Supreme 
Court  when  I  first  knew  him,  in  1837.  He  had  previously  been 
a  member  of  the  Legislature  from  Lawrence  county,  and  from  the 
solid  order  of  his  talents,  and  his  capacity  for  legislation,  lie  be 
came  very  prominent  and  influential  in  that  sphere.  He  was  a 
AVhig  in  politics,  and  it  is  a  proof  that  his  merits  and  character 
were  commanding,  when  he  received  promotion  at  the  hands  of 
the  Democratic  majority.  In  fact,  such  was  the  general  confidence 
in  his  integrity  as  a  man,  and  the  great  respect  entertained  for  his 
liberality  as  a  politician,  that  a  mere  party  name  did  not  seem  to 
work  him  the  least  prejudice.  He  aimed  at  uprightness  in  all  his 
conduct,  judicial  and  otherwise,  and  it  was  a  severe  trial  to  his 
sensibilities,  when,  in  1841,  Mr.  John  M.  Bates,  a  citizen  of  Greene 
county,  and  formerly  a  member  of  the  Legislature,  published  a 
pamphlet  of  about  seventy  pages,  stating  facts,  and  reviewing  the 
opinions  of  Chief  Justice  Collier  and  Associate  Justice  Ormond, 
in  the  case  decided  at  June  Term,  1841,  of  the  Supreme  Court, 
wherein  the  Bank  of  the  State  of  Alabama  was  plaintiff,  and  John 
M.  Bates  and  others  were  defendants  in  the  Court  below,  which 
they  brought  up  by  writ  of  error.  As  considerable  litigation  grew 
out  of  the  advances  made  by  the  Bank,  in  1838  and  1839,  on  the 


2()<S  lleminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

pledge  of  cotton,  and  on  contracts  for  the  delivery  of  cotton,  to 
e  nabie  the  Bank  to  obtain  specie  funds,  it  is  deemed  proper  to  no 
tice  the  case  as  made  out  by  the  appeal  of  Mr.  Bates  to  the  public, 
to  impair  the  influence  of  the  majority  of  the  Supreme  Court. 
Judge  Goldthwaite,  having  delivered  a  dissenting  opinion,  was  not 
included  in  the  harsh  criticism  indulged  by  the  reviewer. 

On  the  29th  August,  1838,  the  Directors  of  the  Bank  adopted 
a  series  of  rules  and  regulations,  of  which  the  following  is  a  copy : 

The  Board  of  Directors,  being  desirous  of  placing  the  Bank  in  a  situation  to 
resume  specie  payments  as  early  as  possible,  and  to  maintain  the  character  and 
value  of  its  paper,  and  in  order  to  accomplish  these  two  important  and  desirable 
objects,  she  must  be  provided  with  a  suitable  proportion  of  specie  and  exchange 
funds,  will  make  advances  on  cotton  under  the  following  rules  and  regulations: 

1.  The  receipt  of  the  warehouse  keeper,  or  the  agent  of  the  Bank  at  Mobile, 
or  other  satisfactory  voucher,  shall  be  submitted  to  the  committee  hereafter  ap 
pointed  under  the  provisions  of  the  8th  section. 

2.  The  cotton  shall  only  be  shipped  to  the  agents  for  the  Bank  at  Liverpool, 
New  York,  New  Orleans,  or  Mobile. 

3.  All  cotton  advanced  on  will  be  shipped  by  the  Bank,  for  account  and  risk  of 
the  party  to  whom  the  advance  is  made ;  and  the  Bank  will  in  no  case  be  account 
able  for  losses,  etc.,  except  arising  from  neglect  or  mismanagement  of  its  own 
agents. 

4.  All  expenses  of  freights,  commissions,  insurance,  etc.,  shall  be  paid  by  the 
party  for  whose  account  and  risk  the  cotton  is  shipped.     The  shipper  may  fix  the 
price  and  the  time  at  which  he  desires  the  cotton  to  be  sold,  but  that  limit,  as  to 
price  and  time,  must  terminate  at  the  expiration  of  four  months  from  the  time  of 
its  arrival  in  a  foreign  port,  at  which  time  the  sales  must  be  closed. 

5.  From  the  time  the  proceeds  of  any  cotton  coming  into  the  hands  of  the 
agents  of  the  Bank,  or  is  deposited  to  its  credit  in  any  corresponding  bank,  the 
amount  of  net  proceeds,  with  interest  at  the  rate  of  six  per  cent,  per  annum, 
shall  be  allowed  to  the  credit  of  the  note  or  bill  which  may  have  been  given  for 
the  amount  of  said  advance. 

6.  Any  person  obtaining  an  advance  on  cotton  as  above,  shall  give  his  bill, 
payable  at  not  exceeding  nine  months,  for  the  amount  advanced,  secured  by  two 
good  and  sufficient  indorsers. 

7.  In   the  event  the   net  proceeds  of  the  cotton   be  more   than  the   amount 
advanced,  the  bank  shall  refund;  if  less,  the  party  so  indebted  to  the  Bank  may 
settle  the  deficiency  by  a  good  bill,  not  having  longer  to  run  than  the  15th  of  Feb 
ruary  thereafter,  provided  the  same  be  offered  twenty  days  before  the  maturity  of 
the  bill  first  given  for  the  amount  advanced,  and  no  advance  shall  exceed  twenty- 
five  per  cent,  above  the  actual  value  of  the  cotton  at  the  time  it  is  received  by  the 
Bank. 

8.  A  committee  of  five  (the  President  or  Cashier  being  one)  shall  be  appointed, 
which  committee  shall  have  power  to  pass  on  any  paper  offered  under  this  ar 
rangement.     [Messrs.  John  Marrast,  Joel  White,  Robert  Jemison,  Jr.,  and  James 
Hogan,  were  appointed  the  committee.] 

9.  The  Bank  shall,  for  the  mutual  safety  of  itself  and  the  party  for  whose 
account  and  risk  it  ships,  have  the  right  of  insuring  all  cotton  it  may  ship,  and  in 
the  event  of  loss,  the  insurance  money,  when  received,  shall  be  placed  to  the 
credit  of  the  bill  given  for  the  advance  on  any  cotton  thus  lost. 

10.  All  the  exchange  existing  at  the  time  the  cotton  is  sold,  between  the  United 
States  and  Liverpool,  for  cotton  sold  there,  if  any,  shall  enure  to  the  account  of 
the  shipper,  the  Bank  retaining  one  and  a  half  per  cent,  only  for  the  transaction. 

11.  The  Bank  will  appoint  an  agent  here  for  the  purpose  of  receiving,  sam 
pling,  marking  and  shipping  cotton  to  the  agent  at  Mobile,  and  that  he  be  allowed 
twelve  and  a  half  cents  per  bale  for  such  service. 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  269 

12.  The  adoption  of  the  above  regulations  will  not  be  so  construed  as  to  forbid 
advances  being  made  before  the  delivery  of  the  cotton,  but  in  cases  where  the  «t- 
izen  .is  in  danger  of  having  his  property  sacrificed,  on  his  giving  satisfactory 
paper  and  evidence  of  solvency,  the  Bank  will,  under  the  foregoing  regulation, 
purchase  bills  of  exchange  on  New  York,  having  not  longer  than  the  first  day  of 
February  to  run,  provided  the  drawer  will  execute  his  written  pledge  to  deliver 
a  warehouse  receipt,  or  the  receipt  of  its  agent  in  Mobile,  by  the  loth  day  of 
January  next,  a  sufficient  quantity  of  cotton  to  cover  said  bill,  to  be  shipped  to 
our  agent  in  Liverpool,  New  York  or  New  Orleans.  The  drawer  of  the  bill  shall 
have  the  privilege,  after  delivering  the  cotton  to  our  agent,  of  taking  up  the  bill 
payable  in  New  York  with  one  payable  in  Mobile,  at  nine  months  from  that  time, 
and  in  case  the  cotton  is  not  delivered  agreeable  to  contract,  the  bill  shall  be  for 
warded  to  New  York  and  protested,  and  the  parlies  immediately  sued. 

18.  That  Pitcher  &  Ball,  Esqs.,  our  agents  in  Mobile  for  receiving  and  ship 
ping  cotton,  be  furnished  with  a  copy  of  the  foregoing  regulations,  and  that  they 
be  authorized  (until  otherwise  instructed)  to  receive  cotton  on  account  of  this 
Bank  for  shipment  to  Liverpool,  and  that  they  transmit  to  this  Bank  the  number 
of  bales,  marks,  weights,  classification,  and  valuation  of  such  lots  or  parcels  of 
cotton,  and  on  such  report  and  receipt,  the  shipper  will  receive  his  advance  here, 
according  to  the  foregoing  regulations. 

1-1.  That  Messrs.  Fontaine  &  Prince  are  appointed  the  agents  of  this  Bank  at 
Liverpool;  Messrs.  William  &  Robert  Kelly,  at  New  York;  Messrs.  Pitcher  &  Ball, 
at  Mobile,  and  Messrs.  Marr,  Brown  &  Co.,  at  New  Orleans. 

WHKKEAS,  Different  opinions  are  entertained  as  to  the  intention  of  this  Bank, 
in  the  10th  section  of  the  Cotton  Regulations,  be  it,  therefore, 

Resolved,  That  in  all  cases  of  shipment,  whether  to  New  York,  New  Orleans,  or 
Liverpool,  or  elsewhere  beyond  the  limits  of  the  State,  that  the  difference  of 
exchange  shall  inure  to  the  planter,  except  the  per  cent,  retained  by  the  Bank  for 
the  transaction,  and  that  the  same  be  reduced  so  as  in  no  case  to  exceed  one  per 
cent, 

Extract  from  the  Minutes. 

E.  F.  COMEGYS,  Cashier. 

The  transaction  which  connected  Mr.  Bates  with  the  Bank,  and 
which  was  the  basis  of  the  suit  against  him  and  Bryan  Hincs,  his 
second  indorser,  who  were  both  sued  in  the  Circuit  Court  of  Greene 
county,  is  thus  described  in  the  record: 

BANK  OF  THK  STATK  OF  ALAIIAMA,  > 
TUSKALOOSA,  May  1,  188(J.      } 

The  President  and  Directors  of  the  Bank  of  the  State  of  Alabama  have  advanced 
John  M.  Bates,  of  Greene  county,  seventy-nine  thousand  six  hundred  and  thirty- 
two  dollars  and  seventy-five  cents,  on  one  thousand  and  twenty-two  bales  of  cot 
ton,  agreeable  to  the  regulations  adopted  at  a  meeting  of  the  Board  of  Directors 
on  the  29th  August,  1838;  which  cotton  is  to  be  shipped  to  Messrs.  Fontaine  & 
Prince,  of  Liverpool,  who  are  the  agents  of  this  Bank.  Said  cotton  is  to  be  sold 
for  the  benefit  of  said  John  M.  Bates,  and  the  proceeds  are  to  be  placed  to  the 
credit  of  this  Bank,  in  Liverpool,  England. 

MAJOR  COOK,  Agent. 

To  secure  the  amount  advanced,  Mr.  Bates  executed  fifteen  bills 
of  exchange  for  $5,000  each,  and  one  for  $4,632  75,  amounting  in 
all  to  $79,632  75,  indorsed  by  Frederick  C.  Ellis,  since  deceased, 
and  by  Bryan  Hines,  and  delivered  said  bills  of  exchange  to  the 
said  Major  Cook,  Agent,  in  the  city  of  Mobile,  who  delivered  the 
same  to  the  plaintiff. 


270  Reminissences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

The  plea  filed  by  the  defendants  in  the  Court  below,  by  their 
counsel,  Messrs.  Peck  &  Clark,  and  Vandegraff  &  Steele  &  Met- 
calf,  is  very  elaborate,  and  intended  to  show  that  the  Bank  had 
violated  the  20th  section  of  the  act  of  incorporation  which  says : 
"  The  said  Bank  shall  not  deal  in  articles  of  goods,  wares,  or  mer 
chandize,  in  any  manner,  whatever,  unless  it  be  to  secure  a  debt 
due  the  said  Bank,  incurred  by  the  regular  transactions  of  the 
same,  as  is  provided  for  in  this  act." 

By  the  40th  section  of  the  charter  of  the  Bank,  it  is  declared : 
"It  shall  not  be  lawful  for  the  President  and  Directors  of  said 
Bank  to  purchase  or  discount  any  draft  or  bill  of  exchange  for  a 
larger  sum  than  five  thousand  dollars,  and  on  every  draft  or  bill 
of  exchange  purchased  or  discounted  by  the  said  Bank,  there  shall 
be  at  least  two  responsible  indorsers,  each  of  which  shall  be  con 
sidered  good  for  the  amount  of  such  draft  or  bill :  Privided,"  etc. 

On  this  latter  point  Judge  Ormond  says : 

It  is  very  clear  that  the  directions  contained  in  this  section  can  not  be  evaded 
by  the  Directors  of  the  Bank,  by  splitting  up  a  large  loan  of  money  into  frag 
ments,  and  taking  several  bills  from  the  same  parties  for  the  whole  amount.  Con 
sidering  this  transaction,  for  the  present,  as  a  loan  of  money,  secured  by  bills  of 
exchange,  we  are  very  clear  that  if  it  is  not  within  the  letter,  it  is  within  the 
spirit  of  the  prohibition.  It  cannot  be  disguised  that  the  loan  of  money,  though 
divided  into  small  sums,  is  a  single  transaction,  and  is,  in  effect,  a  loan  to  the 
same  individual,  of  the  enormous  sum  of  near  eighty  thousand  dollars;  thus  pro 
ducing  the  very  result  which  it  was  the  design  of  this  change  to  guard  against. 
This  being  the  character  of  the  transaction,  what  are  the  legal  consequences 
attending  it  ? 

The  counsel  for  the  plaintiff  in  error  maintains  that  the  contract  is  void,  in 
consequence  of  this  violation  of  the  charter,  and  that  no  recovery  can  be  had  on 
either  of  the  bills  of  exchange. 

The  Judge  then  proceeds  to  the  citation  of  authorities  showing 
that  this  and  similar  clauses,  by  established  rules  of  construction, 
"  are  merely  directory  to  the  officers  of  the  corporation,  and  their 
observance  not  necessary  to  the  validity  of  contracts  made  in  ref 
erence  to  them." 

He  adds : 

It  was  doubtless  expected  by  the  Legislature,  that  its  commands  would  be 
obeyed  by  its  agents ;  but  it  is  impossible  to  suppose  that  it  was  contemplated  as 
the  result  of  a  regulation  intended  to  protect  the  public  against  loss,  that  if,  by 
collusion  with  the  Directors — or,  as  was  doubtless  the  fact  in  this  case,  by  an  honest 
mistake  on  the  part  of  the  Directors — an  individual  could  succeed  in  getting,  on  a 
bill  of  exchange,  a  larger  sum  than  the  charter  allowed,  that  the  same  regulation 
would  protect  him  against  paying  it.  Whatever  may  be  the  liability  of  the  Directors 
in  such  a  case,  nothing  can  be  clearer  to  our  minds  than  that  the  borrower  must 
refund  the  money.  Any  other  construction  would  place  the  entire  capital  of  the 
Bank  at  the  mercy  of  a  venal  directory  and  profligate  borrowers. 

We  might  advert  to  other  portions  of  the  charter  which  are  also  directory  to 
the  officers  of  the  Bank,  and  having  the  same  object  in  view,  the  protection  of  the 
capital  of  the  Bank ;  but  among  them  all  none  is  more  clearly  directory  than  this, 
pr  more  unequivocal  in  its  character. 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  271 

The  Court  is,  therefore,  unanimous  in  the  opinion  that  this  clause  of  the  charter 
is  directory  merely ;  and  that,  if  it  be  disregarded,  no  one,  a  party  to  its  violation, 
can  take  advantage  of  it. 

The  main  question  was  then  taken  up,  in  reference  to  the  trans 
action,  whether  it  was  a  dealing  by  the  Bank  in  "articles  of  goods, 
wares,  or  merchandise,"  within  the  prohibition  of  the  20th  funda 
mental  law  of  the  Bank.  Of  this  the  Judge  says : 

The  design  of  the  Legislature  in  the  prohibitions  we  are  considering,  was  pos 
sibly  to  protect  the  State  from  improvident  contracts,  by  dealing  in  merchandise 
for  which  such  an  institution  could  not  be  well  qualified,  when  brought  in  contact 
with  the  shrewdness  and  sagacity  which  characterizes  individual  enterprise.  But 
the  main  and  evident  design  was  to  protect  the  citizen  against  the  overwhelming 
iuriuence  of  such  a  large  capital  coming  into  contact  with  the  citizen  in  the  ordi 
nary  pursuits  of  trade  and  commerce,  and  to  prevent  the  fluctuations  and  convul 
sions  to  which  trade  and  commerce  would  be  subjected,  by  the  employment  of 
such  a  large  capital  in  the  usual  pursuits  of  our  enterprizing  population. 

This  being  the  design,  the  phrase  to  deal  in  evidently  means  to  but/  and  sell  for 
(he  purpose  of  gain  ;  or  it  might,  without  any  strained  construction,  be  construed 
to  mean  the  taking  or  receiving  of  goods,  wares  or  merchandise,  to  be  sold  for  the 
owner  for  a  profit  or  commission.  The  interdict  of  the  clause  would  therefore 
embrace  not  only  the  mercantile  pursuit  of  buying  and  selling  goods,  wares  and 
merchandise  for  gain,  but  would  also  include  the  sale  of  merchandise  for  and  on 
account  of  the  owner — or  what  is  commonly  called  a  brokerage  or  commission, 
business.  There  can  be  no  doubt  that  cotton  is  merchandise,  within  the  meaning 
of  the  prohibition,  and  that  all  chattels  which  may  be  subjects  of  commerce  are 
also  included. 

In  another  place  he  says : 

It  now  remains  to  inquire,  What  is  the  nature  of  the  transaction  recited  in  the 
plea?  Is  it  a  purchase  of  cotton,  for  the  purpose  of  sale?  Or,  is  it  a  receipt  of 
cotton  by  the  Bank,  to  sell  on  commission,  for  and  on  account  of  the  owner?  Or, 
was  it  a  loan  or  advance  of  money  for  which  the  borrower  was  undoubtedly  re 
sponsible,  with  an  authority  to  sell  the  cotton  for  the  payment  of  the  debt? 

These  inquiries  are  to  be  answered  by  an  examination  of  the  "  Rules  and  Reg 
ulations  of  the  Bank,"  recited  in  the  plea.  These  constitute,  in  fact,  the  contract 
between  the  parties.  They  are  propositions  made  by  the  Bank,  and  promulgated, 
of  the  terms  on  which  it  was  willing  to  lend  its  money,  which,  when  acceded  to, 
and  executed  by  a  compliance  with  its  terms,  became  obligatory  on  both  parties. 

The  opinion  of  Judge  Ormond  covers  fourteen  pages  of  Mr. 
Bates'  pamphlet,  from  which  it  would  be  instructive  to  quote  more 
liberally,  as  explaining  the  whole  case;  but  the  concluding  portion 
must  suffice : 

We  have  been  admonished  by  the  counsel  for  the  plaintiff  in  error,  that,  not 
withstanding  the  State  is  the  party  interested  as  defendant,  on  this  record,  the 
true  interest  of  the  people  will  be  promoted  by  declaring  the  contract  void. 

It  required  no  admonition  to  impress  us  with  the  conviction  that  the  high  trust 
reposed  in  us  by  the  people,  imperiously  demanded  of  us  to  preserve  pure  the 
fountains  of  justice.  Nor  will  we  profess  an  insensibility  which  we  do  not  feel  to 
the  approbation  of  the  enlightened  and  virtuous;  although  all  experience  shows 
that  such  is  not  always  the  meed  of  upright  conduct.  Our  station  imposes  on  us 
the  necessity  of  deciding  the  cases  brought  before  us  according  to  our  opinion  of 
the  law ;  it  is  a  duty  which  we  can  not  avoid.  If  left  to  our  own  choice,  it  is  not 
probable  we  would  have  selected  this  questsou  for  adjudication ;  and  as,  in  our 


272  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

judgment,  the  law  is  for  the  State,  such  must  be  our  decision,  be  the  consequences 
to  us  what  they  may,  and  although  the  judgment  may  subject  us  to  the  imputation 
of  the  bias  which  the  argument  of  counsel  supposes. 

Something  was  said  in  the  argument  of  the  morality  of  this  defense.  On  the 
one  hand,  the  defendants  were  considered  as  public  benefactor?,  resisting  an  un 
lawful  claim,  and,  on  the  other  as  setting  up  an  unjust  defense. 

How  far  the  defendants  maybe  bound,  in  honoi  or  conscience,  to  refund  money 
received  by  them  on  a  contract  which  they  have  voluntarily  entered  into,  and  of 
which  they  have  had  the  benefit,  is  a  question  which  they  have  the  right  to  settle 
for  themselves.  Such  considerations  can  exert  no  influence  on  this  Court. 

It  remains  but  to  add,  that  there  is  no  error  in  the  judgment  of  the  Court  be 
low,  and  it  is,  therefore,  affirmed. 

The  separate  opinion  of  Chief  Justice  COLLIER  is  then  given 
in  the  pamphlet,  extending  to  16  pages.  It  concurs  in  the  judg 
ment  pronounced  by  his  Associate  Ormond,  but  assigns  at  considera 
ble  length,  and  with  the  support  of  many  authorities,  the  reasons 
which  influenced  his  decision.  The  act  to  establish  the  State  Bank 
was  passed  in  1823,  the  preamble  recites:  "Whereas  it  is  deemed 
highly  important  for  the  safe  and  profitable  investment  of  such 
public  funds  as  may  now,  or  hereafter,  be  in  the  possession  of  the 
Slate,  and  to  secure  to  the  community  the  benefits,  as  far  as  may 
be,  of  an  extended  and  undepreciating  currency.  Be  it  therefore 
enacted/7  etc.  One  passage  from  the  opinion  is  selected  for  its 
historical  value  in  relation  to  the  Bank  charters: 

If  a  solicitude,  in  1823,  to  prevent  the  Bank  from  enhancing  the  products  and 
other  property  of  the  country,  induced  the  insertion  of  the  '20th  section,  it  is  won 
derful  to  contemplate  the  change  the  public  mind  underwent  in  1882,  when  the 
first  Bank  was  established,  and  during  the  intervening  period  up  to  1835,  when 
the  last  Bank  charter  was  enacted.  Even  up  to  the  latter  period,  when  the  coun 
try  had  become  pressed  down  by  debt,  incurred  in  consequence  of  the  facility 
with  which  money  was  obtained  upon  loan,  the  demand  was  loud  for  an  increase 
of  banking  capital.  It  was  said,  that  such  was  the  disproportion  between  the 
issues  of  the  banks  and  the  staple  of  the  country,  that  the  planter  could  not  sell 
his  cotton  at  home  for  a  price  which  the  foreign  market  justified.  The  fashion 
able  expression  was,  "our  banking  capital  should  be  increased,  that  the  resources 
of  the  State  may  be  developed!"  I  mention  these  things  merely  to  show  that  the 
legislation  of  this  State  in  regard  to  Banks  has  never  been  directed  with  a 
view  h>  depress  prices,  or  to  check  the  most  active  speculation  in  the  products  of 
the  soil. 

The  opinion  of  Judge  Goldthwaite,  in  which  he  gives  his  reasons 
for  dissenting  from  the  majority  of  the  Court,  takes  up  four  pages, 
in  which  he  maintains  that,  by  the  contract,  the  cotton  was  so  fully 
placed  under  the  control  of  the  Bank  that  if  Mr.  Bates  had  paid 
the  bills  at  maturity,  he  would  not  have  had  the  power,  if  the  con 
tract  was  legal,  to  withdraw  the  cotton.  Hence  it  results  that  if 
cotton  is  a  commodity,  or  article  of  merchandise,  there  was  such  a 
dealing  by  the  Bank  as  came  within  the  prohibition  of  the  charter, 
and  rendered  the  contract  void  as  to  the  cotton  itself,  but  not  so  as 
to  discharge  the  liabilities  of  the  borrowers,  either  at  the  suit  of 
the  State,  or  of  the  Bank,  in  another  form  of  action,  for  the  money 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  273 

advanced.  The  distinction  seems  to  have  afforded  no  substantial 
relief  to  Mr.  Bates  and  his  indorser;  yet  the  pamphlet  was  the 
consequence — arraigning  the  majority  of  the  Court  for  oppression, 
injustice,  and  partiality.  Judge  Goldthwaite  intimates  another 
remedy  to  prevent  loss  to  the  State.  He  says: 

So  long  as  they,  [the  Directors]  confine  their  action,  with  regard  to  the  funds 
of  the  Bank  and  its  proper  business,  a  discretion  is  confided  to  them;  but  there 
are  certain  directions  and  prohibitions  to  which,  as  agents,  they  are  bound  to  con 
form  their  action;  and,  if  they  overstep  the  boundary  of  their  powers,  and  ille- 
gaily  dispose  of  the  funds  committed  to  their  care,  they  are  doubtless  liable  for 
any  losses  which  may  occur  in  consequence  of  their  violation  of  the  charter. 

In  justice  to  the  Directors,  however,  a  preceding  paragraph 
from  the  opinion  of  Judge  Goldtwaite  will  close  the  quotation : 

In  common  with  the  other  members  of  this  court,  I  entertain  not  the  least  doubt 
but  that  the  Directors  of  the  Bank,  who  sanctioned  this  transaction,  were  influ 
enced  by  a  most  earnest  desire  to  advance  the  true  interests  of  the  institution  and 
the  State  at  large ;  but  the  purity  of  intention  can  not  legalize  an  act  which  the 
charter  expressly  prohibits. 

Then  follows  the  "review,"  prepared  by  Mr.  Bates,  embracing 
twenty-six  pages  of  the  pamphlet,  with  a  severity  which  is  per 
haps  without  a  parallel  in  the  history  of  judicial  administrations. 
He  claims  that  this  assault  on  the  integrity,  or  the  intellect,  or  the 
intelligence  of  a  majority  of  the  Court,  is  justified  by  the  analysis 
which  he  has  given  of  the  whole  case,  as  shown  by  the  pleadings 
and  the  record.  As  he  has  exhibited  facts  outside  of  the  record 
which  induced  him  to  engage  in  speculation,  through  the  aid  of 
the  Bank,  and  which  relate  to  the  disastrous  results  to  cotton 
shippers  in  1839,  the  following  extract  from  the  statement  is  sub 
mitted  for  the  information  it  contains,  applicable  to  a  noted  period 
of  commercial  revulsion  in  the  United  States  and  in  Europe. 
Mr.  Bates  says: 

I  would  have  preferred  to  postpone  a  public  statement  of  the  facts  connected 
with  this  cotton  transaction  until  the  termination  of  all  the  suits;  but  as  the 
Judges  have  questioned  my  honor,  and  arraigned  my  conscience,  I  will,  in  self-justi 
fication,  then,  say  something  relating  to  these  cotton  operations. 

The  growth  of  cotton  in  the  United  States,  in  the  year  1838,  was  about  500,000 
bales  short  of  the  preceding  year.  The  prosperity  of  the  manufacturing  interests 
in  Europe  up  to  the  beginning  of  the  year  1839,  was  unprecedented.  So  great 
was  the  demand  for  the  raw  material,  that  it  rose  in  value,  from  the  1st  of  Decem 
ber,  1838,  to  the  1st  of  March,  1839,  1£  to  l|d,  or  about  3  cents,  per  pound,  and 
that  rise  in  price  was  effected  at  the  close  of  the  receipts  of  the  largest  crop  of 
cotton  that  had  ever  been  grown  in  America,  and  without  any  certainty  that  the 
succeeding  crop  would  be  materially  deficient.  At  this  time,  it  was  known  here, 
that  the  crop  just  coming  forward  would  be  greatly  deficient. 

These  were  the  facts  that  would  in  their  nature  produce  speculation  in  this 
country.  We  have  at  this  moment  the  same  speculative  mania  as  regards  flour, 
in  anticipation  of  short  crops  of  grain  in  England,  and  some  parts  of  the  conti 
nent.  Flour  has  gone  up  in  this  country  forty  per  cent,  within  six  weeks,  owing 
to  the  above-mentioned  cause.  As  we  who  live  in  the  cotton  region  arrive  first, 

18 


274  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

with  some  accuracy,  at  the  amount  of  cotton  raised,  and  as  it  was  known  in  Janu 
ary,  February,  and  March,  in  this  country,  that  the  crop  would  be  far  short  of  the 
preceding,  that  circumstance,  together  with  the  unexampled  prosperity  of  the 
manufacturing  interests  in  Europe,  induced  persons  who  were  in  the  habit  of 
dealing  in  that  article,  to  extend  their  operations.  I,  with  a  multitude  of  others 
as  honest  as  these  Judges,  was,  at  the  time,  induced  by  the  foregoing  reasons,  to 
.embark  in  the  business  to  an  extent  (whether  prudent  or  not,  should  be  a  matter 
of  no  concern  to  them)  which  proved  disastrous,  as  events  turned  out.  In  ship 
ping  cotton,  under  the  expectation  of  a  rise  from  the  circumstance  of  a  deficiency 
in  the  supply,  the  person  who  takes  the  venture  always  selects  a  shipper  who  will 
agree,  and  is  supposed  to  be  able,  to  hold  it  in  the  market  the  longest. 

In  the  month  of  March,  1839,  the  agent  of  the  Bank  found  me  in  the  city  of 
Mobile,  or,  as  Judge  Collier  supposes,  I  found  the  agent.  He,  referring  to  the 
printed  rules  of  the  Bank,  agrees  to  hold  the  cotton  shipped  by  her  four  months 
after  arrival  in  a  foreign  port,  equal  to  six  months  from  the  date  of  the  contract, 
if  the  cotton  is  shipped  to  Liverpool,  giving  two  weeks  to  load  the  vessel,  and  six 
weeks  to  sail.  This  would  be  an  advantage  of  six  weeks  in  time  over  those  per 
sons  who  made  a  business  of  shipping  for  others.  This  induced  me  to  embrace 
the  opportunity  of  shipping  through  the  agency  of  the  Bank. 

Some  weeks  after  I  had  closed  my  shipments,  an  unprecedented  state  of  de 
pression  upon  the  mercantile  interest  of  England,  and  especially  the  manufactur 
ing  interests,  took  place.  Many  manufactories  stopped  entirely,  while  all  of  them 
stopped  partially,  their  operations.  The  price  of  cotton  consequently  began  to 
give  way,  until  it  receded  from  9£d  (19  cents)  to  6d  (12  cents)  for  fair  cottons.  It 
became  manifest  before  any  cotton  was  sold  that  there  must  be  a  heavy  loss  to  the 
shippers ;  therefore,  in  the  month  of  August,  or  early  in  September,  (before,  how 
ever,  we  had  received  any  account  of  sales)  I  proposed  to  the  Bank  to  make  them 
perfectly  safe  in  the  sum  of  $80,000,  which  would  about  cover  my  estate,  provided 
they  would  give  me  a  reasonable  time  to  pay  it,  and  release  me  from  liabilities  as 
to  others  with  whom  I  had  shipped  jointly.  The  Bank  refused  this  proposition, 
and  I  had  to  await  events.  In  the  meantime,  believing  that  my  only  chance  for 
safety  was  in  holding  up  the  cotton  the  time  specified  in  the  contract,  no  steamer 
crossed  the  Atlantic  without  a  communication  from  me  requiring  the  cotton  to  be 
held.  By  and  by,  I  received  a  letter  from  the  Bank  agent,  stating  that  part  of 
my  cotton  was  sold,  and  portions  of  all  shipments  had  shared  the  same  fate, 
although  the  four  months  had  not  elapsed  by  many  weeks ;  although  the  Bank 
agent  did  not  directly  inform  me  that  the  sales  were  forced  to  meet  the  necessities 
of  the  Bank,  yet  I  inferred  it  from  the  fact  that  he  had  sold  the  cotton  in  the  teeth 
of  my  repeated  and  urgent  entreaties  to  hold  it  the  time  specified  by  her  agree 
ment.  My  obligation  to  the  Bank,  which  I  had  previously  felt,  and  which  I  had 
attempted  to  arrange  by  mortgaging  my  entire  estate,  was  very  much  weakened. 

I  then  began,  for  the  first  time,  to  examine  whether  the  Bank  was  able  to 
hold  the  cotton,  as  stipulated;  and  the  more  I  examined,  the  stronger  I  was  con 
vinced,  that  the  Bank  had  used  deception  towards  those  persons  for  whom  she 
had  shipped,  and,  in  order  to  maintain  an  early  resumption  of  specie  payments, 
had  thrown  us  shippers  in  the  breach.  I  therefore  felt  absolved  from  all  moral  or 
legal  obligation  to  pay  them;  and  I  so  informed  a  distinguished  member  of  the 
Board,  long  before  suits  were  brought.  The  said  member  took  no  pains  to  unde 
ceive  me,  if  I  was  deceived  as  to  the  cotton  being  sold  too  soon ;  but  doubted 
whether  it  would  avail  me  in  law,  unless  I  could  establish  the  fact  that  cotton 
rose  in  price  subsequent  to  the  sale,  and  before  the  end  of  the  four  months. 

The  Bank  at  last  brings  suits  upon  the  bills — all  the  bills — without  giving  me 
any  credit  for  the  sum  the  cotton  brought.  What  course,  then,  should  my  counsel 
have  pursued  in  defending  my  rights?  In  the  suit  decided  by  the  Supreme  Court 
I  had  shipped  1,022  bags  of  cotton,  and  the  Bank  had  advanced  me  $79,000  upon 
it,  and  I  had  given  them  sixteen  bills  of  exchange.  Now,  the  cotton  sold  for 
something,  and  they  have  given  me  no  credit  for  it,  but  have  sued  me  upon  all  the 
sixteen  bills.  My  attorney  states  in  the  plea  that  these  bills  were  given  to  secure 
reclamations,  should  there  be  any,  after  the  cotton  was  sold.  But  the  Bank  sues 
me,  and  holds  me  bound,  giving  me  no  credit  for  the  cotton.  I  ask  these  Judges 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  275 

to  show  the  immorality  or  impropriety  of  the  plea,  after  the  Bank  attempts  to 
hold  ine  responsible  for  all  the  bills — giving  me  no  credit  for  the  cotton — especially 
when  the  credits  were  in  her  possession,  and  not  in  mine.  Can  I  get  a  fair  trial 
under  these  circumstances?  Should  a  cotton  shipper,  after  receiving  account  of 
sales  for  one  of  his  customers,  find  that  he  had  advanced  more  money  than  the 
cotton  sold  for  in  a  foreign  port,  sue  his  customer  for  the  entire  amount  of  money 
advanced,  it  would  be  precisely  what  the  State  Bank  has  done  to  me. 

I  am  willing,  and  always  have  been,  to  go  before  a  jury  of  impartial  and  intel 
ligent  men,  upon  the  contract,  the  merits  of  the  case;  and  if  such  jury,  after  exam 
ining  all  the  circumstances  of  the  breach  of  the  contract  on  the  part  of  the  Bank, 
would  say  that  I  was,  either  legally  or  morally,  bound  to  pay  the  Bank,  I  will 
spend  the  balance  of  my  life  in  working  to  pay  them.  But  the  Bank  has  no  inten 
tion,  if  they  can  prevent  it,  that  I  shall  have  a  fair  trial  on  the  contract.  I  must 
have  sixteen  suits  brought  against  me,  although  eight  or  ten  of  the  bills  are  con 
fessedly  paid  by  the  proceeds  of  the  cotton.  I  must  be  sued  on  all  the  bills,  and 
keep  the  contract,  as  well  as  the  cotton,  out  of  sight;  and  the  Supreme  Court 
must  be  invoked  to  run  into  every  degree  of  absurdity,  to  sustain  the  people's 
Bank. 

I  have  felt  it  incumbent  on  me  to  make  this  statement,  because  the  Judges  have 
traveled  out  of  their  way,  to  impugn  my  honor  and  talk  about  my  conscience. 

Believing  that  this  case,  from  the  record,  and  from  the  facts  out 
side  of  the  record — the  large  financial  operations  involved,  the 
earnestness  of  the  argument,  and,  above  all,  the  extraordinary 
treatment  of  a  majority  of  the  Court — would  interest  the  public, 
these  copious  extracts  have  been  made.  Without  imputing  to  Mr. 
Bates  any  unfair  design  'by  the  omission,  the  fact  may  be  supplied 
here,  well  known  to  the  legal  profession,  that  in  declaring  on  a 
promissory  note  or  bill  of  exchange  in  the  Courts,  it  is  not  usual 
to  notice  the  credits  or  partial  payments  which  are  even  indorsed 
upon  the  instrument.  These  are  not  necessary  to  appear  from  the 
plaintiff.  In  the  defense,  these  credits  and  payments,  and  all  other 
matters  admissible  in  law,  are  given  in  evidence  on  the  trial  before 
the  jury,  to  prevent,  or  to  reduce  the  recovery.  The  system  of 
special  pleading  adopted  in  Alabama  produced  certain  issues  in 
law,  which  the  Court  below  decided  against  Mr.  Bates,  and  on 
writ  of  error  to  -the  Supreme  Court  that  judgment  was  affirmed, 
which  disposed  of  the  case  before  it  reached  a  proper  status  for  the 
jury.  If  all  the  bills  were  run  into  judgments,  and  executions 
issued,  it  is  a  mere  nominal  advantage  to  the  Bank  which  it  would 
not  presume  to  enforce.  No  doubt  an  arrangement  of  this  whole 
matter  has  since  been  made,  at  a  great  sacrifice  by  the  Bank;  for 
it  is  stated  in  the  report  of  the  Commissioners  to  examine  the  State 
Bank,  in  1845,  that  the  sum  of  $71,339  was  then  due  the  Bank, 
which  was  partially  secured  by  a  mortgage  on  land  and  slaves  in 
Greene  county,  supposed  to  be  worth  about  $20,000.  This  is  the 
debt  in  question,  and  is,  perhaps,  the  very  best  that  Messrs.  Bates 
and  Hines,  under  the  circumstances,  were  able  to  make  for  the 
Bank.  Let  no  imputation  be  cast  on  the  integrity  of  any  one  in 
this  whole  proceeding.  It  is  here  noticed  as  an  item  of  commer 
cial  history  in  a  past  generation,  with  a  lesson  to  be  remembered, 


276  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

From  the  report  of  the  Bank  Commissioners  referred  to,  it  is 
ascertained  that  the  State  Bank,  under  the  rules  and  regulations 
which  it  published  in  1838,  made — 

Total  advances  on  cotton $589,403  45 

Proceeds  applied  by  the  Bank 319,033  O/ 

Balance  due  on  cotton  account $270,370  38 

It  is  believed  that  this  balance  has  not  been  materially  dimin 
ished,  owing  to  the  insolvency  of  parties,  and  that  it  may  be  in 
cluded  among  the  losses  sustained  by  the  Bank  on  a  mistaken  policy. 

The  appeal  of  Mr.  Bates  to  the  public  was  an  elaborate  perform 
ance.  He  selected  certain  expressions  of  the  Judges,  and  by  con 
trasting  them  with  the  facts  and  with  other  expressions,  turned 
them  into  nonsense,  or  absurdity,  as  it  suited  his  purpose.  While 
this  attack  on  the  majority  of  the  Court,  and  all  other  attacks  on 
high  judicial  magistrates,  can  receive  no  favor  from  impartial 
minds,  the  closing  portion  of  Mr.  Bates'  pamphlet  is  subjoined, 
as  a  specimen  of  indignity  which  it  is  hoped  will  never  be  again 
oifered  to  a  tribunal  so  deeply  established  in  the  public  confidence, 
and  so  entitled  to  veneration  and  respect  as  the  Supreme  Court  of 
Alabama.  Feeling  himself  injured,  perhaps  ruined,  by  the  decis 
ion  of  the  Court,  allowance  should  be  made  for  the  temper  of  Mr. 
Bates,  when  he  says: 

In  conclusion,  I  appeal  to  the  discreet  and  to  the  candid,  if  I  have  used  toward 
these  Judges  an  undeserving  epithet,  or  have  been  unnecessarily  harsh.  As  they 
have  made  an  insinuation,  in  the  conclusion  of  their  opinion,  about  my  honor  and 
conscience — uncalled  for,  undignified,  and  cruel  in  the  extreme — may  I  not  say  a 
word  or  two,  in  inquiry,  to  see  how  it  is  as  to  their  consciences?  Well,  then,  they 
are  placed  on  the  highest  judicial  bench  in  the  State,  and  take  a  solemn  oath  to 
decide  all  causes  according  to  law.  To  them,  all  appeals  are  had  to  settle  the  law 
of  the  country.  They  are  supposed  to  be  impartial — to  mete  out  justice  to  the 
most  lowly,  equal  to  the  greatest  in  the  land,  with  an  eye  fixed  steadily  upon  a 
proper  exposition  of  the  law,  let  the  consequences  to  individuals,  to  corporations, 
or  to  the  State,  be  what  they  may.  We  look  for  all  this  from  our  Supreme  Court. 
Instead  of  it,  what  do  we  find  in  the  decision  of  the  State  Bank  against  myself? 
I  might  recapitulate  the  absurdities  into  which  they  have  fallen,  but  it  is  unneces 
sary.  I  now  leave  for  others  to  judge  the  motive  which  influenced  them ;  it  is 
beyond  my  ken. 

It  is  said  of  Jeffries,  the  vilest  and  most  corrupt  of  the  English  judges,  that 
he  was  impartial  when  the  King  was  not  a  party,  or  his  prerogative  was  not  in 
question.  But  did  ever  Jeffries  make  so  unjust  a  decision?  Suppose  my  life, 
instead  of  my  property,  had  depended  on  the  decision,  and  this  special  plea  placed 
in  the  hands  of  the  people,  would  they  have  justified  it,  and  witnessed  patiently 
my  execution  ?  Had  my  life  depended  on  a  decision,  whether  or  not  this  was  a 
dealing  in  cotton,  "in  any  manner  whatever,"  no  sophistry  could  have  exculpated 
these  Judges  from  taking  rank  with  Jeffries  and  Bonner.  Had  my  life  depended 
on  a  decision,  whether  the  $79,000  was  received  on  the  bills  of  exchange,  or  upon 
the  1,022  bags  of  cotton,  Jeffries  and  Bonner  would  be  considered  saints,  compared 
•with  Collier  and  Ormond. 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  277 

It  was  evidently  the  desire  and  intention  of  Mr.  Bates  in  thus 
coming  before  the  community,  to  have  a  kind  of  public  revenge, 
by  impairing  the  official  character  and  influence  of  the  Judges  se 
lected  by  him  as  a  target.  But  in  this  he  signally  failed,  as  in  the 
succeeding  year  they  were  both  reflected  to  their  high  offices  with 
out  even  the  shadow  of  opposition,  or  of  complaint.  That  was  an 
ample  and  sufficient  vindication  from  the  charges  of  improper  con 
duct,  which  Mr.  Bates  had  published.  Chief  Justice  Collier  was 
afterward  elected  Governor  of  the  State,  almost  by  acclamation, 
and  Judge  Ormond  continued  in  office  until  he  resigned,  about 
the  1st  of  January,  1848.  He  then  resumed  the  practice  of  the 
law,  at  Tuskaloosa,  where  he  died  in  1865. 

Now  that' his  presence  is  no  more  seen  among  men,  and  he  is 
alike  insensible  to  flattery  or  censure  in  the  grave,  truth  and  jus 
tice  to  an  excellent  citizen,  and  a  pure  and  upright  member  of  the 
highest  tribunal  known  to  the  State,  require  that  Judge  Ormond 
should  be  ranked  with  the  very  foremost  in  all  the  essentials  of  a 
lofty  and  dignified  nature.  He  was  modest  and  somewhat  retiring 
in  his  disposition,  and  never  made  any  parade  of  his  extensive 
learning,  and  refined  literary  taste.  It  required  a  close  acquaint 
ance  with  him,  even  for  years,  to  find  out  his"  sterling  qualities. 
The  more  one  knew  of  him,  the  more  esteem  did  he  inspire.  He 
was  truly  a  Christian  gentleman,  in  the  highest  sense  of  the  term, 
and  was,  for  many  years,  and  up  to  his  death,  an  exemplary  mem 
ber  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  always  ready  with  his 
purse  and  example  to  support  the  ministry,  and  to  aid  in  all  benev 
olent  enterprises.  His  memory,  without  a  blemish,  is  dear  to  his 
friends,  and  to  the  people  of  Alabama,  whom  he  faithfully  served 
in  the  halls  of  legislation,  and  on  the  Bench  of  the  Supreme  Court, 
for  a  long  period. 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

Measures  of  Reform  at  the  Session  of  1842 — -Personal  SJcetcJies. 

The  two^Houses  adjourned  on  the  15th  day  of  February,  1843, 
after  a  laborious  session  of  seventy-five  days,  leaving  the  execu 
tion  of  the  important  measures  adopted,  in  the  hands  of  the  Ex 
ecutive,  who,  supported  in  his  policy  thus  far,  was  encouraged  to 
go  forward  in  the  work  of  reform.  The  people  generally  were 
pleased  with  the  action  of  the  Legislature ;  the  more  so  as  they 
felt  assured  the  reforms  would  be  carried  out  to  the  full  measure 
of  practical  results,  by  Gov.  Fitzpatrick,  who  had  become  fully 
recognized  in  popular  favor  as  the  sound  economist,  and  head  of 
this  movement. 

Alabama  money  had  been  at  twenty  per  cent,  discount,  which 
operated  oppressively  upon  all  classes  of  the  people,  and  especially 
on  those  who  were  seeking  homes  on  the  Government  lands,  as 
was  particularly  the  case  in  the  territory  embraced  in  Cherokee, 
DeKalb,  and  Marshall  counties,  lately  acquired  from  the  Cherokee 
Indians.  A  joint  resolution  had  been  passed,  proposing,  on  the 
part  of  the  Legislature,  to  the  Government  at  Washington,  that 
the  State  would  receive  from  the  General  Government,  in  payment 
of  its  portion  of  the  proceeds  of  the  public  lands  in  Alabama, 
(known  as  the  Two  and  Three  Per  Cent.  Fund,)  the  bills  of  the 
Bank  of  the  State  and  Branches,  if  the  Government  would  receive 
from  the  people  of  the  State  said  bills  in  payment  for  their  home 
steads.  This  was  agreed  to  and  carried  out,  and  proved  to  be  a 
measure  of  great  relief  to  the  people.  To  Col.  Thomas  B.  Cooper, 
of  Cherokee,  belongs  the  credit  of  originating  and  carrying  this 
proposition  through  the  Legislature — his  constituents  being  largely 
interested  in  it.  In  Congress,  it  received  the  special  support  of 
Hon.  Reuben  Chapman,  then  a  member  of  that  body,  and  repre 
senting  the  territory  more  immediately  interested;  but  all  the  del 
egation  favored  it. 

Under  the  active,  practical  direction  of  Gov.  Fitzpatrick,  th'e 
work  of  winding  up  the  Banks  was  prosecuted  with  proper  regard 
to  the  laws.  One  of  the  requirements  of  the  act  was,  that  the 
bills  and  blank  impressions  on  hand  were  to  be  counted,  registered, 
and  destroyed,  by  burning,  by  the  President  and  Directors  of  the 
State  Bank,  under  the  supervision  of  the  Governor  and  Secretary 
of  State.  This  was  no  small  job,  and  engaged  weeks  of  counting, 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  279 

registering,  and  burning,  to  do  away  with  the  vast  piles  of  money  (? ) 
which,  it  was  said,  was  being  burned  up  every  day  at  the  Banking 
House.  Last  of  all,  the  plates  upon  which  the  bills  had  been 
printed,  were  brought  out  of  the  vaults,  carried  to  the  smith's  shop, 
heated  and  cut  to  pieces,  signifying  the  determination  of  the  Legis 
lature  to  abandon  the  whole  system. 

The  change  in  the  State's  policy  was  submitted  to  by  the  peo 
ple,  with  more  or  less  cheerfulness,  though  the  year  1843  was  what 
is  usually  termed  a  hard  one.  Cotton  was  low,  property  of  all 
kinds  was  low,  and  money  scarce.  For  the  first  time  in  many 
years,  the  State  assessors  called  the  people  together  to  give  in 
their  taxable  property.  But  there  was  one  advantage  to  the  peo 
ple,  under  the  practical  operation  of  the  measures  of  legislation. 
The  bills  of  the  Bank  began  to  appreciate,  and  continued  to  do  so 
until,  at  no  distant  day,  they  approximated  a  par  value,  and  in  all 
ordinary  transactions  were  taken  without  discount. 

It  has  been  already  intimated  that  this  Legislature  was  remark 
able  for  the  character  of  its  members,  and  for  the  importance  of 
the  work  they  performed,  which  constitutes  an  epoch  in  the  finan 
cial  history  of  the  State.  Many  gentlemen  who  took  a  leading 
part  in  the  progress  of  the  session,  have  been  elsewhere  noticed 
in  this  work.  A  list  of  all  the  members  has  been  given,  some  of 
whom  it  remains  still  to  notice  specially,  beginning  with  the 
Senate. 

DR.  SAMUEL  C.  DAILEY  was  elected  to  the  Senate  from  Talla- 
poosa  and  Macon,  in  1840,  and  served  a  full  term,  after  which  his 
connection  with  public  life  in  Alabama  ceased.  He  removed  to 
Texas  several  years  ago,  but  returned,  if  I  mistake  not,  his  trial 
of  that  country  not  having  been  satisfactory.  He  was  faithful  and 
conscientious  in  his  Senatorial  course,  participated  freely  in  the 
proceedings  and  debates,  but  was  generally  unsuccessful  in  his 
measures.  This,  however,  should  not  be  set  down  against  him,  as 
every  person  knows,  who  has  been  connected  with  such  bodies, 
that  the  measures  adopted  at  a  session  bear  no  proportion  to  the 
number  rejected.  Dr.  Dai  ley  was  a  Democrat  of  conservative 
views,  and,  as  a  man  and  Christian,  he  bore  an  elevated  character 
for  the  correctness  of  his  deportment  and  the  honesty  of  his  pur 
poses. 

Major  WILLIAM  FLEMING,  of  Madison,  resumed,  at  this  ses 
sion,  a  seat  in  the  Senate,  which  he  had  previously  occupied  for 
many  years,  and  before  his  first  election  to  that  end  of  the  Cap- 
tol,  he  had  for  several  sessions  served  the  people  of  Madison  in 
the  House  of  Representatives.  He  continued,  with  occasional 
intervals,  to  occupy  a  seat  in  one  or  the  other  branch  of  the 


280  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabamct. 

Legislature  until  the  close  of  the  session  of  1862,  and  with  the  in 
termissions,  his  public  life  extended  through  a  period  of  over  thirty- 
years,  which  proves  that  he  had  a  strong  hold  upon  the  confidence 
of  the  people  of  his  county.  He  was  a  Virginian  by  birth  and 
education,  and  he  long  enjoyed  the  society  and  companionship  of 
gentlemen  in  the  higher  walks  of  life.  He  took  an  active  part  in 
the  business  of  legislation,  but  was  wanting,  to  some  extent,  in 
the  gift  of  a  good  delivery  in  speaking;  his  voice,  too,  was  harsh. 
These  things  discouraged  him  in  parliamentary  efforts.  His  social 
habits  were  well  established  and  cultivated,  and  to  these  he  paid 
good  attention,  so  that  he  made  comparatively  but  little  progress 
in  developing  the  attainments  of  a  legislator.  He  was  a  Demo 
crat,  and  died  about  the  close  of  the  war. 

JAMES  E.  REESE,  of  Chambers,  succeedd  to  the  seat  occupied 
for  three  years  by  his  brother,  George  Reese,  who  has  been  no 
ticed  in  another  part  of  this  work.  The  brothers  differed  in  pol 
itics — the  ex-Senator  being  a  Democrat,  and  the  sitting  member  a 
Whig — the  one  a  planter,  the  other  a  lawyer — but  both  were 
favored  by  nature  with  respectable  endowments,  physical  and 
mental.  After  serving  out  his  term,  Mr.  James  Reese  was  not 
again  connected  with  public  life,  but  pursued  the  practice  of  the 
law  in  Chambers,  where  he  still  resides. 

Mr.  Reese  had  a  prepossessing  face,  and  very  courteous  man 
ners.  He  was  very  neat  in  his  person,  and  always  .appeared 
so  genteel  that  he  could  have  entered  at  any  time  a  saloon 
of  fashionably  dressed  ladies,  with  credit  to  his  taste.  He 
looked  as  if  the  world  went  smoothly  with  him.  No  traces  of 
dejection  or  care  could  be  perceived  in  the  expression  of  his  fea 
tures.  When  addressing  the  Senate,  he  was  calm,  fluent,  and  in 
every  respect  an  agreeable  speaker.  His  arguments  were  always 
listened  to  with  respect,  and  his  influence  was  felt,  though  he 
belonged  to  the  political  minority  in  the  Senate.  Had  his  ambi 
tion  been  equal  to  his  merits,  and  to  the  suavity  of  his  deport 
ment,  he  would  probably  have  made  a  more  conspicuous  figure 
before  the  public.  There  is  no  spot  or  blemish  in  his  short  legis 
lative  record. 

HUGH  M.  ROGERS,  of  Lawrence,  was  for  several  years  a  Rep 
resentative,  and  now  concluded  a  Senatorial  term  of  three  years. 
He  afterwards  removed  to  Mississippi.  His  abilities  were  of  a 
very  ordinary  grade,  and  he  made  no  mark  in  the  Legislature 
beyond  voting.  But  at  the  close  of  his  career,  he  did  that  which 
was  derogatory  to  the  character  of  any  man,  much  less  an  honor 
able  Senator,  representing  a  high-toned  constituency.  He  bor 
rowed  from  several  members  of  the  two  Houses,  and  others 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  281 

occupying  official  positions,  various  sums  of  money,  from  ten  to 
seventy-  five  dollars,  saying  he  did  not  wish  to  draw  his  pay  yet, 
but  would  do  so  before  long,  and  return  it.  In  this  way  he  pock 
eted  several  hundred  dollars — no  gentleman  from  whom  he  bor 
rowed  knowing  the  extent  of  his  operations.  When*  the  truth 
was  found  out,  he  had  drawn  his  pay  from  the  Treasury  every 
week;  and  now,  to  get  away  from  the  Seat  of  Government,  he 
went  on  to  a  general  "bender"  a  few  days  before  the  adjourn 
ment,  and  continued  so  much  intoxicated,  that  his  colleagues 
actually  hauled  him  off  in  a  state  of  stupidity.  Of  course  tliis 
ended  his  public  life  in  Alabama.  His  constituents  disapproved 
and  denounced  his  conduct,  but  it  is  not  likely  they  knew  the* 
extent  of  his  operations  "on  loan." 

I  mention  these  facts  in  no  spirit  of  unkindness  to  Mr.  Rod- 
gers,  if  living,  or  to  his  memory,  if  dead.  But  he  was  a  public 
man,  and  used  his  public  position  to  betray  the  confidence  of  his 
fellow-members,  and  it  is  only  just  that  the  affair  should  be  chron 
icled,  as  evidence  of  the  character  of  one  of  the  men  who  occu 
pied  a  seat  in  the  Legislature  in  those  days. 

COL.  RICHARD  B.  WALTHALL,  of  Perry,  was  born  in  Amelia 
county,  Virginia,  in  1793.  When  about  eight  years  of  age,  he 
accompanied  his  father,  who  settled  near  Franklin,  in  the  Middle 
District  of  Tennessee.  He  was  educated  at  Cumberland  College, 
and  removed  from  Giles  county  to  Alabama  in  1819,  remaining 
one  year  in  Tuskaloosa;  and  thence  he  removed  to  Perry  county, 
where  he  resided  until  his  death,  which  took  place  at  Blount 
Springs,  July  30,  1849. 

Col.  Walthall  was  a  planter  of  large  means,  and  of  great  intel 
lectual  capacity.  He  was  for  many  years  before  1842  in  one  or 
the  other  branch  of  the  Legislature,  but  he  had  for  a  while 
retired.  He  belonged  to  the  State  Rights  school  of  politicians, 
and  somewhat  stood  aloof  from  either  political  party,  Democratic 
or  Whig,  until  about  the  year  1837  he  became  fully  reinstated 
into  Democratic  favor,  under  the  leadership  of  Mr.  Calhoun  nation 
ally,  and  of  the  Hon.  Dixon  H.  Lewis  at  home.  Entering  the 
Senate  in  1842,  he  served  a  term  of  three  years,  and  in  1845,  his 
reelection  was  defeated  by  J.  F.  Cocke,  Esq.,  his  Whig  competitor. 

In  1848,  Col.  Walthall  was  an  Elector  for  the  State  at  large 
on  the  Democratic  ticket,  and  aided  in  carrying  the  vote  of  Ala 
bama  for  Gen.  Cass  for  President,  and  Gen.  W.  O.  Butler,  of  Ken 
tucky,  for  Vice-President  of  the  United  States.  His  health  had 
been  declining  for  a  long  time,  and  he  lived  but  a  year  after  casting 
his  vote  as  Elector.  It  is  due  to  his  memory  to  remark  here,  that 
his  abilities  were  of  a  solid  and  practical  order  in  legislation.  He 
was  a  very  prominent  and  influential  member,  his  counsels  much 


282  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabamdi 

trusted  wliilo  he  served.  In  public  and  in  private  life,  he  always 
maintained  a  high  character  for  integrity.  He  was  a  leading  man 
in  his  day,  and  has  left  in  the  community  in  which  lie  long  resided, 
and  on  the  legislative  records  of  the  State,  the  impress  of  a  sound 
judgment,  pure  patriotism,  and  spotless  honor. 

DR.  JOHN  WATKINS,  of  Monroe,  was  returned  to  the  Senate  at 
this  session,  where  he  served  his  term  of  three  years.  He  was  a 
native  of  Virginia,  where  he  received  his  education,  but  settled 
in  Alabama  when  it  was 'in  a  Territorial  condition.  He  was  a 
delegate  from  Monroe  to  the  Convention  which  met  at  Huntsville 
in  1819,  to  form  a  Constitution  preparatory  to  the  admission  of  the 
State  into  the  Union,  and  contributed  no  little  of  his  enlightened 
counsel  to  the  completion  of  that  instrument.  He  was  afterward, 
several  times,  a  member  of  the  Legislature  when  great  questions 
of  public  concern  engaged  attention. 

The  importance  of  the  question  relating  to  the  banks  and  cur 
rency,  and  the  public  credit,  brought  him  forward  in  1842;  and 
although  a  Democrat,  he  was  elected  on  a  strong  party  majority. 
At  this  and  the  two  succeeding  sessions,  he  rendered  the  State 
good  service  by  the  wisdom  of  his  counsels,  and  his  calm,  patient 
manner  of  investigating  the  various  subjects  of  public  concern 
before  the  Senate.  His  manner  in  discussion  was  simple,  clear 
and  pointed.  He  seldom  occupied  the  floor  more  than  ten  min 
utes,  and  marched  up  directly  to  the  point  under  consideration. 

In  his  bearing,  Dr.  Watkins  was  gentle,  unpretending  and  dig 
nified.  Possessing  the  advantages  of  much  reading  and  culture, 
and  an  easy,  pleasant  style  of  conversation,  his  society  was  sought, 
and  his  influence  great,  in  legislative  and  social  circles.  Coming 
down  from  the  first  days  of  the  State,  in  laying  the  foundations  of 
which  he  actively  participated,  it  is  not  surprising  that  his  high 
character  for  intelligence  and  statesmanship  should  be  looked  to, 
and  his  counsels  regarded  with  favor.  This  session  (1842)  ended 
his  public  course.  He  was  fond  of  private  life,  with  its  leisure 
for  reading,  for  which  he  had  quite  a  passion;  and  then,  too,  he 
preferred  exemption  from  the  responsibility  of  exercising  dele 
gated  powers.  He  was  a  physician  of  ripe  attainments,  in  which 
capacity,  and  as  a  citizen,  he  exerted  a  salutary  influence  upon  the 
» people  of  his  vicinity. 

BURR  W.  WILSON,  of  Fayette,  concluded  at  this  session  a  course 
of  some  ten  years  in  the  Senate,  without  intermission.  He  re 
mained  in  private  life  until  1861,  when  he  was  elected  a  delegate 
to  the  Convention  which  passed  the  Ordinance  of  Secession,  against 
which  he  voted  as  a  Union  man.  He  was  afterward,  in  1865, 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama* 

elected  a  member  of  the  Convention  which  framed  the  Constitu 
tion  of  that  year,  pursuant  to  the  policy  of  President  Johnson. 

Mr.  Wilson  was  a  decided  Democrat — was  a  vigilant  and  faith 
ful  representative  in  his  votes,  but  withal  very  quiet  and  taciturn, 
seldom  occupying  the  floor  except  to  make  a  report  from  commit 
tees.  He  labored  under  an  impediment  of  speech,  Avhich  embar 
rassed  his  delivery.  He  yet  lives  in  Fayette  county. 

MEMBERS  OF  THE  HOUSE. 

Having  paid  my  respects  to  a  number  of  Senators,  it  becomes  a 
duty  and  a  pleasure  to  give  sketches  of  gentlemen  of  the  House 
of  Representatives  who  took  part  in  the  important  session  of 
1842-3. 

1.  MILES  C.  ABERNATHY  is  a  North  Carolinian.    He  removed 
to  Alabama,  and  settled  in  Benton  (now  Calhoun)  county  about 
the  year  1834,  and  first  engaged  in  the  business  of  a  merchant, 
afterward  in  that  of  planting.     In  1842,  he  was  elected  to  the 
House,  but  having  very  little  taste  for  public  employments,  he 
resumed  his  rural  occupations  with  increased  energy.     In  1855, 
he  was  brought  forward,  by  the  people  among  whom  ne  had  resided 
for  twenty  years,  for  the  Senate,  and  was  elected  for  a  term  of  four 
years,  after  serving  which  he  retired,  and  still  resides  in  Calhoun. 

Mr.  Abernathy  was  of  the  class  of  well-educated,  well-informed 
men  of  sound  judgment  in  public  affairs,  and  was  very  useful  in 
the  Legislature — cautious,  prudent,  and  looking  always  to  the 
public  good,  without  regard  to  other  considerations.  He  was  justly 
regarded  as  a  faithful  public  servant.  His  manners  were  easy,  and 
his  powers  of  conversation  good.  In  politics,  he  is  a  Democrat. 

2.  MARION  BANKS,  of  Tuskalossa,  was  a  member  of  the  House 
during  a  number  of  sessions,  and  concluded  his  public  service  in 
1851.     He  is  a  native  of  Georgia,  but  was  educated  in  the  Uni 
versity  of  Alabama — was  a  planter,  a  bachelor,  and  a  gentleman 
of  extensive  property.     He  was  a  zealous,  earnest  speaker,  and 
was  frank  and  honest  as  a  man  and  politician.     He  was  a  Whig, 
and  went  politically,  as  the  writer  heard  him  say  in  1844,  in  a 
public  speech  in  Tuskaloosa,  "for  Henry  Clay,  my  God,  and  my 
country."     This  was  considered  by  many,  in  those  days,  as  a  safe, 
trustworthy   position.     Major   Banks    belonged    to   that  class  of 
Southern  gentlemen  who  were  patriotic,  high-toned,  and  honor 
able.     He  yet  lives. 

3.  JOHN  W.  BRIDGES,  of  Wilcox,  had  occupied  a  seat  in  the 
public  councils  for  years  before  my  connection  with  the  State  Gov- 


284  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

ernment,  and  came  forward  in  1842  with  a  good  character  for  ex 
perience  and  ability.  He  took  a  high  position  in  the  organization 
of  the  House,  being  placed  at  the  head  of  the  Committee  of  Ways 
and  Means,  a  responsible  place,  in  view  of  the  absolute  necessity, 
then  pressing,  for  a  revenue  bill  to  meet  the  expenses  of  the  State 
Government,  and  to  recover  the  sinking  credit.  For  years,  the 
people  of  Alabama  had  not  been  called  upon  to  pay  State  taxes; 
the  charge  of  paying  the  expenses  of  administering  the  Govern 
ment,  in  the  meantime,  resting  upon  the  Banks.  It  is  not  the 
purpose  of  the  writer  to  consider  or  discuss  the  wisdom  of  such  a 
policy ;  but  this  much  may  be  said,  that  exemption  from  State  tax 
ation  made  the  people  less  vigilant  in  holding  their  public  servants 
to  a  strict  account,  especially  in  the  management  of  the  Banks. 
For,  really,  no  better  evidence  could  or  need  be  adduced  to  quiet 
their  apprehensions,  than  the  fact  that  the  Banks  were  contribut 
ing,  in  their  management,  to  relieve  the  people  of  taxation,  be 
sides  paying  the  interest  on  their  capital,  and  providing,  by  large 
profits,  a  sum  for  the  redemption  of  the  loans  at  maturity,  on  which 
the  capital  was  obtained. 

The  writer  well  remembers  the  exalted  ideas  he  had  of  the 
scheme,  upon  his  settlement  in  Alabama.  The  conception  of  a 
people  using  their  credit  to  found  and  carry  on  a  system  of  banking, 
that  dispensed  such  benefits,  and  was  altogether  so  harmless,  and 
would  work  its  way  through  all  liabilities  and  burdens,  meeting 
its  bonds  all  so  nice  and  square ;  why,  it  was  my  beau-ideal  of  bank 
ing,  and  really  made  a  man  feel  proud  that  he  lived  in  such  a  State, 
with  such  a  beautiful  system.  But  that  dream  had  long  since  ex 
ploded.  The  crash  came  and  exposed  the  inefficiency  of  the  sys 
tem,  to  stand  the  shock  which  its  bad  management  and  corruption 
had  produced,  and  the  people  found  out  that  the  fiddling  for  the 
past  ten  years  had  brought  upon  them  a  heavy  bill,  to  be  estimated 
by  millions.  The  theories  and  expedients  which  had  been  relied 
on,  since  the  called  session  of  1837,  had  all  failed.  The  people 
had  been  promised  resumption  of  specie  payments  by  the  Banks, 
and  plenty  of  money,  under  various  pretexts;  but  they  had  all 
proved  illusory.  The  frauds  which,  to  some  extent,  formed  the 
subject  of  legislative  investigation  in  1841,  had  opened  the  eyes 
of  the  people  to  an  unwelcome  truth,  and  the  rotten  system  was 
probed  to  the  bottom  in  1842. 

Gov.  Fitzpatrick  had  come-  into  office  the  year  before,  and  his 
ready,  practical  mind  soon  detected  the  true  situation,  as  may  be 
seen  in  his  message.  A  revenue  bill  was  something  new  in  Ala 
bama;  but  it  came  before  the  House  in  due  time,  reported  by  the 
Chairman,  Col.  Bridges,  and  passed  both  Houses.  After  this 
service,  he  was  a  member  of  the  House  a  number  of  years,  his 
last  term  being  in  1849.  In  June  of  that  year;  he  presided  over 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  285 

the  Democratic  State  Convention,  which  nominated  Chief  Justice 
Collier  for  the  Executive.  Col.  Bridges  desired,  and  aspired  to, 
the  Speakership,  in  1849,  but  was  not  a  regular  candidate  before 
the  House. 

Besides  being  a  lawyer,  Judge  Bridges  was  also  a  planter,  of 
large  wealth,  and  was  childless.  He  was  ambitious  of  preferment 
and  position  in  the  Democratic  party,  of  which  he  was  a  promi 
nent  member.  He  participated  freely  in  the  debates  of  the 
House.  Indeed,  many  of  his  friends  thought  he  spoke  too  often, 
and  from  this  cause,  no  doubt,  he  failed  to  receive  the  patient 
attention  to  which  so  well  informed  a  gentleman,  and  so  agreeable 
a  debater,  might  seem  entitled.  In  person,  he  was  stout ^ and  com 
pact,  with  a  good  face  and  head,  the  latter  somewhat  bald. 
His  hair  was  very  white,  and  altogether,  he  was  a  fine-looking 
gentleman.  His  manners  were  plain — rather  neglected.  He 
encountered,  and  partially  surrendered  to,  the  same  foe,  in  the 
disguise  of  convivial  enjoyments,  which  has  captured  and  de 
stroyed  so  many  of  Alabama's  cherished  sons  in  the  rounds  of 
public  life.  He  died  many  years  ago. 

DR.  JAMES  BOTH  WELL,  of  St.  Clair,  served  the  people  of  that 
county  at"  this  session.  He  was  an  intelligent,  well-read  gentle 
man,  quiet  and  reserved  in  his  intercourse  with  men.  He  was  a 
physician  of  good  attainments,  and  for  a  long  time  practiced  in 
the  section  about  Ashville.  But,  like  many  others,  he  yielded  to 
an  enemy  which  destroyed  him  in  the  meridian  of  life.  How 
many  bright  intellects  have  been  quenqjied  in  darkness,  and  use 
ful  men  taken  from  society  and  a  pleasant  family  circle,  by  this 
fell  destroyer,  ardent  spirits?  And  yet  how  few  take  warning  by 
their  fate,  so  as  to  avoid  the  snare  into  which  so  many  thousands 
have  been  entrapped  and  ruined? 

JOHN  A.  CAMPBELL,  of  Mobile,  is  a  native  of  Georgia,  and 
graduated  with  the  first  honors  in  the  University  of  that  State. 
His  father,  Col.  Duncan  G.  Campbell,  was  a  distinguished  lawyer 
and  party  leader  in  Georgia,  wrho  died  in  1828,  in  the  forty-second 
year  of  his  age.  In  1829,  an  act  was  passed  by  the  Georgia  Leg 
islature,  of  which  the  following  is  the  caption : 

An  act  to  admit  David  J.  Baily,  of  Butts  county ;  Hiram  Ueniphill,  of  Lincoln 
county;  John  A.  Campbell,  of  Wilkes  county;  Gray  A.  Chandler,  of  Warren 
county;  Robert  McCarthy,  of  Monroe  county;  William  A.  Black,  of  Chatham 
county,  and  Robert  Toombs,  of  Wilkes  county,  to  plead  and  practice  law  in  the 
several  courts  of  law  and  equity  in  this  State. 

From  this  special  act,  it  appears  that  Mr.  J.  A.  Campbell  had 
not  completed  his  twenty-first  year  in  1829.  Soon  afterward,  he 
removed  to  Montgomery,  Alabama^  where  he  was  at  once  success-? 


286  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

ful  in  his  profession.  Indeed,  his  great  ability  and  devotion  to 
business  would  have  commanded  public  attention  and  patronage 
anywhere.  In  1 836,  he  was  elected  a  Representative  in  the  Legis 
lature,  and  at  the  called  session  of  June,  1837,  he  was  a  warm 
advocate  of  the  relief  measures  then  adopted — of  borrowing  five 
millions  on  the  bonds  of  the  State,  and  placing  the  amount  in  the 
State  Bank  and  Branches,  to  be  loaned  out  to  those  Avho.  were 
pressed  by  judgments  and  executions,  as  the  preferred  class  of 
debtors,  on  their  executing  good  and  responsible  paper,  subject  to 
curtailment  and  renewal,  so  as  to  make  the  payments  with  as  little 
hardship  as  possible.  He  predicated  his  support  of  the  measure 
on  the  agricultural  resources  of  the  State,  from  official  data,  show 
ing,  in  his  argument,  that  by  the  time  the  bonds  became  due,  the 
people  could  refund  the  money  loaned,  by  the  sale  of  their  crops, 
and  the  interest,  in  the  meantime,  over  that  accruing  on  the  bonds, 
would  be  a  gain  to  the  State. 

This  method  of  stating  the  question  was  very  plausible,  and 
was  very  honestly  urged.  It  captivated  the  majority  in  the  Legis 
lature,  and  was  heartily  approved  by  the  people,  who  expected 
large  benefits  from  the  operation.  But  when  the  time  arrived  for 
the  practical  results  to  be  ascertained,  no  one  was  more  thoroughly 
convinced  of  the  failure  of  the  experiment  than  Mr.  Campbell 
himself,  whose  able  and  luminous  reports,  as  Chairman  of  the 
Bank  Committee,  will  prove.  These  documents  have  an  imper 
ishable  value,  and  are  given  at  length  in  a  preceding  chapter,  for 
general  information.  The  space  could  not  be  better  filled. 

The  rank  to  which  Mr.^Campbell  is  entitled  as  a  debater  is  the 
very  highest  that  can  be  attained  in  any  deliberative  body.  In 
saying  this,  it  is  perhaps  necessary  to  remark,  that  his  manner,  his 
voice,  or  the  music  of  his  periods,  form  no  part  of  his  great  supe 
riority  over  other  men.  These  secondary,  yet  attractive,  qualities 
he  did  not  possess  to  any  remarkable  extent;  but  whenever  he 
figured  in  debate,  an  atmosphere  of  intellect  and  logic  seemed  to 
invest  him  as  a  halo  of  distinction.  His  facts  were  stated  in  such 
a  natural  order  and  connection,  that,  like  the  summing  up  of  a 
record  by  Chief  Justice  Marshall,  the  truth  was  at  once  eliminated 
for  the  judgment.  What  Mr.  Wilde,  of  Georgia,  beautifully  said 
of  Mr.  Lowndes,  of  South  Carolina,  in  Congress,  may  be  justly 
applied  to  Mr.  Campbell,  in  "that  passionless,  unclouded  intellect 
which  rendered  him  deserving  of  the  praise — if  ever  man  deserved 
it — of  merely  standing  by,  and  letting  reason  argue  for  him." 

It  is  not  necessary  to  dwell  further  on  the  character  of  Mr. 
Campbell  as  a  legislator.  His  short  record  is  triumphant.  His 
still  higher  rank  as  a  jurist  led  to  his  appointment,  in  1853,  by 
President  Pierce,  of  Associate  Justice  of  the  Supreme  Court  of 
the  United  States,  which  was  unanimously  confirmed  by  the 


Reminiscences  of  PMio  Men  in  Alabama.  287 

ate.  In  this  exalted  position  he  continued  until  1861,  and  by  his 
influence  he  sought  from  Mr.  Seward,  the  Secretary  of  State,  a 
hearing  for  the  Commissioners  of  the  Confederate  States,  who  had 
visited  Washington  with  authority  and  instructions,  to  propose  an 
amicable  adjustment,  on  terms  of  equity,  of  the  difficulties  then 
about  to  assume  a  belligerent  aspect  between  the  Northern  and 
Southern  States.  The  interview  between  Judge  Campbell  and 
Mr.  Seward  gave  encouragement  to  the  hope,  so  reasonably  enter 
tained  at  the  South,  that  the  Commissioners  would  be  received  by 
President  Lincoln,  and  the  whole  matter  fairly  considered,  with  a 
view  to  preserve  the  peaceful  relations  of  the  country.  Intima 
tions  had  been  given  by  Mr.  Seward  to  Judge  Campbell,  that  the 
United  States  garrison  at  Fort  Sumter  would  be  withdrawn,  or 
that  at  least  no  attempt  would  be  made  to  supply  it  with  provis 
ions  in  a  defiant  or  insulting  manner.  This  assurance  was  com 
municated  by  the  mutual  friend,  who  desired  to  effect  an  accom 
modation,  to  Messrs.  Forsyth,  of  Alabama,  Roman,  of  Louisiana, 
and  Crawford,  of  Georgia,  the  Confederate  Commissioners,  who 
notified  the  same  to  their  Government  at  Montgomery.  At  this 
particular  crisis,  in  violation  of  an  express  or  implied  pledge,  a 
steamer  was  dispatched  by  Mr.  Lincoln,  to  provision  the  troops  at 
Fort  Sumter,  and  otherwise  to  strengthen  the  garrison  for  defense. 
This  fact  was  notified  by  the  Commissioners  to  President  Davis, 
by  telegraph,  on  the  10th  of  April,  and  orders  were  immediately 
issued  to  Gen.  Beauregard  which  resulted  in  the  first  gun  against 
Fort  Sumter.  Finding  that  his  efforts  had  been  in  vain — that  he 
had  been  trifled  with  by  Mr.  Seward,  and  that  hostilities  had  com 
menced  by  the  proclamation  of  Mr.  Lincoln,  of  15th  April,  calling 
for  75,000  men  to  bring  the  rebel  States  back  to  their  allegiance — 
Judge  Campbell  resigned  his  seat  on  the  bench  of  the  Supreme 
Court,  to  share  the  fortunes  of  his  native  South,  for  weal  or  woe. 

Judge  Campbell  was  afterward  appointed  Assistant  Secretary  of 
War  under  the  administration  of  President  Davis,  in  which  capacity 
he  was  serving  his  country  when  the  Confederate  armies  surren 
dered  in  1865.  He  then  resumed  the  practice  of  the  law,  and 
now  resides  in  New  Orleans,  with  lucrative  employment,  it  is 
hoped — for  he  stands  at  the  very  head  of  his  profession.  I  seri 
ously  question  whether  his  superior  as  a  jurist  is  to  be  found  in 
the  United  States.  His  moral  character  is  no  less  elevated  and 
pure,  and  in  all  the  relations  of  life,  he  has  been  exemplary  and 
upright.  May  happiness  and  prosperity  attend  him  in  all  the 
future. 

To  those  who  are  not  personally  intimate  with  Judge  Campbell, 
he  appears  cold,  distant,  and  reserved  in  his  manners.  That  is  the 
general  impression,  which  I  once  shared.  But  I  have  since  had 
better  opportunities  of  finding  out  his  true  character,  and  candor 


288  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

obliges  me  to  confess  that  I  have  listened  to  his  conversation  with 
more  pleasure  and  profit,  than  to  that  of  any  gentleman  whose  soci 
ety  it  has  been  my  privilege  to  enjoy.  His  knowledge  seems  uni 
versal,  and  minutely  accurate.  Taking  up  any  subject  in  history — 
political,  commercial,  scientific,  or  literary — he  gives  the  origin, 
progress,  and  consummation  of  the  whole,  with  the  clearness  of 
statement  and  inference  which  no  mind  can  fail  to  appreciate.  In 
fact,  I  regard  Judge  Campbell  as  second  to  no  man  in  the  United 
States,  intellectually.  My  reasons  for  this  belief  have,  in  part, 
been  assigned,  but  as  a  further  addition  to  them  would  necessarily 
extend  this  notice  to  a  length  incompatible  with  the  brevity  I  de 
sire  to  practice  in  these  sketches,  I  must  forego  the  attempt. 

6.  JAMES  M.  CALHOUN,  of  Dallas,  a  native  of  South  Carolina, 
is  a  nephew  of  the  Hon.  John  C.  Calhoun,  who  has  rendered  the 
family  name  immortal.  After  reaching  manhood,  Mr.  J.  M.  Cal 
houn  removed  to  Alabama,  and  settled  in  Dallas  county,  where 
he  married  a  daughter  of  Gov.  Israel  Pickens.  This  connection 
secured  in  his  favor  a  large  influence,  which,  in  addition  to  his 
own  talents,  soon  gave  him  a  commanding  position.  He  had 
studied  law  in  Carolina,  but  he  seems  to  have  abandoned  the  legal 
profession  to  engage  extensively  in  planting. 

In  1831,  Mr.  Calhoun  was  elected  a  member  of  the  House  from 
Dallas,  and  probably  for  several  years  succeeding  he  was  reflected, 
as  my  acquaintance  with  him  began  at  the  session  of  1837,  when 
he  was  then  a  Representative.  I  shall  never  forget  how  utterly 
disappointed  I  was  in  relation  to  his  personal  appearance.  From 
his  high  name  and  position,  I  imagined  him  to  be  a  gentleman 
very  punctilious  and  dignified  in  his  manners,  and  neat  in  his 
dress,  verging  on  fashionable  gentility,  as  became  his  rank.  When 
I  did  see  him,  the  man  of  flesh  and  blood,  and  not  of  the  imagin 
ation,  I  found  clad  in  a  plain  garb  of  homespun  jeans,  simple  and 
unpretending  in  his  manners,  accessible  to  all,  and  pleasantly  com 
municative. 

At  the  session  of  1837,  Mr.  Calhoun  took  an  active  part  in  the 
Bank  and  currency  questions,  and  cooperated  successfully  with 
Judge  Smith,  of  Madison,  in  the  repeal  of  the  law  passed  at  the 
called  session,  authorizing  the  issue  of  State  bonds  to  the  amount 
of  five  millions  of  dollars.  Like  his  distinguished  relative,  he  be 
longed  to  the  State  Rights  school  of  politics,  and  like  him  came 
into  cooperation  with  the  Democratic  party  upon  the  financial 
policy  of  Mr.  Van  Buren. 

In  1838,  Mr.  Calhoun  succeeded  Mr.  Beene,  and  upon  the 
meeting  of  the  Legislature  was  unanimously  elected  President  of 
the  Senate,  over  which  he  presided  with  his  usual 'ability.  At  the 
end  of  the  session  of  1839-'40,  he  retired  until  1842,  when  he 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  289 

was  again  returned  to  the  House.  He  then  withdrew  from  Legis 
lative  service  for  fifteen  years,  and  engaged  more  assiduously  in 
planting. 

In  1847,  Mr.  Calhoun  was  appointed,  by  Gov.  Martin,  a  Com 
missioner  on  the  part  of  Alabama,  to  act  with  James  T.  Archer, 
Esq.,  the  Commissioner  for  the  State  of  Florida,  to  settle  the 
boundary  line  between  the  two  States,  which  duty  he  performed 
in  a  skillful  and  faithful  manner,  thus  putting  permanently  at  rest 
a  long  mooted  question,  to  the  entire  satisfaction  of  the  General 
Assembly. 

Mr.  Calhoun  was  again  elected  to  the  Senate,  in  1857,  1859, 
and  1861,  and  on  the  resignation  of  R.  M.  Patton,  Esq.,  as  presid 
ing  officer,  he  was  again  called  to  that  position.  Since  then,  he 
has  been  in  retirement  on  his  farm,  in  Dallas  county,  enjoying  the 
universal  respect  of  his  fellow-citizens. 

Before  concluding  this  brief  notice  of  a  gentleman  of  remarka 
ble  individuality  of  character,  it  may  be  added  that  his  powers  in 
debate  enabled  him  to  present  any  question,  stripped  of  false  col 
oring,  and  to  explain  it  in  the  true  spirit  of  statesmanship,  until 
conviction  was  apt  to  follow  in  the  minds  of  others.  He  some 
what  impaired  his  inHiience  in  the  House,  at  the  session  of  1842, 
by  being  too  frequently  on  the  floor,  and  in  opposing  many  local 
measures.  His  eye  wandered  over  the  entire  assembly  to  catch 
what  was  passing,  and  he  often  made  motions  to  lay  on  the  table, 
or  to  refer,  which  gave  offense  in  many  instances,  and  rendered 
him  unpopular  with  some  of  his  fellow-members.  For  this,  how 
ever,  he  cared  not,  when  in  the  discharge  of  what  he  conceived  to 
be  a  public  duty. 

7.  CLEMENT  C.  CLAY,  Jr.,  of  Madison,  ejitered  the  public  arena 
for  the  first  time,  as  a  member  of  the  House,  at  this  session.  He 
was,  ibr  awhile,  a  student  in  the  University  of  Alabama,  but,  for 
some  cause,  he  completed  his  collegiate  course,  it  is  believed,  in 
an  institution  of  Virginia. 

Early  in  the  session  of  1842,  he  offered  resolutions  instructing 
our  Senators  and  Representatives  in  Congress  to  vote  for  the  bill 
refunding  to  Gen.  Jackson  the  amount  of  the  fine  imposed  upon 
him  by  Judge  Hall,  at  New  Orleans,  in  1815,  for  establishing 
martial  law  in  the  city,  under  which  the  Judge  was  imprisoned  by 
the  commanding  general,  for  discharging,  on  habeas. corpm,  a  mem 
ber  of  the  Louisiana  Legislature  who  had  been  detected  in  hold 
ing  secret  communications  with  the  enemy,  and  committed  to 
prison  by  Gen.  Jackson.  The  bill  was  introduced  in  Congress  by 
Mr.  Charles  Jared  Ingersoll,  of  Pennsylvania,  and  passed  at  the 
session  of  1843,  whereby  the  fine  of  $1,000,  with  interest,  making, 
in  all,  about  $3.000,  was  refunded  to  the  venerable  hero,  as  a  long 
19 


290  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

deferred  act  of  justice.  The  speech  of  Mr.  Clay  in  support  of  his 
resolutions,  was  a  beautiful  effort  in  style  and  elocution.  It  showed 
what  was  in  him,  and  his  long  public  course  since  has  more  than 
justified  the  anticipations  of  his  friends  at  this  early  period. 

An  event  in  the  life  of  Mr.  Clay  took  place  during  this  session, 
which  may  be  mentioned  as  contributing  much  to  his  future  hap 
piness,  and  no  doubt  to  his  great  popularity  and  success.  In  Feb 
ruary,  1843,  his  marriage,  with  Miss  Virginia  Tunstall,  was  cele 
brated  by  a  wedding  party,  and  by  preparations  at  the  residence 
of  Chief  Justice  Collier,  in  Tuskaloosa,  which  had  never  been 
equalled  on  any  similar  occasion  in  that  city.  The  Rev. 
Thomas  H.  Capers  officiated  in  the  nuptial  ceremony.  Most 
of  the  members  of  the  Legislature,  and  many  citizens,  were  pres 
ent  as  invited  guests.  The  bride  was  the  daughter  of  Dr.  Peyton 
Tunstall,  formerly  of  Virginia,  and  a  near  relative  of  Mrs.  Collier. 
At  another  point  of  this  narrative,  I  shall  again  refer  to  the  bride 
as  a  moral  heroine,  after  she  had  been  more  than  twenty  years  a 
wife. 

Mr.  Clay  was  again  returned  to  the  House  in  1844  and  1845, 
and  at  the  last  session  was  elected  Judge  of  the  County  Court  of 
Madison  county,  an  office  which  he  held  until  the  election  of  that 
class  of  officers  was  given  to  the  people  by  act  of  the  Legislature, 
in  1850.  In  1853,  he  opposed  Mr.  Cobb  for  Congress,  in  the 
Huntsville  District,  and  was  beaten  by  that  indomitable  canvasser. 
But  higher  honors  awaited  Mr.  Clay  than  his  competitor  snatched 
from  him  by  means  not  necessary  here  to  characterize.  At  the  next 
session  of  the  Legislature,  he  was  elected  a  Senator  in  Congress 
for  a  term  of  six  years,  to  succeed  Mr.  Clemens.  The  circum 
stance  is  worthy  of  note,  that  Mr.  Cobb  defeated,  before  the  peo 
ple,  two  of  Alabama's  most  gifted  sons,  each  of  whom,  at  the  next 
session  of  the  Legislature  was  elected  to  the  United  States  Senate, 
viz:  Mr.  Clemens,  in  1849,  and  Mr.  Clay,  in  1853.  It  is  said 
that  Mr.  Cobb  was  proud  of  this  fact^  and  exultingly  pointed  to 
the  distinguished  Senators  whom  he  had  beaten  for  a  seat  in  the 
House. 

Mr.  Clay  was  continued  in  the  Senate  by  reelection,  and  was  at  all 
times  an  efficient  and  useful  member  of  that  body,  often  engaging 
in  debate,  as  will  appear  by  reference  to  the  "Congressional 
Globe,"  where  his  speeches  are  reported.  After  a  number  of  the 
Southern  States  had  passed  ordinances  of  Secession,  the  delega 
tion  in  Congress  from  the  Southern  States  withdrew  from  that 
body,  as  a  matter  of  course.  On  this  occasion,  Mr.  Clay  deliv 
ered  a  speech  of  great  power — reviewing  the  controversy  between 
the  North  and  South,  and  bidding  his  brother  Senators  farewell — 
in  January,  1861. 

Upon  the  organization  of  the  Confederate  States  Government,  a 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama,  291 

few  months  thereafter,  Mr.  Clay  was  elected  a  Senator,  and  was  a 
member  of  the  first  Senate  forming  a  part  of  that  Government, 
until  1863,  when  he  was  superceded  by  the  Hon.  Kichard  W. 
Walker.  After  his  connection  with  the  Senate  ceased,  he  was 
appointed  to  a  foreign  diplomatic  agency,  with  a  colleague  from 
Virginia. 

Soon  after  President  Lincoln  was  assassinated  in  the  Washing 
ton  Theatre,  April  14,  1865,  his  successor  issued  a  proclamation, 
charging  that  Jefferson  Davis,  Clement  C.  Clay,  Jr.,  and  three  or 
four  other  gentlemen,  were  accessory  to  the  murder,  as  aiding  and 
abetting  the  same,  and  offering  a  reward  of  $100,000  for  the 
arrest  and  delivery  of  Mr.  Davis,  and  $25,000  each  for  the  deliv 
ery  of  Mr.  Clay  and  the  other  parties  named.  This  document 
soon  put  Northern  officers  and  soldiers  on  the  trail  of  so  tempting 
a  prize,  and  after  a  week  or  two  Mr.  Davis  and  suite  were  captured 
in  Irwin  county,  Georgia,  and  brought  to  Augusta,  where  a 
steamer  awaited  to  take  them  to  Hilton  Head,  not  as  prisoners  of 
war,  but  as  criminals.  On  seeing  the  proclamation,  Mr.  Clay 
reported  to  the  military  commander,  and  surrendered  himself  for 
an  investigation  of  the  charge,  thus  saving  the  expense  and 
trouble  of  his  arrest.  He  was  taken  to  Augusta,  and  placed  on 
the  same  boat  with  the  President  of  the  Confederate  States,  both 
of  whom  were  confined  in  Fortress  Monroe.  For  a  glimpse  at 
their  captivity,  the  reader  is  referred  to  the  "Prison  Life,"  of 
Jefferson  Davis,  by  Dr.  Craven,  the  Federal  Surgeon  in  charge. 

Here  Mrs.  Clay  should  be  introduced,  for  the  noble  part  she 
acted  in  procuring  the  liberation  of  her  husband,  after  toils  and 
bufferings  which  would  have  crushed  a  less  heroic  and  devoted 
woman.  Interviews  with  the  President  and  Secretary  of  War  at 
length  succeeded — after  months  of  incarceration  in  a  dark  cell, 
which  nearly  cost  him  his  life — in  placing  Mr.  Clay  at  the  disposal 
of  his  angelic  wife.  The  scene  was  morally  grand.  Romance 
can  furnish  nothing  superior  to  it  in  firmness,  constancy,  and 
affection. 

Neither  Mr.  Davis,  nor  Mr.  Clay,  nor  any  one  of  their  "  so- 
called"  confederates  in  crime,  was  ever  brought  to  trial;  nor  was 
there  any  proceeding  in  court,  or  elsewhere,  at  the  instance  of  the 
Federal  Government,  to  establish  the  complicity  alleged  in  the 
proclamation.  It  was  all  a  fanatical  movement  from  beginning  to 
end,  to  pander  to  fanatical  malignity,  which  resulted  in  the  ex 
penditure  of  large  sums  of  money,  to  be  paid  in  taxes  by  the 
people,  without  even  a  shadow  of  excuse  for  the  tyranny  em 
ployed  as  the  instrument  of  so  much  wrong. 

Mr.  Clay,  physically,  is  a  feeble  man,  and  from  boyhood,  his 
health  has  always  been  delicate.  That  he  has  accomplished  so 
much,  and  suffered  so  much  for  his  country,  shows  the  power  of 


292  ^Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

will  and  a  determined  resolution,  much  to  his  praise.  He  is  still 
in  the  meridian  of  life,  and  resides  on  his  plantation  in  Jackson 
county,  happier,  it  may  be,  than  when  immersed  in  public  em 
ployments.  He  is  a  native  Alabamian. 

8.  THOMAS  B.  COOPER,  of  Cherokee,  is,  if  I  mistake  not,  a 
South  Carolinian,  and  settled  in  Alabama  about  the  year  1834, 
making  Cherokee  his  residence,  and  the  law  his  profession.  He 
was  a  Whig,  and  the  county  being  largely  Democratic,  it  is  very 
complimentary  to  his  ability  and  popularity,  that  he  should  have 
succeeded,  not  only  in  1842,  but  at  various  other  times,  over  gen 
tlemen  belonging  to  the  Democratic  party.  He  was  a  member  of 
the  House  in  1844,  1849,  1851,  1863-'4,  and  1865->6.  In  1860, 
Mr.  Cooper  allied  himself  with  the  National  Democratic  party 
from  purely  patriotic  motives,  and  was  a  delegate  to  the  Charles 
ton  and  Baltimore  Conventions.  He  voted  for  Mr.  Douglas  for 
President,  and  H.  V.  Johnson  for  Vice-President. 

In  September,  1865,  he  was  elected  to  a  seat  in  the  Convention 
which  framed  the  Constitution  of  that  year.  He  was  elected  a 
member  of  the  House  soon  thereafter,  and  in  the  organization  of 
the  Legislature,  he  was  chosen  Speaker  of  the  House,  in  which 
capacity  he  served  through  two  sessions. 

Mr.  Cooper  has  had  a  long  and  successful  course  in  public  life, 
the  more  distinguished  because  he  was  elected  by  a  constituency 
opposed  to  him  on  the  political  questions  of  the  day.  The  secret 
of  this  success  was,  mainly,  in  the  faithful  manner  in  which  he 
served  the  interests  of  the  people,  in  securing  every  advantage 
possible  for  their  obtaining  homes  upon  the  most  favorable  terms, 
an  instance  of  which  is  given  elsewhere  in  this  volume.  His  good 
nature,  and  kind  disposition  toward  his  fellow-men,  and  his  uni 
formly  accommodating  spirit,  added  no  little  to  the  advantages  he 
possessed  in  his  intercourse  with  the  people.  His  business  quali 
ties  were  good,  and  he  was  active  and  skillful  in  the  forms  of  leg 
islation.  Many  of  his  friends  kindly  doubted,  after  his  term  as 
Speaker,  if  he  would  not  have  made  more  character  on  the  floor 
than  in  the  chair. 

Mr.  Cooper  still  resides  in  Cherokee,  and  never  permits  an 
occasion  to  pass  without  aiding  in  some  way,  by  word  or  purse,  his 
fellow-beings  who  need  help.  His  sympathies  are  tender,  and 
easily  enlisted.  Thus  far  his  record  is  a  bright  one,  and  there  is 
no  reason  to  apprehend  that  its  pages  will  be  obscured  by  any  act 
in  the  future. 

9.  WILLIAM  D.  DUNN,  of  Mobile,  was  from  Tennessee — a  Whig 
in  politics,  and  a  member  of  the  House  at  the  sessions  of  1842, 
1843;  and  1844.  In  1845,  he  was  a  candidate  for  Congress  in  the 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  293 

Mobile  District,  arid  was  beaten  by  Judge  Dargan.  If  I  mistake 
not,  this  ended  his  connection  with  public  life.  He  has  since 
devoted  himself  more  exclusively  to  the  practice  of  the  law,  and 
to  the  management  of  his  large  estates.  He  labored  under  some 
physical  infirmity,  which  had  a  depressing  influence  on  his  mind, 
and  on  his  taste  for  social  enjoyments. 

Col.  Dunn  was  something  of  an  intellectual  giant  in  debate. 
When  fully  penetrated  with  his  subject,  he  rose  to  considerable 
heights  in  argumentation,  presenting  masterly  views,  in  a  manner 
not  unworthy  of  the  fame  of  Charles  James  Fox,  in  the  British 
Parliament,  as  an  orator.  He  was  massive  in  his  statements,  and 
cogent  in  the  exposition.  Next  to  his  colleague,  Mr.  Campbell,  he 
was  regarded  as  the  most  powerful  debater  on  the  floor  of  the 
House.  At  the  Bar,  he  was  eminently  successful,  and  in  all  his 
relations  to  society,  he  was  the  model  of  a  high-toned  gentleman. 
He  still  resides  in  Mobile. 

10.  DR.  SAMUEL  S.  EARLE,  of  Jefferson,  was  a  member  of  the 
House  in  1838,  and  again  in  1839.  The  condition  of  the  country, 
and  his  acknowledged  efficiency  in  legislation,  brought  him  for 
ward  in  1842,  and  he  took  a  decided  interest  in  the  measures  acted 
upon  during  the  session.  After  this,  he  declined  all  public  employ 
ments.  Until  his  death,  in  January,  1871,  he  continued  to  reside 
at  Ely  ton,  among  the  people  who  honored  him  with  their  confi 
dence  more  than  thirty  years  ago.  This  was  more  to  his  credit,  as 
testifying  his  individual  worth,  from  the  fact  that  he,  a  Whig, 
resided  in  a  county  which  had  a  decided  Democratic  majority. 

Dr.  Earle  was  a  native  of  South  Carolina,  where  he  was  highly 
educated.  He  was  modest,  and  seldom  addressed  Mie  House ;  but 
when  he  thought  proper  to  occupy  its  attention  on  any  subject,  he 
was  heard  with  great  respect.  His  voice  was  pleasant,  his  style 
that  of  a  mature  scholar,  and  his  views  were  sensible,  and  always 
to  the  point.  It  was  much  regretted  that  he  had  not  more  fre 
quently  engaged  in  debate,  as  he  would,  no  doubt,  have  rendered 
valuable  assistance  on  important  questions,  and  would  thereby 
have  secured  to  himself  more  reputation  in  a  legislative  capacity. 

In  addition  to  his  fine  literary  taste,  he  possessed  considerable 
skill  in  drawing,  and  often  amused  himself  at  his  desk  by  sketch 
ing  the  likenesses  of  members  while  on  the  floor,  or  in  other 
respects  showing  their  peculiarities,  which  were  faithfully  repre 
sented.  Somewhat  reserved  in  his  manners,  and  always  unobtru 
sive,  his  fine  social  qualities  were  not  generally  understood.  His 
passion  for  reading  absorbed  most  of  his  leisure,  and  cut  him  off 
from  that  free  and  genial  intercourse  with  his  fellow-members 
which  most  of  them  delighted  to  cultivate.  In  all  respects,  and 
at  all  times,  whether  in  public  or  in  private  life,  Dr.  Earle  was  a. 


294  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

high-toned  and  upright  gentleman,  and  his  memory  will  ever  be 
held  in  the  highest  respect. 

11.  ELBERT  H.  ENGLISH,  of  Limestone,  was  first  elected  to  the 
House  in  1839,  and  again  in  1842,  which  latter  session  closed  his 
legislative  experience  in  Alabama.     His  intellect  was  of  a  very 
respectable  order,  and  his  legal  attainments  considerable,  though 
both  were  veiled  by  a  modesty  little  short  of  the  most  embarrass 
ing  diffidence  whenever  he  attempted  to  address  the  House.    But 
his  foundation  was  solid,  and  upon  this  he  has  since  established  a 
character  in  another  State,  of  which  his  friends  in  Alabama  may 
well  be  proud. 

Not  long  after  the  session  of  1842,  Mr.  English  removed  to 
Arkansas,  and  settled  at  Little  Rock,  to  pursue  his  profession. 
He  first  compiled  a  Digest  of  the  Laws  of  the  State,  in  which  he 
displayed  such  method  and  business  capacity,  together  with  exten 
sive  legal  knowledge,  that  he  was  soon  elected  to  the  bench  of 
the  Supreme  Court — a  station  which  he  continued  to  adorn  until 
the  late  troubles  between  the  North  and  South.  Judge  English 
was,  before  he  left  Alabama,  an  exemplary  Christian,  and  a  mem 
ber  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 

12.  JOHN  ERWIN,  of  Greene,  was  a  native  of  Kentucky,  and 
came  to  Alabama  in  quest  of  fortune  in  his  young  manhood,  and 
settled  in  Greene  county  as  an  attorney  at  law.     He  was  indus 
trious,  and  devoted  to  the  interest  of  his  clients,  and  in  due  time 
he  obtained  a  large  and  lucrative  practice,  and  rose  to  the  head  of 
his  profession.     He  was  several  times  elected  to  the  Senate,  of 
which  body  h^  was  elected  President  in  1833.    When  I  first  knew 
him,  he  was  a  member  of  the  House  in  1837.     He  was  again 
elected  in  1842,  which  closed  his  legislative  career.     At  this  ses 
sion,  he  was  elected  Speaker  of  the  House,  and  made  a  good  pre 
siding  officer. 

In  1845,  he  opposed  Mr.  Payne  for  Congress,  but  was  defeated. 
In  1851,  he  was  again  a  candidate  in  opposition  to  Judge  William 
K.  Smith,  both  Democrats.  The  contest  was  animated,  and  great 
exertions  were  made  by  the  friends  of  each  candidate ;  but  Judge 
Smith  prevailed  by  a  few  votes  majority. 

The  friends  of  Col.  Erwin,  on  several  occasions,  presented  his 
name  for  nomination  for  the  Executive  chair,  but  without  success. 
He  was  a  delegate  to  the  Convention  at  Charleston  in  1860,  and 
represented  Alabama  in  the  Committee  on  the  "Platform."  He 
was  also  at  Baltimore  in  attendance  upon  the  Convention  that 
nominated  Mr.  Breckinridge  for  the  Presidency. 

In  his  early  public  life,  Col.  Erwin  belonged  to  the  Whig  party, 
but  changed  his  political  relations  about  the  year  1840.  In  his 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  295 

latter  days  he  received  an  accidental  injury  which  affected  his 
nervous  system,  and  prevented  him  from  mingling  freely  in  public 
circles,  or  in  discussion.  He  died  suddenly  during  the  war. 

The  personal  qualities  of  Col.  Erwin  were  remarkable.  He 
had  talents,  besides,  courage  and  vanity  in  a  high  degree — all 
essential,  with  certain  modifications,  to  form  a  combative  nature, 
so  as  to  command  success  under  the  difficulties  which  he  had  to 
encounter  in  his  early  career.  As  an  advocate,  he  was  in  the 
habit  of  commenting,  with  great  severity,  upon  the  character  of 
parties  and  witnesses  adverse  to  the  interests  of  his  client.  On 
one  occasion,  when  the  Circuit  Court  was  held  at  Erie,  the  first 
county-site  of  Greene,  he  indulged  in  this  vice  at  the  expense  of 
Mr.  Boss,  a  very  respectable  citizen,  who  happened  to  be  a  party 
of  record.  He  felt  himself  unjustly  treated,  and  in  a  moment  of 
passion,  he  struck  Mr.  Erwin  with  a  cane,  as  he  stepped  out  of 
the  Court-House;  whereupon  the  latter  gentleman  stabbed  him 
with  his  pen-knife,  which  produced  immediate  death.  Mr.  Erwin 
was  subjected  to  the  forms  of  a  trial  for  the  homicide,  but  the  jury 
acquitted  him  on  the  ground  that  he  acted  in  self-defense. 

It  is  believed  that  this  unfortunate  occurrence  tended  to  in 
crease  the  natural  austerity  of  Mr.  Erwin's  character.  He  be 
came  cold,  haughty,  and  supremely  selfish,  throughout  his  future 
life,  even  though  he  pursued  the  forms  of  courtesy  and  high- 
breeding  in  his  intercourse  with  his  fellow-men.  His  person  was 
of  a  mold  to  command  attention,  symmetrical,  comely,  and  active, 
while  his  face  beamed  with  intelligence,  and  his  clear  blue  eyes 
expressed  the  depths  and  intensity  of  the  soul  within.  His  voice, 
in  its  undertones,  was  very  rich;  but  when  he  reached  the  higher 
notes  in  his  long  speeches — frequently  from  four  to  six  hours,  in 
Court,  and  sometimes  half  a  day  on  the  stump,  or  in  party  Con 
ventions,  and  in  the  Legislature — his  voice  was  disagreeable,  even 
discordant.  Of  this  he  appeared  to  be  wholly  unconscious,  and 
ho  still  persevered  in  the  agony.  On  such  occasions,  his  perform 
ance  was  a  mixture  of  lofty  intellectual  conceptions,  of  rambling 
facts,  strong  emphasis  on  half  his  words,  respectable  logic,  offens 
ive  personalities,  and  a  zeal  bordering  on  rage,  with  tedious  repe 
titions.  Such  war  Mr.  Erwin  as  a  declaimer.  Crowds  went  to 
hear  him  on  popular  occasions,  and  crowds  melted  away  between 
the  meridian  and  the  setting  sun,  if  his  time  was  not  limited  by 
circumstances,  or  by  special  agreement.  He  was  a  gifted  man, 
intellectually  and  vocally,  of  which  fact  no  one  seemed  to  have  a 
more  decided  impression  than  himself. 

Yet,  with  all  the  infirmities  of  his  disposition,  Col.  Erwin  was 
the  very  soul  of  honor  in  his  business  transactions.  He  was  faith 
ful  to  his  clients,  and  to  all  his  engagements.  His  services  he 
rated  high,  as  a  general  rule;  but  then,  his  efforts  and  his  zeal 


296  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Atabamd. 

were  equal  to  the  emergency,  and  success,  in  most  instances, 
crowned  his  professional  labors.  He  seemed  to  be  always  in  full 
harness  for  work,  no  amount  of  which  ever  appalled  him,  where 
the  incentive  was  adequate.  A  large  fortune  was  the  result  of  his 
personal  exertions.  All  that  he  needed  to  complete  his  happiness 
was  political  preferment,  as  Governor  of  the  State,  or  as  a  Senator 
or  Representative  in  Congress.  Perhaps  a  seat  on  the  Bench  of 
the  Supreme  Court  might  have  been  accepted.  But  none  of 
these  stations  were  accessible  to  him,  not  for  want  of  qualification 
on  his  part,  but  purely  from  his  stern,  haughty  bearing  toward 
others,  of  which  no  parallel  has  been  known  in  Alabama,  where 
the  example  was  so  meritorious  in  other  respects.  He  was  a 
model  of  grace  and  dignity  as  President  of  the  Senate,  and  as 
Speaker  of  the  House  of  Representatives,  equal  to  that,  perhaps, 
of  the  best  Speaker  of  the  British  House  of  Commons.  His 
pride,  his  ambition,  and  his  intelligence,  served  him  in  his  official 
character;  but,  as  an  individual,  he  had  no  sympathy  for  others, 
and  he  died,  probably  without  a  warm  personal  friend  in  the  world, 
outside  of  his  domestic  relations. 

13.  ISAAC  H.  ERWIN,  of  Mobile,  was  a  native  of  Tennessee, 
and  a  son  of  Andrew  Erwin,*  Esq.,  a  prominent  citizen  of  that 
Sta,te,  and  a  brother  of  James  Erwin,  Esq.,  of  New  Orleans,  who 
married  a  daughter  of  the  Hon.  Henry  Clay.     After  lie  settled 
in  Mobile  for  the  practice  of  the  law,  Mr.  Erwin  married  a  sister 
of  Col.  Lorenzo  James,  of  Clarke  county,  which  alliance  brought 
him  a  large  family  influence,  and  he  soon  rose  to  distinction.     He 
was  a  member  of  the  House  so  early  as  1838.     In  1841,  he  was 
elected  a  Trustee  of  the  University,  and  took  an  active  part  to 
promote  the  success  of  that  institution,  and  of  the  cause  of  educa 
tion  generally.     He  was  a  gentleman  of  fine  intellect,  and,  at  the 
session  of  1842,  frequently  shared  in  the  debates.     He  possessed 
a  good  business  capacity,  and  was  much  respected  in  social  circles, 
making  friends  wherever  he  went.     This  was  his  last  session,  and 
in  1843,  he  died  of  yellow  fever,  in  the  prime  of  life,  with  the 
prospects  of  much  usefulness  in  the  future. 

14.  ALFRED  HARRISON,  of  Lowndes,  was  a  Democratic  mem 
ber  of  the  House  from  a  Whig  county,  in  which  he  had  been 
Sheriif  several  terms,  and  always  faithful  to  the  trust  confided. 
He  was  young  and  unmarried,  and  lived  with  his  mother,  Mrs. 
Jane  Harrison,  who  came  from  Georgia,  where  her  son  was  born. 
He  was  brother  to  Mrs.  Jane  Owen,  the  accomplished  lady  of 
Col.  Lewis  Owen,  of  Montgomery,  and  to  Mrs.  Judge  Stone. 
While  taking  but  little  interest  in  the  debates  of  the  session,  Col. 
Harrison  was  an  active,  working  member.     Although  a  Democrat 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabcunwi.  297 

without  disguise,  such  was  his  standing  at  home,  that  he  seldom 
failed  of  an  election  to  any  office  for  which  he  was  a  candidate. 

In  person,  Col.  Harrison  was  tall  and  spare,  with  manners  not 
only  agreeable  but  even  captivating.  These  brought  around  him 
at  all  times  a  circle  of  admirers,  who  caressed  him  so  that  his 
social  feelings  yielded  to  an  influence  it  was  hard  to  resist,  and 
which  proved  his  ruin.  The  grave  gained  a  victory  in  the  flower 
of  his  age,  and  Lowndes  county  lost  one  of  its  noblest  citizens. 

JOHN  W.  HENLEY,  of  Marengo,  came  to  the  House  in  1842, 
and  served  but  the  one  session.  He  was  a  young  lawyer  of 
promise,  a  Whig  in  politics,  impulsive  and  zealous  in  the  advocacy 
of  his  principles.  This,  added  to  the  rapidity  of  speech,  which 
was  accelerated  in  the  heat  of  debate,  marred,  to  some  extent,  the 
effect  of  his  arguments,  which,  in  substance,  deserved  a  better  pre 
sentation.  He  participated  freely  in  the  business  and  discussions 
of  the  House,  and  was  esteemed  a  gentleman  of  fine  character 
and  qualities,  especially  in  social  life. 

16.  DAVID  HUBBARD,  of  Lawrence,  was  called  out  by  the  peo 
ple  this  year  to  give  the  Legislature  the  benefit  of  his  large  experi 
ence,  and  great  practical  sense;  while  passing  through  the  ordeal  of 
public  exigencies.  Few  men  occupied  more  space  in  the  general 
estimate  of  working  members  that  he  did.  Major  Hubbard  had 
been,  in  one  way  or  another,  connected  with  the  State  Govern 
ment  almost  from  its  organization,  filling  the  office  of  Solicitor  of 
his  District,  Senator  from  his  District,  and  a  Representative  from 
his  county.  He  was  also  for  years,  a  member  of  the  Board  of 
Trustees  of  the  University. 

In  1839,  Major  Hubbard  was  elected  to  Congress  from  the 
Florence  District,  and,  as  a  member  of  the  Committee  of  Ways 
and  Means  in  the  House  of  Representatives,  he  took  a  decidedly 
front  rank,  establishing  a  high  character  for  his  clear  comprehen 
sion  of  the  great  political  questions  then  engaging  the  country. 
In  1849,  he  was  again  a  candidate  for  Congress,  but  was  beaten 
by  Gen.  George  S.  Houston. 

After  serving  at  the  session  of  1842,  he  was  returned  to  the 
House  in  1843,  1844,  1845,  1853,  and  1859,  always  taking  an 
active  and  leading  part  in  the  deliberations  and  proceedings  of 
the  Legislature.  He  was  a  Democrat  of  the  State  Rights  school, 
and  was  particularly  watchful  on  the  tariff  and  slavery  questions. 
He  participated  largely  in  the  Presidential  canvass  of  1840,  and 
again  in  1844,  and  frequantly  had  a  place  in  the  Democratic 
Electoral  Ticket,  'ftiis  was  his  position  in  1860,  when  he  was 
one  of  the  Electors  for  the  State  at  large  on  the  Breckenridge  and 
Lane  ticket. 


£98  Hemmiscenoes  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

On  several  occasions '  Major  Hubbard  aspired  to  a  seat  in  the 
United  States  Senate,  but  never  succeeded.  The  same  reasons 
which  influenced  the  Jackson  Democracy  in  withholding  their 
support  in  former  days  from  the  men  who  came  over  with  Mr. 
Calhoun,  operated  against  him  in  these  aspirations;  and  yet  few 
men  possessed  stronger  elements  of  character  requisite  for  such  a 
responsible  position.  Somehow,  the  public  mind  came  to  regard 
him  as  a  .man  of  great  shrewdness  and  cunning,  and  this  idea, 
attaching  suspicion  to  his  movements,  weakened  his  position,  and 
no  doubt  contributed  no  little  to  keep  him  in  the  background, 
while  his  fellows  of  less  substantial  attainments  were  advanced. 
His  ambitious,  proud  spirit  no  doubt  chafed  under  tliis  treatment, 
and  it  likely  intensified  the  impatience  and  bitterness  manifested 
in  the  latter  part  of  his  public  life.  However  this  may  be,  Ala 
bama  has  had  few  men  in  her  councils  who  understood  the  frame 
work  of  government  better,  or  guarded  her  interests  more  faith 
fully,  and  with  more  ability,  than  David  Hubbard.  He  suffered 
heavy  losses  of  property  during  the  war,  and  after  its  close  he 
removed  to  Nashville,  Tennessee,  where,  I  believe,  he  still 
resides. 

The  fact  is  worthy  of  mention,  that  in  1856  Major  Hubbard 
was  a  delegate  from  Alabama  to  the  Southern  Commercial  Con 
vention  at  Savannah,  where  he  took  part  in  the  discussions  with 
aome  of  the  leading  men  of  the  South,  and  displayed  his  usual 
ability.  He  was  by  no  means  a  pleasant  speaker.  His  voice  was 
harsh  in  the  extreme,  and  he  soon  lost  all  control  of  it  in  the 
excitement  of  his  feelings.  He  had  not  the  least  idea  of  har 
mony,  taking  the  vagaries  of  his  voice  as  a  specimen,  nor  had  he 
any  grace  of  gesture.  He  was  a  strong  man  lashed  into  fury  by  a 
phantom  of  his  own  creation,  and  he  dashed  off  in  debate  with 
a  headlong  speed,  which  exhaustion  and  a  loss  of  voice  alone  could 
arrest.  He  then  took  his  seat. 


J&miniscenccs  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 


CHAPTER  XYIII. 

Legiskdure  of  1842-3 — Sketches  of  Members  Coiitmued. 

17.  JOHN  JACKSON,  of  Barbour,  a  merchant,  was  somewhat  an 
extraordinary  character.  From  his  familiarity  with  treasury  and 
bank  accounts,  and  their  practical  management,  it  is  believed  that 
he  had,  at  some  period  of  his  life,  been  connected  with  the  public 
departments  at  Washington,  or  had  been  a  merchant  of  large  deal 
ings.  He  could  at  any  time  give  the  rates  of  exchange  between 
New  York  and  Liverpool,  for  twenty  years,  or  the  dividends  of 
the  United  States  Bank,  the  amount  of  Treasury  Notes,  the  re 
ceipts  from  customs,  from  the  public  lands,  and  from  miscellaneous 
sources,  and  the  expenditures  under  each  administration,  and  what 
measure  of  policy  produced  a  stringency  in  the  money  market,  and 
through  what  precise  form  every  account  presented  for  settlement 
at  the  National  Treasury  had  to  pass,  from  the  first  Auditor  to  the 
final  order  of  the  Secretary  at  the  head  of  the  department.  Ho 
could  even  tell  who  were  the  stockholders  in  the  Bank  of  the 
United  States,  what  year  the  officers  changed,  and  what  transac 
tions  the  Government  had  with  the  banks — with  the  scale  of 
exchange,  how  it  rose  and  fell,  and  how  produced.  His  mind 
seemed  to  be  a  perfect  commercial  dictionary,  with  sums  and  defi 
nitions  without  limit,  which  he  introduced  more  or  less  in  debate 
while  discussing  the  bill  to  place  the  Branch  Banks  in  liquidation, 
and  its  probable  effect  on  the  currency.  In  addition  to  this  class 
of  minute  knowledge,  he  was  well  acquainted  with  political  affairs, 
with  the  history  of  leading  men  from  the  foundation  of  the  Gov 
ernment,  and  what  measures  of  National  policy  they  introduced 
or  approved.  His  resources  of  this  kind  appeared  to  be  inex 
haustible. 

This  preliminary  view  of  his  character  is  submitted  in  order  to 
show  what  he  might  have  been  as  a  legislator,  had  he  been  dis 
creet  and  self-poised,  and  free  from  the  bitterness  which  soon 
deformed  his  efforts  on  the  floor. 

On  the  second  day  of  the  session,  Mr.  Jackson  brought  forward  a 
set  of  charges  against  the  Hon.  John  P.  Booth,  a  Judge  of  the  Cir 
cuit  Court,  which  occupied  nearly  an  hour  in  the  reading — a  labor 
which  he  performed  himself,  with  dramatic  intensity.  It  was  his 
debut  in  the  Legislature.  His  rich  and  sonorous  voice,  his  bright 
and  glowing  face,  the  scholarship  of  the  composition,  and  the  em 
phasis  by  which  he  gave  force  to  particular  passages  of  enormity, 


300  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

inspired  the  idea  of  power  in  the  Representative  from  Barbottf, 
that  would  have  eminently  qualified  him  for  a  prosecuting  officer 
in  some  court  of  criminal  jurisdiction.  The  charges  were  in  the 
nature  of  impeachment,  with  a  strong  case  made  out,  on  paper; 
and  whatever  might  have  been  the  result,  a  trial  was  rendered 
unnecessary  by  the  immediate  resignation  of  the  Judge.  Thus 
began  and  thus  closed  the  first  chapter  in  Mr.  Jackson's  legislative 
career. 

He  had  doubtless  been  a  spectator  for  many  years,  more  or  less 
regularly,  of  the  proceedings  in  Congress,  and  had  imbibed  a 
a  somewhat  diplomatic  style  of  intercourse,  and  of  personal  eti 
quette,  which  he  preserved  in  the  Legislature,  even  when  aggress 
ive  in  debate,  or  parrying  the  thrusts  of  an  opponent.  He  was 
the  Tristham  Burges,  of  Rhode  Island,  or  the  Ben.  Hardin,  of 
Kentucky,  who  used  the  scalping  knife  with  savage  cruelty  in  the 
debates  of  Congress,  when  provoked  by  John  Randolph,  or  other 
sarcastic  adversary,  to  lay  aside  the  virtue  of  forbearance.  Mr. 
Jackson  was  at  all  times  ready  for  the  tournament,  and  ten  to  one 
his  rival  was  unhorsed  in  every  tilt. 

His  hostility  to  the  banking  system  was  openly  declared  in  his 
speeches  and  by  his  votes.  While  the  bill  to  put  the  Huntsville 
Branch  in  liquidation  was  before  the  House,  Mr.  Jackson  made 
some  remarks  which  induced  Mr.  McClung,  of  Madison,  to  say, 
half-pleasantly,  that  "he  feared  the  gentleman  from  Barbour 
would  be  disturbed  in  his  sleep  that  night  at  seeing  ghosts  and 
hobgoblins."  Mr.  Jackson  promptly  replied,  that  "he  hoped  he 
should  be  spared  the  affliction  of  seeing  the  ghost  of  a  broken 
bank!" 

Another  instance  may  be  given,  when  Dr.  Moore,  of  Madison, 
brought  forward  a  measure  of  relief  in  behalf  of  a  constituent  (an 
Irishman),  from  the  penalty  of  illegal  voting.  Mr.  Jackson  at 
once  rose  in  his  place,  and  in  his  usually  excited  manner,  said 
"heJiad  no  doubt,  or  would  venture  the  opinion,  that  the  violator 
of  the  law  had  voted  the  Democratic  ticket."  This  was  the  first 
suggestion  to  his  mind.  He  was  an  entire  Whig,  and  had  no 
charity  for  anything  that  savored  of  Democracy.  But  with  all 
his  bitterness  and  want  of  amiability,  he  was  a  useful  man  in  his 
place,  and  as  honest  in  his  purposes  as  it  was  possible  for  one  to  be 
who  had  been  so  scorched  and  warped  by  severe  visitations  of 
adversity,  and  had  encountered  his  disappointments.  After  the  ses 
sion  of  1842-3,  Mr.  Jackson  did  not  appear  in  the  Legislature  of 
Alabama.  He  then  seemed  to  be  about  fifty  years  of  age,  and  I 
believe  he  was  a  native  of  Pennsylvania. 

His  life  was  terminated  by  a  melancholy  accident  in  1850,  or 
thereabout.  He  had  started  with  his  family  for  Texas,  and  while 
crossing  the  Gulf  from  Mobile  to  New  Orleans,  the  steamer  on 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  301 

which  he  had  taken  passage  was  burned,  and,  with  a  number  of 
others  on  board,  he  perished  in  the  flames,  or  was  drowned  in  the 
sea.  Mr.  Jackson  was  a  man  of  strong  intellect,  and  of  mature 
business  capacity.  Had  his  nature  been  less  excitable,  his  record 
as  a  legislator  would  have  been  quite  different,  and  probably  he 
would  have  taken  a  proud  rank  with  the  benefactors  of  his  coun 
try.  Whatever  his  infirmities  of  temper,  charity  forbids  that  they 
should  be  remembered  with  unkindness,  after  a  death  so  sudden 
and  appalling. 

18.  WILLIAM  GILES  JONES  was  a  son  of  the  Old  Dominion. 
He  was  a  nephew  of  the  Hon.  William  B.  Giles,  who  was  a  Rep 
resentative  in  Congress  from  1790  to  1798,  and  again  in  1801-2, 
and  a  Senator  from  1804  to  1815,  and  afterward  Governor  of 
Virginia. 

Mr.  Jones  came  to  Alabama  about  the  year  1834,  and,  for  a 
while,  held  some  position  in  the  land  office  at  Demopolis.  He 
was  a  lawyer  by  profession,  and  afterward  removed  to  Greenesboro, 
where  he  formed  a  partnership  with  William  M.  Murphy,  Esq., 
who  resided  at  Erie.  This  connection  at  once  introduced  Mr. 
Jones  to  a  good  practice,  and,  being  comparatively  a  stranger,  it 
expedited  his  advancement  in  public  confidence.  His  merits  were 
always  sufficient  to  open  a  way  for  him  in  any  community;  but 
the  extensive  influence  of  his  partner,  who  had  formerly  been  as 
sociated  with  William  J.  Vandcgraff,  Esq.,  was  attended  with 
happy  results  to  both.  Mr.  Murphy  distinguished  himself  at  the 
session  of  1840,  and  Mr.  Jones  succeeded  as  a  Representative 
from  Greene,  in  1842,  with  no  less  ability  and  reputation. 

In  debate,  Mr.  Jones  was  calm  and  forcible.  His  mind  was 
amply  stored  with  information  which  served  him  to  good  purpose, 
while  his  logical  acumen  gave  him  a  mastery  over  all  questions 
Avhich  he  handled.  The  emanations  of  his  intellect  were  like 
sunbeams,  giving  light  wherever  they  fell.  For  one  very  little 
over  thirty  years  of  age,  this  rare  quality  was  remarkable.  His 
elocution  and  whole  manner  was  much  to  his  advantage.  There 
was  no  rant,  no  mere  attempt  at  display  or  ornament.  With  him, 
language  was  but  the  vehicle  of  thought,  and  its  transparency  was 
beautiful  and  captivating.  He  was  much  respected  for  his  cour 
tesy  in  debate.  Though  a  Whig  in  politics,  he  never  failed  to  ob 
serve  the  amenities  of  life  on  every  occasion  where  he  had  to 
measure  strength  with  an  antagonist.  His  course  in  the  Legisla 
ture  gained  him  many  friends  throughout  the  State. 

The  second  marriage  of  Mr.  Jones,  was  with  a  daughter  of 
Matthew  Hobson,  Esq.,  a  wealthy  and  influential  citizen  of  Greene. 
She  was  a  relative  of  Mrs.  William  M.  Murphy — both  beautiful 
and  accomplished  ladies.  He  afterward  removed  to  Mobile,  as  a. 


302  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  m  Alabama. 

better  field  for  the  exercise  of  his  professional  talents.  In  1849, 
he  was  elected  to  the  House  from  Mobile  county,  and  took  the 
first  legal  position,  as  Chairman  of  the  Judiciary  Committee. 

After  the  Whig  party  was  dissolved,  or  after  the  old  issues  had 
become,  in  a  measure,  obsolete,  Mr.  Jones  cooperated  with  the 
Democratic  party.  On  the  death  of  the  Hon.  John  Gayle,  Judge 
of  the  United  States  District  Court  for  the  Southern  -District  of 
Alabama,  about  the  year  1858,  President  Buchanan  appointed  Mr. 
Jones  to  fill  that  office,  in  which  he  was  confirmed  by  the  Senate. 
He  held  this  position  with  great  ability,  and  with  satisfaction  to 
the  public,  until  the  Confederate  Government  was  organized,  when 
he  resigned  his  first  commission,  and  accepted  the  same  office  from 
President  Davis.  When  the  war  closed  he  was,  of  course  ejected, 
and,  under  some  pretext,  he  was  arrested  by  the  Federal  authori 
ties,  perhaps  to  atone  for  his  change  of  allegiance.  After  some 
detention  and  delay,  during  which  no  definite  action  was  taken 
against  him,  he  was  discharged.  Judge  Jones  still  resides  in  Mo 
bile,  enjoying  the  rewards  of  a  well-spent  life,  and  the  universal 
respect  of  all  who  knew  his  lofty  qualities,  and  his  unblemished 
character. 

19.  WILLIA-M  B.  MARTIN,  of  Benton,  was  born  and  educated 
in  Tennessee,  and  is  a  nephew  of  Gov.  J.  L.  and  Judge  Peter 
Martin.  He  came  to  Alabama,  and  settled  in  Benton  county, 
about  the  year  1832,  to  pursue  his  profession  as  a  lawyer.  He 
was  first  elected  to  the  House  in  1838,  and  again  in  1842,  and 
reflected  in  1843.  In  1844  he  was  on  the  Electoral  Ticket  for 
Polk  and  Dallas,  and  aided  in  casting  the  vote  of  Alabama  for 
these  candidates  for  the  Presidency  and  Vice-Presidency.  In 
1847  and  in  1849,  he  served  in  the  Senate.  In  1853,  he  was 
again  elected  to  the  Senate,  and  was  made  its  presiding  officer,  in 
opposition  to  Gen.  Joseph  P.  Frazier.  He  opposed  Sampson  W. 
Harris,  for  Congress,  in  1855,  and  was  defeated.  In  1861,  he  was 
returned  to  the  House,  and  served  two  years.  This  ended  his 
public  course.  After  the  war  begun,  he  entered  the  Confederate 
States  Army  as  a  private,  but  his  age  and  infirmities  compelled 
him  to  return  home.  He  yet  lives,  and  resides  at  Gadsden, 
Etowah  county. 

Mr.  Martin  is  gifted  by  nature  with  a  splendid  intellect,  which 
has  been  well  trained  in  the  political  and  professional  forums, 
where  he  has  long  acted  a  conspicuous  part.  He  was  a  good  de 
bater,  and  always  ready  for  a  tilt  on  any  question,  on  the  stump 
or  in  the  Legislature.  Some  of  his  efforts  were  truly  eloquent. 
With  all  his  rich  endowments,  however,  he  has  been  unjust  to 
himself,  and  to  the  same  extent  has  increased  the  disability  of 
serving  his  country  as  he  might  have  done,  in  the  absence  of  the 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  303 

only  impediment  to  his  promotion  in  high  quarters.  lie  permitted 
a  subtile  enemy  to  fasten  itself  upon  him — the  convivial  habit, 
strong  drink — until  lie  is  now  only  the  shadow,  in  success  and 
capacity,  of  what  nature  designed  in  moulding  his  noble  intellect. 

20.  JAMES  W.  McCLUNG,  of  Madison,  was  born  and  raised  in 
East-Tennessee,  where  his  family  connection  was  large  and  influ 
ential.  Pie  was  a  nephew  of  the  Hon.  Hugh  L.  White,  long  a 
member  of  the  United  States  Senate,  and  a  candidate  for  the  Pres 
idency  in  1836.  He  came  from  Knoxville  to  Alabama,  soon  after 
the  State  Government  was  organized,  and  settled  at  Huntsville,  as 
a  lawyer.  His  great  abilities  at  once  secured  him  success  in  his 
profession. 

The  first  wife  of  Col.  McClung  was  a  daughter  of  Gov.  D.  B. 
Mitchell,  of  Georgia,  an  alliance  which  strengthened  his  prospects, 
by  securing  material  advantages,  and  largely  contributing  to  his 
happiness.  After  tliis  union  was  severed  by  death,  his  spirits  be 
came  greatly  depressed,  and  he  sought  temporary  relief  in  the  in 
ebriating  bowl.  But,  before  the  strong  man  was  entirely  bound, 
he  burst  the  fetters,  and  with  manly  resolution  stood  erect  once 
more  before  his  fellow*-men.  Would  that  his  example  of  self- 
redemption  were  more  generally  imitated,  so  that  the  wrecks  from 
intemperance  would  not  form  such  an  extensive  chapter  in  human 
misery ! 

There  was  one  circumstance  in  the  life  of  Col.  McClung  wliich, 
it  is  said,  he  always  regretted.  A  severe  attack  had  been  made  on 
his  character,  in  a  newspaper,  at  Huntsville,  edited  by  Mr.  Wills, 
which  led  to  the  death  of  Wills  at  the  hands  of  Col.  McClung. 
After  judicial  investigation  he  was  acquitted;  yet  his  mind  con 
stantly  dwelt  upon  the  unfortunate  affair,  and  he  has  been  known, 
on  several  occasions,  to  interpose  his  friendly  offices  to  prevent 
similar  results,  by  referring  to  his  own  sad  experience.  It  has 
been  reported  that,  for  many  years  afterward,  and  so  long  as  it  was 
necessary,  Col.  McClung  made  liberal  provision  for  the  family  of 
Mr.  Wills,  in  a  way  the  most  delicate,  and  perhaps  without  their 
knowing  the  source  from  which  it  came. 

Col.  McClung  was  elected  a  Representative  from  Madison 
county,  about  the  year  1830,  if  not  previously.  He  was  Speaker 
of  the  House  at  the  sessions  of  1835,  1837,  and  1838,  and  his 
qualifications  as  a  presiding  officer  were  of  the  highest  order.  His 
person  was  well  formed  and  commanding,  and  his  address,  at  all 
times  dignified,  was  that  of  a  complete  gentleman.  He  was  well 
acquainted  with  parliamentary  law,  and  prompt  in  deciding  ques 
tions  of  order,  as  well  as  in  the  general  application  of  rules  laid 
down  in  Jefferson's  Manual,  and  other  standard  authorities  for  the 
government  of  deliberative  bodies.  There  was  a  pleasant  courtesy 


304  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

toward  the  members  who  addressed  the  Chair,  which  at  once  re 
lieved  them  from  all  embarrassment,  especially  the  younger  class, 
who  needed  such  countenance.  The  writer  served  as  Clerk  at  two 
sessions  when  Col.  McClung  was  Speaker,  and  will  never  cease  to 
remember  the  many  acts  of  kindness  and  fevor  rendered  him  in 
the  performance  of  his  duties,  many  of  them  new. 

In  1841,  Col.  McClung  was  the  competitor  of  Col.  Fitzpatrick 
for  the  office  of  Governor,  and  was  defeated.  In  1842,  he  was 
returned  to  the  House,  and  was  appointed  to  the  first  position  on 
the  floor,  that  of  Chairman  of  the  Judiciary  Committee.  He  was 
patient  and  laborious  at  his  post,  and  generally  took  part  in  all 
important  discussions.  His  voice  was  distinct  and  sonorous,  his 
language  that  of  a  refined  scholar,  and  his  bearing  in  debate  was 
courteous  and  elevated,  reminding  the  spectator  of  the  better 
days  of  the  United  States  Senate,  when  Calhoun,  Clay  and  Web 
ster  were  its  pillars  and  its  ornament.  Indeed,  had  justice  been 
done  to  the  talents  of  Col.  McClung,  the  greatest  wish  of  his  life 
would  have  been  gratified  by  the  Legislature  of  Alabama,  in 
sending  him  to  the  distinguished  forum  at  Washington,  to  unite 
with  these  illustrious  statesmen  in  serving  the  country.  But  his 
support  of  Judge  White  for  the  Presidency  in  1836,  in  opposi 
tion  to  Mr.  VanBuren,  and  his  neutrality  in  the  Presidential  elec 
tion  of  1840,  together  with  previous  Whig  affinities,  precluded 
him  from  Democratic  favor,  which  would  otherwise  no  doubt  have 
made  him  the  colleague  or  the  successor  of  the  Hon.  William  E-. 
King  in  the  Senate.  Though  the  sphere  of  his  ambition  was 
more  limited  from  necessity,  he  was  always  the  leading  figure  in 
his  subdued  relations  to  the  public,  and  showed,  without  any 
seeming  effort,  a  capacity  for  the  highest  employments.  In  the 
British  House  of  Commons,  he  perhaps  would  not  have  been  the 
inferior  of  Sir  Robert  Peel  in  breadth  and  gracefulness  as  a  leader. 
Without  the  royal  ceremony  of  knighthood,  or  a  patent  for  the 
peerage,  Col.  McClung  was  a  nobleman  of  still  better  origin — 
the  stamp  of  Nature.  As  such  he  always  appeared  in  council,  and 
in  social  intercourse  among  his  fellow-men. 

In  1844,  Col.  McClung  was  again  elected  to  the  House,  and 
was  made  Chairman  of  the  Committee  of  Ways  and  Means,  con 
sidered  at  that  time  as  the  most  important,  on  account  of  the  crit 
ical  state  of  the  public  debt.  In  1845,  he  was  elected  to  the 
Senate,  and  placed  at  the  head  of  the  Judiciary  Committee.  His 
last  service  was  at  the  session  of  1847,  when  he  was  again  Chair 
man  of  the  Judiciary  Committee,  the  post  of  honor  in  the  Senate. 
He  died  in  1848,  before  the  infirmities  of  age  had  bowed  his  per 
son  or  had  touched  his  faculties. 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  305 

21.  THOMAS  W.  McCoY,  of  Mobile,  was  originally  from  Augusta, 
Georgia.  He  was  elected  to  the  House  in  1842,  on  account  of  his 
superior  qualifications  in  finance,  as  the  people  of  Alabama  then 
greatly  needed  men  of  that  character  in  the  public  councils.  He 
was  extensively  connected  with  the  business  of  insurance,  and 
well  acquainted  with  the  principles  and  details  of  banking.  This 
fact  led  to  the  complimentary  motion  of  his  colleague,  Mr.  Camp 
bell,  to  place  him  on  the  joint  examining  Committee  on  the  State 
Bank  and  Branches,  in  order  that  the  benefit  of  his  peculiar  abili 
ties  and  experience  might  be  secured  to  the  public  through  that 
channel.  The  appointment  was  at  once  made. 

Mr.  McCoy  introduced  a  bill  to  improve  the  currency  of  Ala 
bama,  by  dividing  a  certain  per  cent,  of  specie  on  the  circulation, 
and  funding  the  balance  of  the  Bank  issues  in  State  bonds  bearing 
five  per  cent,  interest,  and  payable  five  years  after  date.  While 
the  bill  was  under  discussion,  Mr,  McCoy  took  the  floor,  and  read 
several  letters  from  his  Mobile  correspondents,  showing  the  panic 
in  exchanges,  that  specie  had  risen  up  to  25  and  30  per  cent, 
premium,  and  was  still  advancing,  owing,  as  alleged,  to  the 
apprehension  that  the  Legislature  would  enact  stay-laws,  or 
throw  some  difficulty  in  the  way  of  creditors.  Mr.  McCoy  com 
pared  the  shock  in  exchanges  to  a  Texas  stampede,  when  a  company 
of  horses  took  fright,  and  every  one  dashed  off  heedless  of  rein, 
bit,  or  rider. 

The  plain  causes,  founded  on  the  laws  of  trade,  which  he  as 
signed  for  these  results,  and  the  very  intelligent  manner  in  which 
he  reviewed  the  commercial  and  agricultural  interests  of  the  South 
west,  as  affected  by  the  currency,  showed  to  the  satisfaction  of  all, 
that  Mr.  McCoy  ranked  among  the  first  in  the  House  for  expe 
rience  and  knowledge  in  his  pursuit.  When  a  member  inquired 
of  Mr.  McCoy,  for  the  purpose  of  embarrassing  him,  if  he  had 
iiot  supported  the  measures  which  his  correspondents  placed  at  the 
'bottom  of  the  panic,  he  promptly  replied  that  he  had  voted  for 
the  liquidation  of  all  the  Branch  Banks,  and  he  gloried  in  the  act; 
to  him  it  was  the  proudest  reflection  of  his  life;  and  when  his 
children  became  old  enough  to  read  the  Journal  of  the  House,  it 
was  his  consolation  that  they  would  see  his  name  recorded  in  favor 
of  the  wisest  financial  movement  that  had  ever  been  made  in  the 
State.  He  thanked  his  God  that  he  had  lived  to  take  part  in  the 
session;  that  it  had  seemed  peculiarly  fortunate  to  him,  after  de 
clining  so  many  previous  solicitations  to  be  a  candidate,  he  had 
yielded  at  last,  and  now  he  was  satisfied. 

Throughout  his  remarks  on  the  floor,  Mr.  McCoy  was  animated 
and  graceful.  His  language  was  in  good  taste,  and  the  only  re 
gret  felt  was,  that  a  gentleman  possessing  his  excellent  advantages 
of  matter  and  delivery,  should  not  have  taken  a  more  frequent 
20 


306  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

part  in  discussions  before  the  House.  His  personal  appearance 
denoted  great  activity  in  business,  as  well  as  suavity  of  address. 
No  member  commanded  more  respect  as  a  gentleman.  He  was  a 
Whig  in  politics,  and  apparently  about  forty  years  of  age. 

For  a  number  of  years,  Col.  McCoy  commanded  the  first  Ala 
bama  Regiment,  an  organization  composed  of  volunteer  companies, 
embracing  largely^  citizens  of  the  first  standing  in  Mobile.  Next 
to  the  Fire  Department,  this  regiment  was  the  favorite  and  pride 
of  the  city,  and  no  gentleman  was  more  worthy  of  its  command 
than  the  gallant  and  accomplished  Colonel  McCoy.  He  was  so 
popular  in  military  circles  that  upon  the  resignation  of  Major- 
General  Bates,  of  the  Sixth  Division,  he  was  elected  his  successor 
by  a  large  majority. 

Gen.  McCoy  married  a  daughter  of  George  Poe,  Esq.,  formerly 
Cashier  of  the  United  States  Branch  Bank  at  Mobile.  No  one 
could  better  dispense  elegant  hospitalities,  and  the  refined  cour 
tesies  of  social  life.  Of  late  years  Gen.  McCoy  recovered  a  fine 
property  in  Baltimore,  and  now  resides  in  that  city. 

22.  LEMUEL  G.  McMiLLiON,  of  Jefferson,  had   been   many 
years  a  member  of  the  House,  previous  to  1842,  when  he  was 
again  elected,  and  afterward  filled  a  number  of  public  trusts.     He 
was  a  Democrat  of  that  class  who  was  fond  of  office  and  place,  and 
sometimes  to  accomplish  his  purpose,  it  was  said,  he  resorted  too 
much  to  policy,  and  ploughed  with  outside  influences.     This  im 
pression  injured  him,  and  no  doubt  brought  on  disappointment. 
He  had  been  out  of  public  life  many  years  before  his  death,  which 
occurred  a  few  years  ago;  and  it  is  feared  that  in  his  political  dis 
comfiture,  he  yielded  to  a  worse  foe  than  he  had  at  any  time  en 
countered  in  his  contests  with  the  Whig  party. 

23.  JOHN  MORBISETTE,  of  Monroe,  was  born  in  Rodgersville, 
East-Ten nesssee,  in   October,    1793.      He  enlisted   and   served  J 
through  the  whole  of  the  war  of  1812-' 15.     Soon  after  the  close^' 
of  the  war,  he  removed  to  St.  Stephens,  then  the  seat  of  the  Ter-  4 
ritorial  Government  of  Alabama,  a«d  engaged  in  partnership  with 
Mr.  James  Lyon,  in  merchandising.     In  1821,  he  married  Miss 
Frances  Gaines,  a  relative  of  his  former  commander,  Gen.  E.  P. 
Gaines,  and  settled  in  the  county  of  Monroe,  where  he  began  the 
practice  of  the  law,  in  connection  with  his  agricultural  pursuits. 

Mr.  Morrisette  was  first  elected  a  Representative  in  the  Legis 
lature  in  1829,  and  again  in  1832,  1833,  1842,  1843,  and  1844. 
In  1845,  he  was  returned  to  the  Senate,  to  which  body  he  was 
reelected  in  1847  and  1849.  He  often  participated  in  the  debates, 
in  which  he  displayed  abilities  of  a  fine  order,  with  great  reason 
ing  faculties.  On  committees  he  was  a  working  and  useful 
member. 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  307 

His  marriage  with  Miss  Gaines  brought  him  fortune  and  influ 
ence  at  a  time  when  he  needed  both,  and  these  he  turned  to  good 
account.  By  economy  and  good  management,  on  such  a  founda 
tion,  he  succeeded  in  amassing  a  very  large  property,  wherein  he 
had  an  element  of  power  that  contributed  largely  to  his  success  in 
political  life,  and  in  his  control  of  men. 

From  a  pamphlet  of  sixteen  pages,  published  by  himself,  enti 
tled  "Letter  of  John  Morrisette  to  A.  P.  Bagby,  Esq.,"  dated 
October  8,  1836,  many  facts  and  circumstances  are  ascertained, 
some  of  which  afford  evidence  of  his  early  career  as  a  politician. 
He  reminds  Mr.  Bagby  that  they  had  been  friends  from  1818  to 
1834,  and  then  proceeds  to  enumerate  instances  of  deception  and 
treachery,  as  he  alleges,  by  which  the  latter  forfeited  all  confidence 
previously  reposed  in  him.  The  pamphlet  contains  a  variety  of 
charges  and  specifications,  whether  true  or  groundless  the  writer 
will  not  undertake  to  decide.  Many  names  are  introduced  as  Avit- 
nesses,  or  parties  more  or  less  concerned  in  the  record,  among 
whom  are  several  gentlemen  who  have  since  acted  a  prominent 
part  in  public  affairs,  viz:  Hon.  James  Delict,  B.  F.  Porter,  A.  B. 
Cooper,  Gen.  Enoch  Parsons,  ex-Gov.  Murphy,  Hon.  John  Gayle, 
and  Hon.  Henry  Goldthwaite.  Among  other  names  mentioned 
for  different  purposes  in  the  letter,  as  citizens  of  Monroe,  or  the 
adjoining  counties,  are  those  of  Robert  Mosely,  John  Roach,  Wil 
liam  Waller,  Winberk  Boney,  S.  R.  Andress,  J.  G.  Lindsey,  S. 
D.  Parker,  Mr.  Faulk,  Rawls  Wallace,  Samuel  Dubose,  Robert 
Sims,  Dr.  Lawrence  Moore,  Mr.  Hunt,  Mr.  Draughon,  Joseph 
Taylor,  Benjamin  Sims,  Duke  K.  Jameson,  Col.  Evans,  Arthur 
Kimble,  William  Mobley,  William  Robinson,  Mr.  Latham,  Mr. 
Dodridge,  David  Packer,  Jesse  C.  Farrier,  James  T.  Kidd,  Le- 
roy  A.  Kidd,  Gen.  Moore,  Neil  Morrison,  Mr.  Lyon,  Mr.  Bates, 
CoL  Baylor,  John  S.  Johnson,  and  F.  M.  Johnson. 

One  of  the  principal  objects  of  the  letter  was  to  show  the  ver 
satility  of  Mr.  Bagby  in  politics — at  one  time  opposed  to  Gen. 
Jackson,  and  then  in  his  favor;  of  abusing  Mr.  VanBuren,  and 
then  supporting  him ;  of  declaring  in  favor  of  the  United  States 
Bank,  and  then  denouncing  its  unconstitutionality ;  of  pledging 
himself  not  to  vote  for  the  Hon.  William  R.  King  for  the  Senate, 
in  order  to  gain  the  support  of  the  Nullifiers,  and  then  violating 
the  pledge — and  other  allegations  of  inconsistency,  ending  with 
an  issue  of  personal  veracity,  and  grave  allegations  not  proper  to 
be  here  quoted. 

Since  Mr.  Morrisette  made  his  exposition  to  the  public,  about 
thirty-five  years  ago,  and  the  personal  enmities  of  that  period 
have  perished,  it  is  only  fair  to  say  that  the  aspects  in  which  he 
viewed  the  character  of  Gov.  Bagby  may  have  been  honestly 
stated,  even  though  not  entirely  correct,  in  a  political  sense.  The. 


308  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

latter  gentleman  may  have  been  too  impulsive  to  have  any  solid 
or  permanent  convictions.  He  was  conscious  of  great  intellectual 
power  within  himself,  aided  by  physical  endowments  rarely  vouch 
safed  to  mortals,  in  the  exercise  which  among  men,  for  personal 
success,  he  believed  himself  competent  to  any  task,  asserting 
frankly  what  was  in  his  mind  as  the  occasion  might  dictate,  for  or 
against  any  man  or  measure,  and  theny  if  expedient,  to  qualify  or 
disavow,  in  his  superlative  manner,  with  a  physiognomy  of  won 
derful  expression,  where  truth  and  honor  beamed  as  a  central 
light,  stamping  confidence  on  every  word,  just  as  the  die  gives 
beauty  and  perfection  to  the  coin  which  it  prepares  for  circulation 
as  pure  gold. 

In  a  few  words,  Gov.  Bagby  will  be  released,  in  this  narrative, 
from  the  grasp  of  his  vigilant  adversary,  Mr.  Morrisette.  It  was 
impossible  that  these  gentlemen  should  harmonize,  politically  or 
socially,  their  individual  organizations  were  so  different.  The 
mind  of  Gov.  Bagby  soared  among  the  stars,  dreaming  of  human 
greatness  and  glory  through  intellectual  channels.  The  cogita 
tions  of  Mr.  Morrisette  were  always  practical — of  land  and 
negroes  and  cotton,  on  cash  in  bank,  and  on  "  hog  and  hominy" 
for  his  own  consumption,  and  for  the  help  of  his  fellow-men  who 
crawled  on  the  earth,  and  never  had  sweet  v.isions  like  those  of 
Gov.  Bagby,  and  of  the  aspiring,  sensitive  class  with  whom  he  was 
congenial  in  sympathy  and  in  hope.  Gov.  Bagby  reached  high 
places : 

1.  A  Senator  in  the  Legislature. 

2.  Speaker  of  the  House  of  Representatives  more  than  once. 

3.  Governor  of  Alabama  from  1837  to  1841. 

4.  Senator  in  Congress  from  March  4,  1842,  to  March  4,  1848. 

5.  Envoy  Extraordinary  and  Minister  Plenipotentiary  to  the 
Court  of  St.  Petersburg,  with  a  salary  and  advances  for  one  year, 
not  less  than  $20,000. 

This  meed  of  honor  and  promotion  at  the  hands  of  his  country 
men  outweigh  the  charges  made  by  Mr.  Morrisette  to  depreciate 
his  character  in  public  view.  Gov.  Bagby  was  no  financier.  He 
was  always  under  a  strain  for  money  to  keep  up  appearances  suit 
able  to  his  station  in  society.  Perhaps  he  was  very  unfortunate 
in  his  star-gazing  proclivities — his  ideals  of  excellence,  and  in  his 
liberal  interpretation  of  human  nature.  Whatever  his  errors, 
wilful  or  otherwise,  he  suffered  enough  in  his  mind  to  expiate 
them  all. 

As  to  Mr.  Morrisette,  he  was  more  than  twenty  years  connected 
with  the  Legislature,  with  occasional  intervals  of  retirement, 
during  all  which  time  he  acted  a  very  prominent  part  in  shaping 
public  measures.  He  was  always  sensible,  and  was  always  heard 
with  attention,  either  when  he  reported  from  committee  or  shared 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  309 

in  debate.  He  uttered  many  wise  and  useful  thoughts  on  the 
daily  concerns  of  life.  Sometimes  he  was  on  the  extreme ;  as  in 
1844,  or  thereabout,  he  introduced  a  proposition  in  the  House 
which  implied  great  distrust  of  the  commission  merchants  of 
Mobile,  and  sought  to  give  the  sale  of  cotton  to  other  hands. 
On  a  visit  to  Mobile  soon  thereafter,  Mr.  Morrisette  was  insulted 
by  a  mob  of  boys  and  other  disorderly  classes,  who  surrounded 
his  hotel  with  hostile  demonstrations,  and  perhaps  pelted  him 
with  cotton  in  the  streets. 

The  last  service  of  Mr.  Morrisette  in  the  Legislature  was  at  the 
session  of  1849-50.  Not  long  thereafter,  while  on  a  business 
trip  to  Texas,  he  died,  leaving  an  estate  complete  in  lands,  slaves 
and  other  property,  which  the  ravages  of  war  had  not  then 
touched.  He  was  probably  about  sixty  years  of  age,  a  rare  speci 
men  of  that  valuable  common  sense  which  Dr.  Franklin  prized 
above  all  other  gifts.  His  integrity  as  a  man  has  never  been 
assailed  or  questioned,  and  his  memory  will  long  survive  in  the 
legislative  history  of  Alabama. 

24.  JOHN  W.  A.  PETTIT,  of  Barbour,  was  from  Georgia,  and 
had  served  in  the  Legislature  of  that  State.  He  belonged  to  the 
legal  profession,  was  tall  in  person,  stately  in  his  manners,  and  was 
very  ambitious.  Indeed,  he  had  a  good  substratum  of  merit  to 
justify  this  passion  of  noble  minds,  and  was  regarded  in  his  native 
State  as  a  very  rising  young  man.  He  was  originally  an  adherent 
of  the  Clark  party  in  Georgia,  in  opposition  to  Troup  and  the 
Treaty,  in  the  scenes  of  1825-26;  but  when  the  Carolina  doctrine 
of  State  Rights  was  promulgated,  Col.  Pettit  was  among  the  few 
of  his  local  party  who  espoused  it  warmly.  Tliis  showed  inde 
pendence,  at  least,  and  perhaps  placed  him  on  cold  terms  with  his 
old  political  friends;  for  in  a  short  time  he  removed  to  Mont 
gomery,  where  he  embarked  in  the  support  of  State  Rights  and 
State  remedies,  as  editor  of  the  "Alabama  Journal."  Either 
from  want  of  success  in  that  field,  or  because  his  editorial  labors 
interfered  with  his  professional,  he  severed  his  connection  with 
the  press,  and  next  settled  at  Irwinton,  (now  Eufaula)  to  pursue 
the  law  with  more  exclusive  attention. 

In  1839,  Col.  Pettit  represented  Barbour  county  in  the  Legisla 
ture,  where  he  immediately  took  a  prominent  position.  During 
the  session  he  introduced  a  bill  to  establish  a  branch  bank  at 
Irwinton,  which  was  defeated  mainly  through  the  influence  of 
three  gentlemen.  On  the  last  day  of  the  session,  when  the  clerks 
were  bringing  up  their  papers,  the  House  indulged  in  a  mock 
session,  common  in  those  days,  when  the  Speaker  retired  from  the 
chair,  calling  some  member  to  it  whose  wit,  humor  and  address 
suited  the  occasion.  A  motion  was  offered  inquiring  of  the 


310  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

gentleman  from  Barbour  what  had  become  of  his  Branch  Bank  pro 
ject?  which  produced  a  good  deal  of  merriment.  Col.  Pettit 
took  it  coolly  and  went  to  work  at  his  desk,  and  in  a  short  time 
read  and  submitted  a  preamble  and  resolution  reciting  the  defeat 
of  his  bill  and  by  whom  it  was  mainly  defeated,  to-wit:  Mr. 
Smith,  of  Madison,  who  was  a  very  rich  man ;  Mr.  Reynolds,  of 
Franklin,  who  was  a  very  fat  man,  and  Mr.  Smith,  of  Laudcrdale, 
who  was  a  petulant,  ill-natured  man :  Therefore  resolved,  that  it  is 
not  to  be  wondered  at  that  the  gentleman  from  Barbour  failed  in 
his  Bank  project,  seeing  that  he  had  to  "con tend  with  the  w&rld, 
the  flesh  and  the  devil.  This  was  regarded  as  the  best  retort  of 
the  session. 

Col.  Pettit  was  again  returned  to  the  House  in  1842.  The  next 
year  he  was  nominated  for  Congress  in  the  Montgomery  District, 
which  was  considered  tantamount  to  an  election,  so  decided  was 
the  Whig  majority ;  but  the  result  proved  otherwise.  His  com 
petitor  was  James  E.  Belser,  Esq.,  a  Democrat,  who  went  actively 
through  the  canvass,  and  was  elected.  This  was  a  mortifying  blow 
to  the  feelings  of  Col.  Pettit,  who,  soon  thereafter,  removed  to 
Memphis,  Tennessee,  where  he  died  a  few  years  ago. 

The  rank  of  Col.  Pettit  as  a  debater,  was  very  respectable.  He 
possessed  a  fine  voice,  courtly  manners,  and  commanding  person, 
and  at  times  he  was  eloquent.  Occasionally,  he  rather  skimmed 
the  surface  of  questions,  and  then  again  he  would  strike  at  first 
principles,  and  make  a  strong  impression  on  the  judgment  of  the 
House.  His  mental  operations  were  not  distinguished  for  celerity, 
but  were  generally  cautious  and  safe.  When  a  good  opportunity 
was  afforded  for  the  indulgence  of  wit,  he  uttered  some  excellent 
things  in  that  wa}^  on  the  floor.  No  gentleman  was  more  court 
eous  and  bland  in  discussion.  His  nature  revolted  at  the  idea  of 
using  offensive  language,  unprovoked,  and  he  was  equally  decided 
in  permitting  none  to  be  addressed  to  him  with  impunity.  He 
entertained  a  very  generous  opinion  of  himself,  and  was  a  gentle 
man  of  elevated  taste  and  feelings.  The  meridian  of  his  life  was 
BO  doubt  somewhat  clouded  by  disappointment  in  his  political  aspi 
rations.  A  sound  philosophy,  it  is  hoped,  cheered  the  latter  years 
of  his  life. 

25.  BENJAMIN  F.  PORTER,  of  Tuskaloosa,  was  born  in  the  city 
of  Charleston,  South  Carolina,  in  the  year  1808.  While  a  mere 
lad,  he  was  placed  in  a  counting-house,  where  he  remained  a  year 
or  more,  and  at  the  age  of  fifteen  he  entered  the  employment  of 
Dr.  Thomas  Legare,  a  leading  practitioner  in  the  medical  profes 
sion.  Here  he  enjoyed  the  opportunity  of  studying  natural  science, 
botany,  and  anatomy,  and  of  acquiring  a  knowledge  of  materia 
niedica  and  pharmacy.  Visiting  the  courts  of  the  city,  he  was 


lieminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Afabamd.  311 

Captivated  by  the  eloquence  of  such  advocates  as  Petigru,  R.  Y. 
Hayne,  William  Crafts,  and  others  of  a  high  rank  at  the  bar.  The 
latter  gentleman,  especially,  who  had  a  large  practice,  and  an  en 
viable  celebrity  as  a  poet  and  orator,  attracted  the  young  student 
of  medicine,  who,  in  due  time,  engaged  in  a  course  of  legal  studies 
in  the  office  of  Mr.  Crafts.  In  1826,  he  was  admitted  by  the 
Court  of  Appeals,  an  attorney  and  counsellor  at  law  and  solicitor 
in  chancery. 

In  1827,  he  selected  the  village  in  which  the  Court-House  for 
Chester  District  was  located,  as  his  future  residence;  and  in  1828 
he  married  Miss  Eliza  Taylor  Kidd.  In  December,  1829,  Mr. 
Porter  removed  with  his  family  to  Claiborne,  Alabama,  and  in 
1832,  was  elected  a  llcpresentative  from  Monroe  county,  in  the 
Legislature,  and  again  in  1833  and  1834.  In  1834,  he  was  elected 
Reporter  of  the  Supreme  Court,  an  office  vacated  by  the  resigna 
tion  of  George  N.  Stewart,  Esq.  In  the  meantime  lie  was  also 
elected  Judge  of  the  County  Court  of  Monroe,  and  continued  to 
hold  that  office,  until  his  removal  to  Tuskaloosa,  in  1835.  In. 
1837,  1838,  1839,  and  again  in  1840,  he  was  elected  to  the  House 
from  Tnskaloosa  county.  In  the  meantime,  he  was  elected  a 
trustee  of  the  University,  and  attorney  for  that  institution  in 
closing  its  complicated  affairs,  or  rather  its  old  claims  for  the  sale 
of  lands  liberally  donated  by  the  General  Government. 

At  the  session  of  1839— '40,  Mr.  Porter,  then  a  member  of  the 
House,  was  elected  Judge  of  the  Tenth  Judicial  Circuit,  which 
was  created  from  other  circuits,  during  the  session.  When  he 
visited  Mobile,  embraced  hy  the  new  circuit,  for  the  purpose  of 
entering  upon  the  duties  of  his  office,  he  was  greeted  with  a  most 
hospitable  and  cordial  reception  by  the  inhabitants,  who,  through 
a  highly  respectable  committee,  tendered  him  the  compliment  of 
a  public  dinner,  and  expressed  the  grateful  remembrance  in  which 
they  held  his  exertions  in  the  Legislature,  in  behalf  of  the  city, 
at  a  period  of  great  commercial  embarrassment,  fire  and  pestilence. 
The  committee  added  assurances  of  the  high  estimation  in  which 
they  held  his  virtues  and  talents,  and  the  pleasure  they  felt  at  his 
residence  in  the  city.  Judge  Porter  declined  the  proffered  civilities 
on  the  ground  that,  as  a  Judge,  it  was  necessary  he  should  abstain, 
from  excitement,  and  take  no  part  in  public  proceedings  of  that 
kind.  He  presided  one  term  in  Mobile,  and  cleared  the  docket 
of  several  thousand  cases,  by  the  promptness  and  energy  with 
which  he  dispatched  the  public  business.  In  the  meantime,  some 
doubt  having  arisen  as  to  his  eligibility,  the  Governor  ordered  a  quo 
warranto  to  try  the  question,  which  called  forth  the  following  letter: 

His  Excellency,  A.  P.  BAGBY,  Governor  of  the  State  of  Alabama: 

SIR — The  delicate  and  important  question,  lately  raised  in  the  Supreme  Court, 
touching  the  constitutionality  of  my  appointment  by  the  Legislature  as  Judge  of 


312  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

the  10th  Judicial  Circuit,  to-day  received  the  attention  of  the  Court,  to  this  ex 
tent:  The  Court  said  the  case  of  Paul  could  not  be  sustained,  and  that  my  election 
was  unauthorized,  but  that  it  was  not  satisfied  that  that  tribunal  could  take  orig 
inal  jurisdiction  of  the  case,  for  which  question  the  cause  was  retained. 

The  intimation  thus  given  by  the  Court  of  its  views  in  relation  to  the  question 
of  principle  involved,  is  all  that  any  one  should  require  who  is  disposed  to  treat 
respectfully  the  supreme  judicial  tribunal  of  the  country;  and  though  I  can  not 
know  what  may  be  the  decision  on  the  point  for  which  the  case  is  held  up, 
yet,  even  if  in  my  favor,  it  would  leave  me  occupying  a  station  by  the  favor  of  a 
technicality,  which  I  cannot  hold  on  principles  of  constitutional  law,  as  declared 
by  the  Court. 

Such  a  situation  would  be  one  of  degradation,  and  could  neither  be  relieved 
from  infamy  by  its  profits,  or  be  protected  by  its  authority  from  the  censure  of 
every  honest  citizen. 

I  therefore  resign  into  your  hands  the  office  of  Judge  of  the  10th  Judicial  Cir 
cuit,  which  the  magnanimity  of  the  Legislature  conferred  upon  me. 

Respectfully,  B.  F.  PORTER. 

July  1,  1840. 

While  Judge  Porter  held  the  office  of  Reporter  of  the  De 
cisions  of  the  Supreme  Court,  fifteen  volumes  were  published  by 
him,  nine  of  which  bear  his  own  name,  and  six  are  entitled 
"  Stewart  and  Porter,"  from  the  fact  that  the  cases  contained  in 
them  were  decided  during  the  time  Mr;  Stewart  held  the  ap 
pointment.  Afterward  the  Judges  of  the  Supreme  Court  were 
authorized  by  law  to  publish  their  own  decisions,  for  which  an 
allowance  was  made  additional  to  their  salaries.  The  volumes 
were  then  called  "Alabama  Reports,"  since  which  time  other 
Reporters  have  had  charge  of  this  labor,  all  forming  at  this  time 
about  fifty  volumes  under  the  latter  title. 

During  his  service  in  the  Legislature,  Judge  Porter  was  the 
first  member  who  brought  forward  the  Penitentiary  system  of 
punishment,  instead  of  the  former  mode  of  whipping  and  brand 
ing  for  offenses  less  than  capital.  Such  was  his  humanity,  that  he 
introduced  a  bill  to  abolish  punishment  by  death,  in  support  of 
which  he  made  an  argument  which  was  published  in  a  pamphlet 
of  twenty  pages.  He  refers  to  a  number  of  cases  where  innocent 
persons  have  been  convicted  and  hung,  and  afterward  the  parties 
alleged  to  be  murdered  have  made  their  appearance,  with  all  the 
circumstances  explained. 

At  all  times  actuated  by  a  humane  spirit,  Judge  Porter  intro 
duced  a  bill,  which  passed,  February  1,  1839,  to  abolish  impris 
onment  for  debt  in  Alabama.  He  was  the  author  of  another  bill, 
"For  the  preservation  of  the  16th  section  grants,  and  to  establish 
permanently  in  the  State  of  Alabama,  a  common  school  fund,  so 
as  to  fully  secure  the  intellectual  improvement  and  moral  welfare 
of  the  youth  of  this  State."  The  argument  in  support  of  this 
bill  is  contained  in  a  pamphlet  of  fifteen  pages.  Several  legal 
propositions  were  examined,  with  the  authorities,  relative  to 
trusts,  express  and  implied,  public  and  private.  The  act  of  Con- 


JZeminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  313 

gress  enabling  the  people  of  Alabama  to  form  a  State  Govern 
ment,  granting  the  16th  section  of  every  township  to  the  inhab 
itants  of  such  township  for  the  use  of  schools,  was  quoted. 

The  author  of  the  argument  then  presents  a  mass  of  statistical 
information,  showing  the  cost  of  public  schools,  per  teacher  and 
pupil,  in  different  States  of  Europe  and  this  country.  In  Alabama, 
it  is  stated,  out  of  a  population  of  335,185  white  persons,  there 
are  22,592,  over  the  age  of  twenty  years,  who  cannot  read  or 
write.  The  annual  interest  of  the  16th  Section  Fund,  in  bank,  for 
different  counties,  is  given,  showing  the  vast  inequality  of  values, 
in  Sumter  $4,657.95,  and  in  DeKalb  $12.00.  He  therefore  con 
tends  that  the  whole  fund  should  be  consolidated,  and  distributed 
in  a  ratio  to  afford  benefits  to  all  in  just  proportion. 

In  1842,  Judge  Porter  published  a  pamphlet  of  a  little  more 
than  100  pages,  of  which  the  following  is  the  title : 

The  Offices  and  Duties  of  Executors  and  Administrators,  being  a  plain  and  sim 
ple  Treatise  on  the  Rights,  Responsibilities  and  Duties  of  those  Officers ;  contain 
ing  Directions  with  regard  to  the  making  of  Wills,  Distribution  of  Estates,  and 
other  necessary  Actions  to  be  pursued  by  those  who  administer  Estates :  To  which 
is  added  Forms  and  Entries  for  Judges  and  Clerks  of  the  Orphans'  Court:  All 
prepared  with  reference  to  the  Laws  of  Alabama,  but  applicable  in  many  respects 
to  the  States  of  Georgia  and  Mississippi. — BY  BKNJAMIN  F.  PORTER. 

Here  it  may  be  remarked  that  Judge  Porter  was  very  industri 
ous  with  his  pen,  wrote  much  for  the  newspapers  and  periodicals, 
and  was  fond  of  seeing  his  name  and  compositions  in  print.  In 
deed,  this  habit  was  carried  to  such  extremes,  he  was  so  frequently 
and  in  so  many  forms  attracting  the  public  eye,  that  men  began  to 
suspect  that  he  had  some  ulterior  aim,  probably  writing  himself 
into  celebrity,  that  would  command  positions  of  the  highest  grade, 
such  as  that  of  Governor,  Senator  in  Congress,  or  Judge  of  the 
Supreme  Court.  All  admitted  his  talents  and  the  vivacity  of  his 
speeches  and  writings,  but  his  ambition,  party  leaders  and  men  of 
influence  who  had  grist  at  the  same  mill  to  grind  seemed  very 
reluctant  to  gratify  or  even  to  encourage.  His  efforts  in  this 
direction  were  often  met  with  criticism,  not  always  the  most 
respectful.  On  one  occasion  he  caused  it  to  be  announced  that  he 
was  engaged  in  translating  from  the  Latin  the  work  of  a  cele 
brated  Roman  author  on  the  Civil  Law.  In  high  professional 
circles  this  idea  was  ridiculed,  and  the  press  of  another  State  gave 
him  a  scathing  notice  for  the  vanity  and  presumption  of  the 
attempt,  as  it  was  termed. 

Among  his  numerous  contributions  to  the  periodical  press,  may 
be  mentioned  hjp  review  of  Howitt's  Homes  of  the  Poets,  An 
Appeal  to  the  Whigs  of  the  Union  for  the  Sake  of  the  Union,  in 
the  "American  Review;"  his  essay  on  the  Civil  Law,  Cicero, 
Burr's  Life;  British  Reviewers,  etc.,  in  the  "Southern  Quar- 


314  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

terly,"  and  various  articles  in  Hunt's  "Merchants'  Magazine/' 
and  in  "  DeBow's  Review."  All  these  showed  industry,  learning, 
and  taste  of  no  ordinary  stamp.  He  had  one  of  the  largest  pri 
vate  libraries  in  the  State,  well  selected  in  the  departments  of 
law,  history,  literature,  science,  and  philosophy,  and  no  man  was 
more  diligent  or  more  happy  in  the  use  of  books. 

In  1848,  Judge  Porter  purchased  a  Summer  residence  for  his 
family  at  Cave  Spring,  Floyd  county,  Georgia,  which  contained 
the  double  attraction  of  health,  and  of  good  schools  for  his  chil 
dren.  While  there,  his  personal  friend,  RICHARD  YEADOX, 
Esq.,  of  Charleston,  the  distinguished  editor  of  the  "Courier," 
paid  him  a  visit  with  his  family,  who  were  the  guests  of  Judge 
Porter  for  several  weeks  in  August  and  September,  1849.  The 
two  friends  traveled  to  the  mountains  in  the  Cherokee  region, 
viewing  the  falls  of  Little  River,  DeSoto's  Cave,  and  the  cuts  and 
rents  of  the  hills  and  valleys  by  the  bursting  of  recent  water 
spouts  which  swept  away  houses  and  crops  by  sudden  inundation. 
These  and  other  objects,  with  romantic  Indian  traditions,  were  celr 
ebrated  in  verse  by  Mr.  Yeadon,  who  regularly  corresponded 
with  his  paper.  Judge  Porter  was  complimented  in  some  of  these 
effusions,  and  invited,  poetically,  to  return  to  Charleston,  and 
become  in  bonds  of  friendship,  "  exceeding  the  love  of  woman," 
as  Jonathan  and  David  stood  to  each  other.  In  letters  to  the 
"  Courier,"  Mr.  Yeadon  gave  glowing  descriptions  of  Cave  Spring 
and  its  surroundings,  including  the  warmest  eulogies  on  Judge 
Porter. 

In  1850,  Judge  Porter  was  prevailed  on,  by  Mr.  Yeadon,  to  try 
his  fortunes  once  more  in  his  beloved  native  city  of  Charleston. 
And  as  a  preliminary,  assuring  a  present  support,  the  editorship 
of  the  "  Charleston  News"  was  procured  for  him,  through  the  in 
fluence  of  Mr.  Yeadon.  As  Judge  Porter,  throughout  his  legis 
lative  course  from  1832  to  1847,  had  always  been  a  consistent  ad 
vocate  of  the  fair  sex,  in  introducing  bills  to  secure  separate  estates 
to  married  women,  and  to  protect  the  homestead  of  the  family 
from  seizure  and  sale  for  the  debts  of  an  improvident  head,  the 
following  from  his  pen,  as  an  editorial  article  in  the  "News,"  of 
November  2,  1850,  is  deemed  relevant: 

THE  EDUCATION  OF  GIRLS. — We  are  altogether  in  favor  of  radical  reforms  in  this 
branch  of  instruction.  We  begin  by  announcing  ourselves  as  decidedly  of  opinion 
that  women  have  souls,  and  possess  minda  very  capable  of  improvement  in  the 
higher  branches  of  knowledge.  We  honestly  believe  that  they  are  not  formed  alone 

"To  suckle  fools  and  chronicle  small  beer." 

On  the  contrary,  we  tbink  that  they  have  intellects  entirely'equal  to  the  most  la 
borious  tasks  of  the  most  masculine  scholar;  and  as  they  necessarily  have  the 
care  of  children,  during  that  period  when  their  minds  are  taking  impressions  of 
good  and  evil,  we  are  positively  the  advocate  in  everything  which  can  the  better 
form  their  minds  to  the  duties  of  these  interesting  tasks.  It  will  be  seen  from. 


Heminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  315 

this  beginning  that  we  take  it  for  granted  that  women  must  have  the  care  of  chil 
dren  ;  that  is,  we  suppose  they  will  be  married  women.  We  should  feel  that  we 
were  insulting  women  to  think  anything  else.  We  have  no  charity  for  those  pro- 
vokingly  prudish  females  who  pretend  that  it  is  their  duty  to  live  in  a  state  of 
single-bessedness.  It  is  a  great  violation  of  duty  to  do  any  such  thing.  The  most 
miserable  thing  in  nature,  and  the  most  to  be  sympathized  with — except  an  old 
bachelor,  who  is  most  fervently  to  be  despised — is  an  old  maid.  If  women  take 
our  advice,  they  will  get  married  as  soon  as  possible,  to  an  honest,  industrious 
man ;  and  this  leads  us  to  the  consideration  of  the  system  best  adapted  for  the 
education  of  women. 

In  the  first  place,  we  avow  ourselves  sternly  and  inflexibly  opposed  to  making 
it.  the  business  of  a  woman's  life  to  thump  on  a  piano,  draw  pictures,  or  stick 
woolen  threads  on  perforated  paper.  These  things  may  be  very  properly  learned 
and  practiced,  as  adjuncts  to  education ;  but  they  may  not  be  education  itself.  Nor 
would  we  have  women  become  masters  in  Greek  Anthology  or  Latin  hexameters. 
In  looking  to  a  plan  of  education  for  her,  we  would  select  that  most  capable  of 
forming  her  into  a  WOMAN,  in  the  largest  sense  of  the  term.  We  would  look  to 
her  destiny  as  a  wife  and  a  mother;  as  the  companion  of  a  man,  who  might  be  at 
times  a  hero,  or  a  child;  of  one  who,  in  the  several  phases  of  life,  may  be  called  on 
to  make  her  very  miserable,  or  very  happy;  as  the  guardian  of  a  child,  sometimes 
in  laughter,  sometimes  in  tears;  of  one  who  would  delight  her  in  health,  and  rack 
her  bosom  with  mental  suffering,  in  disease  and  death.  Her  education  should  fit 
her  for  these  episodes  in  existence.  She  should  have  cheerfulues,  without  frivol 
ity,  for  moments  of  pleasure:  firmness  and  resignation  for  those  of  misery.  She 
should  be  instructed  in  self-denial  in  times  of  prosperity — in  self-reliance  in  pe 
riods  of  distress.  In  order,  therefore,  to  accustom  her  to  these  varieties  of  life, 
we  would  begin  by  placing  the  foundation  of  her  education,  in  RELIGIOUS  PRIN 
CIPLE. 

From  some  cause,  the  connection  of  Judge  Porter  with  the 
"News"  was  dissolved  in  less  than  a  year.  The  following  lines 
appeared  in  the  "  Courier,"  which  are  here  introduced  a.s  a  speci 
men  of  his  poetry: 

"WHEN  PARTING  FROM  THE  FRIENDS  WE  LOVE." 

Air- — Mary  Blaine. 

BY  B.  F.  PORTER. 

When  parting  from  the  friends  we  love, 

How  long  our  hearts  retain, 
O'ershadowing  fears,  which  seem  to  prove, 
We  ne'er  shall  meet  again. 

When  farewell,  when  farewell, 
Is  all  the  lips  ean  say, 
As  parting  from  the  friends  we  love, 
We  tear  our  hearts  away. 

As  slow  we  drag  our  feet  away, 

What  doubts  invade  the  breast ; 
Hope  only  sheds  a  glim' ring  ray, 

T'  involve  in  deeper  shade. 
When  farewell,  &c. 

Long  years  may  roll  between  us  two, 

Bright  skies  may  o'er  us  shine; 
My  faithful  heart  will  still  renew, 

That  speaking  look  of  thine. 
When  farewell,  &c. 


31G  ^Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

The  happy  time  will  soon  be  here, 

And  heart  to  heart  restore ; 
I'll  kiss  away  the  pious  tear, 

Thine  eyes  shall  shed  no  more. 
When  farewell,  &c. 

Then  should  we  part  from  friends  we  love, 

Let  hearts  no  more  complain ; 
The  sun  will  rise  o'er  clouds  to  prove, 
We'll  surely  meet  again. 

When  farewell,  when  farewell, 
No  more  the  lips  shall  say, 
As  parting  from  the  friends  we  love, 
We  tear  our  hearts  away. 

While  in  Charleston,  in  1850-51,  Judge  Porter  opened  a  law 
office,  and  was  employed  in  several  important  cases.  The  Hon. 
J.  B.  O'JSTealle,  author  of  the  "Bench  and  Bar  of  South  Carolina/' 
devotes  six  pages  of  his  work  to  a  biography  of  Judge  Porter. 
The  following  is  an  extract: 

In  May,  1850,  I  came  to  know  Judge  Porter.  He  was  one  of  those  concerned 
in  the  defense  of  Davenport,  charged  with  the  murder  of  a  lady  by  the  adminis 
tration  of  ergot.  *  *  *  He  made  the  second  speech  for  the  prisoner,  and  it 
seemed  to  me  to  be  fully  equal  to  what  might  have  been  expected,  from  his  great 
reputation.  The  evidence  was  wholly  insufficient  to  convict  the  prisoner,  and 
after  a  tedious  trial  he  was  acquitted.  At  the  same  term,  and  subsequently,  at 
the  January  term,  1851,  of  the  Court  of  Appeals,  Judge  Porter,  with  his  friend, 
Mr.  Yeadon,  argued  the  case  of  the  State  ex  relalione,  Ravenel,  Brothers  &  Co. 
James  Welsman,  James  Chapman,  Gourdin,  Matthiesson  &  Co.,  vs.  the  City  Coun 
cil — 4:  Richardson,  286.  Here,  again,  both  on  the  Circuit  and  in  the  Court  of 
Appeals,  his  arguments  were  everything  which  could  be  said,  in  a  case  where  the 
law  was  decidedly  against  him. 

I  believe  these  two  cases  were  the  only  occasions  on  which  I  had  the  oppor 
tunity  of  hearing  and  knowing  Judge  Porter,  of  whom  I  then  formed  a  high 
opinion,  both  as  a  lawyer  and  gentleman.  I  then  hoped  he  might  find  it  to  be  to 
his  interest  to  make  Charleston  his  permanent  home ;  but  it  seems  his  friends  had 
promised  more  than  they  could  effect.  The  business  promised  and  expected  did 
not  come.  His  means  were  not  sufficient  to  justify  him  in  remaining  in  the  city 
of  his  birth,  and  he  returned  to  Alabama  where  he  has  since  been  successfully 
pursuing  his  profession. — Vol.  II.  p.  551. 

After  his  return  from  Charleston,  Judge  Porter  resided  for  sev 
eral  years  in  DeKalb  county,  where  he  pursued  his  profession, 
edited  a  paper  called  the  "  Will's  Valley  Post,"  carried  on  a  farm, 
was  Superintedent  of  Education,  and  President  of  the  Will's 
Valley  Railroad  Company.  It  has  been  said  of  him  that,  in  the 
intervals  of  professional  employment,  he  had  studied  every  branch 
of  the  sciences  and  philosophy,  and  had  become  a  fair  Latin  and 
good  French  scholar.  Taking  a  fancy  to  the  civil  law,  he  had 
explored  it  from  its  earliest  fragments,  through  Paul,  Ulpian,  the 
Institutes,  Pandects,  Novels  and  Code,  to  the  Spanish  and  French 
law,  and  in  it  he  found  the  source  of  the  principles  of  jurispru 
dence.  And  that  he  had  also  prepared  a  translation  of  Heinnei- 
cus'  Elements  of  the  Institutes. 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  317 

About  the  year  1845,  the  Trustees  concluded  to  add  a  Law 
Professorship  to  the  University  of  Alabama,  and,  having  passed 
the  resolution,  they  elected  Judge  Porter  to  the  chair,  who  was  to 
rely  for  his  compensation  on  the  sale  of  tickets  to  his  lectures. 
He  accepted  it,  and  his  name  appeared  as  the  Professor  in  one 
edition  of  the  Catalogue  of  the  institution;  but  after  some  pre 
liminaries,  it  was  ascertained  that  sufficient  patronage  would  not 
likely  be  aiforded,  and  Judge  Porter  abandoned  the  situation 
without  delivering  even  the  introductory  lecture.  In  suggesting 
the  law  chair,  it  was  no  doubt  his  intention  to  prepare  and  deliver 
a  course  of  lectures  to  be  afterwards  published  in  bookYorm,  prob 
ably  to  be  entitled,  "  Expositions  of  the  Common,  Statute,  and 
Civil  Law,"  to  rank,  in  public  estimation,  with  the  commentaries 
on  the  laws  of  England,  by  Sir  William  Blanckstone,  and  with 
those  on  American  law,  by  Chancellor  Kent.  He  was  original 
and  bold  enough  to  entertain  the  conception,  and  sufficiently  self- 
reliant  to  give  it  form  and  vitality.  But  difficulties  supervening, 
which  he  did  not  anticipate,  and  which  he  thought  were  unjust  to 
himself,  he  applied  his  energies  in  another  direction.  Such  a 
work  as  he  contemplated  from  the  law  chair  of  the  University 
would,  if  produced,  have  exhibited  a  variety  and  breadth  of 
learning,  in  a  method  more  or  less  exact,  and  a  taste  in  composi 
tion  perhaps  a  little  different  in  the  simplicity  usual  among  legal 
authors,  but  otherwise  an  attractive  style.  This  pillar  of  his  fame, 
however,  never  reached  the  cornice,  or  the  entablature. 

While  in  DeKalb  county,  trying  with  great  industry,  and  in 
every  form  of  appeal,  to  reach  the  minds  of  the  people,  and  to 
rouse  them  to  action  in  the  cause  of  education  and  internal  im 
provement,  he  oifered  his  services  as  a  candidate  for  the  Senate, 
and  was  defeated. 

Hitherto  nothing  has  been  said  of  the  politics  of  Judge  Porter. 
He  was  a  Nullifier  in  1833,  and  at  the  session  of  that  year  he 
offered  resolutions  pledging  the  State  of  Alabama  to  sustain  South 
Carolina,  in  case  an  armed  conflict  grew  out  of  her  resistance  of 
the  oppressions  of  Congress,  which  were  rejected  by  the  majority. 
This  effort  placed  him  among  the  foremost  as  a  State  .Rights  man. 
In  1840,  he  supported  Gen.  Harrison  for  the  Presidency,  Jand 
made  many  speeches  in  the  canvass,  as  he  did  for  Mr.  Clay  in 
1844.  He  frequently  presided  over  party  conventions,  and  was  a 
Taylor  man  in  1848.  In  1852,  he  was  not  satisfied  with  the  nom 
ination  of  Gen.  Scott,  and  voted  for  Mr.  Pierce.  His  course  since 
then  has  not  been  well  defined,  nor  will  an  outline  be  attempted 
here.  He  was  thoroughly  a  Southern  man  during  the  war,  freely 
contributing  his  influence  and  means  to  support  the  Southern 
cause.  He  had  previously  removed  to  Greenville,  Butler  county. 
After  the  surrender  of  the  Confederate  armies,  and  the  Kepubli- 


318  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

can  party,  under  the  Reconstruction  Acts  of  Congress,  obtained 
control  of  the  Government  of  Alabama,  Judge  Porter  allied  him 
self  with  that  party,  and  accepted  the  Judgeship  of  the  12th 
Judicial  Circuit,  a  circumstance  which  most  of  his  friends  much 
regretted.  He  died  soon  thereafter,  and  thus  passed  away  a  very 
remarkable  man,  whose  gifts  and  energies  deserved  a  better 
reward  in  life  than  he  was  destined  to  experience. 

His  daughter,  Miss  INA  M.  PORTER  (now  Mrs.  Henry),  inherited 
the  literary  taste  of  her  father,  and  many  beautiful  articles,  in 
prose  and  verse,  from  her  pen  were  published  in  Northern  and 
Southern  papers  and  magazines  before  the  war.  Her  contribu 
tions  since  have  been  frequent  in  quarters  more  restricted,  but 
not  the  less  creditable  to  her  genius. 

Judge  Porter,  with  a  due  share  of  infirmity  common  to  ambi 
tious  minds,  possessed  many  noble  traits  of  character.  His  soul 
was  full  of  benevolence,  and  he  would  give  his  last  dollar  to  re 
lieve  human  distress.  As  a  speaker,  he  was  distinguished  for  ani 
mation,  a  chaste  style,  with  metaphors  when  necessary,  and  his 
elocution  was  generally  pleasant,  and  sometimes  captivating.  His 
address  was  at  all  times  dignified,  and  he  never  ventured  to  ap 
pear  in  public  except  fashionably  clad.  Cleanliness  of  person  was 
his  rule  and  his  daily  practice.  Let  his  few  foibles  be  forgotten, 
and  let  his  many  virtues  live  in  kind  remembrance.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  Baptist  Church  from  1842  until  his  death  in  1868. 

In  regard  to  Judge  Porter,  his  emulation,  his  generosity,  and 
misfortunes,  one  is  reminded  of  the  beautiful  thoughts  of  the 
Hon.  George  S.  Hilliard,  of  Boston,  a  legal  author  of  distinction, 
who  says: 

I  confess  that  increasing  years  bring  with  them  an  increasing  respect  for  those 
who  do  not  succeed  in  life,  as  these  words  are  commonly  used.  Heaven  is  said  to 
be  a  place  for  those  who  have  not  succeeded  upon  earth ;  and  it  is  surely  true  that 
celestial  graces  do  not  best  thrive  and  bloom  in  the  hot  places  of  worldly  pros 
perity,  ill  success  sometimes  arises  from  a  superabundance  of  qualities  in  them 
selves  good — from  a  conscience  too  sensitive,  or  taste  too  fastidious,  a  self-forget- 
fulness  too  romantic,  a  modesty  too  retiring.  I  will  not  go  so  far  as  to  say  with  a 
living  poet,  that  "the  worid  knows  nothing  of  its  greatest  men;"  but  there  are 
forms  of  greatness,  or  at  least  excellence,  which  die  and  make  no  signs  ;  there  are 
martyrs  that  miss  the  palm,  but  not  the  stake;  there  are  heroes  without  the 
laurel,  and  conquerors  without  the  triumph. 

26.  JAMES  ROBINSON,  of  Madison,  served  only  this  session  as  a 
Representative,  preferring  the  quiet  pursuit  of  his  profession  to 
the  turmoil  and  strife  of  politics.  He  displayed  intellect  and  in 
telligence  of  a  fine  order,  and  often  shared  in  debate.  On  the 
trying  question  of  placing  the  Branch  Banks  in  liquidation,  his 
course  was  bold  and  decisive,  looking  to  the  good  of  the  State  as 
his  first  duty.  He  still  resides  in  Huntsville  where  he  has  at 
tained  eminence  at  the  bar.  He  is  a  Tennesseean  by  birth  and 


Beminiacences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  319 

education.  In  his  manners,  he  is  somewhat  secluded,  resulting  no 
doubt  from  his  indifference  to  popular  favor,  and  to  his  exclusive 
devotion  to  his  profession.  f 

27.  ROBERT  T.  SCOTT,  of  Jackson,  became  first  known  to  me 
in  1835,  when  he  was  canvassing  against  Gov.  Chapman,  for  a  seat 
in  Congress.  He  was  beaten,  and  in  1837,  he  was  elected  to  the 
House.  It  has  been  stated  in  a  preceding  chapter  that,  in  1839, 
he  was  again  returned  to  the  House,  but  was  ousted  from  his  seat, 
because,  at  the  time  of  his  election,  he  held  the  office  of  Clerk  of 
the  Circuit  Court.  He  thereafter  remained  in  private  life,  pur 
suing  the  practice  of  the  law  until  1842,  when  he  brought  to  the 
aid  of  the  House  strong  native  talents,  matured  and  strengthened 
by  experience.  At  this  session4  he  introduced  a  bill  for  the  investi 
gation  of  all  extra  allowances  made  by  Bank  Directors  since  1835, 
giving  power  to  the  Governor,  if  he  should  deem  it  expedient,  on 
the  report  of  the  Commissioners,  to  institute  proceedings  for  the 
recovery  of  such  unauthorized  applications  of  the  public  money. 

Mr.  Scott  was  again  elected  in  1847,  and  took  an  active  part  in 
the  important  business  of  that  session.  In  1853,  he  was  returned, 
with  the  writer,  to  the  House,  and  discharged  with  ability  and  effi 
ciency  the  duties  of  Chairman  of  the  Committee  of  Ways  and 
Means.  This  ended  his  connection  with  the  Legislature. 

Under  an  appointment  of  the  Governor,  Mr.  Scott  was  engaged 
in  prosecuting  the  claims  of  Alabama  for  advances  made  on  ac 
count  of  the  Indian  and  Mexican  wars,  and  perhaps  other  claims, 
which  required  much  of  his  time  to  be  passed  in  Washington  City. 
In  this  labor  he  exhibited  great  diligence  and  capacity,  and  was 
successful  in  a  certain  degree,  considering  the  difficulties  encoun 
tered. 

A  particular  trait  in  the  character  of  Mr.  Scott,  as  a  legislator, 
was  his  opposition  to  high  salaries  in  public  officers,  and  his  love 
of  economy  in  the  expenditures  of  the  public  money,  an  instance 
of  which  may  be  given,  as  occurring  at  the  session  of  1842.  When 
some  bill  was  under  consideration  in  the  House,  he  took  the  floor, 
and  contended  that  public  officers  were  too  well  paid,  in  support 
of  which  proposition  he  compared  the  profits  of  manual  labor,  in 
the  different  occupations,  with  the  per  diem  of  the  Judges,  show 
ing  that  the  sweat  of  fifty  men  at  the  plough  would  hardly  earn 
as  much  money  as  the  State  paid  to  one  Judge  !  In  fact,  he  dem 
onstrated,  injjhis  own  way,  that  the  average  of  common  labor  was 
eleven  cents  per  day  to  the  hand,  while  that  of  the  Judge,  who 
sat  in  the  house,  sheltered  from  the  cold  and  heat,  amusing  him 
self  with  his  books,  was  six  or  seven  dollars  per  day.  When  he 
drew  the  contrast,  his  voice  rose  to  the  highest  pitch  of  indignation, 
as  if  it  was  anti-republican  to  permit  mental  labor,  pursued  in  the, 


320  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

shade,  to  be  paid  a  fraction  higher  than  mere  bodily  labor  in  the 
sun,  where  no  idea  of  larger  capacity  than  a  full  corn  crib  was 
essential.  His  mind  was  well  cultivated,  and  his  business  qualifi 
cations  superior.  He  was  not  a  pleasant  speaker,  on  account  of  a 
lisp  in  his  delivery.  Of  course,  he  had  to  be  a  Democrat  to  repre 
sent  Jackson  county,  where  Democracy  prevailed  almost  by  unani 
mous  consent.  His  social  qualities  were  of  a  very  respectable 
class,  so  much  so  that  he  appeared  to  better  advantage  in  the  pri 
vate  circle  than  in  the  forum. 

28.  JOHN  S.  STORRS,  of  Shelby,  was  a  Northern  man,  and  set 
tled  in  Montevallo  to  practice  law.  He  was  liberally  educated, 
and  a  Whig  in  politics,  soon  taking  a  high  position  in  his  party, 
so  that  in  1841  he  was  elected  to  the  House,  and  for  several  years 
thereafter  the  same  trust  was  renewed  by  his  constituents.  In 
1857,  he  concluded  his  legislative  service  in  the  Senate.  In  1849, 
while  a  member  of  the  House,  he  was  a  candidate  for  Secretary 
of  State,  and  was  defeated. 

With  marked  zeal  and  ability,  Mr.  Storrs  devoted  himself  to 
measures  calculated  to  develop  the  mineral  region  of  Alabama,  in 
the  midst  of  which  he  resided,  and  to  this  end  he  advocated  the 
establishment  of  railroads,  in  aid  of  which  he  proposed  to  apply 
the  two  and  three  per  cent,  funds.  Gloomy  as  the  prospect 
seemed  then,  these  lines  of  connection  have  since  been  opened, 
and  the  people  of  Shelby  and  those  of  other  counties  are  about  to 
realize  the  benefits  of  the  wise  movement.  By  some  persons  an 
objection  to  Mr.  Storrs  has  been  raised,  on  the  ground  that  he  was 
too  sectional  in  his  views  and  efforts — that  he  was  wedded  too 
entirely  to  the  people  of  Shelby  county,  regardless  of  the  general 
interest.  While  the  fact  probably  existed  of  such  devotion  on  his 
part,  it  should  be  borne  in  mind  that  he  had  cast  his  lot  in  a  com 
munity  with  which  he  had  become  identified  in  feeling  and 
interest,  and  that  it  was  natural  he  should  promote  their  welfare 
to  the  best  of  his  opportunities.  By  diligence  in  his  profession, 
and  by  using  the  proper  means  in  other  respects,  he  succeeded  in 
acquiring  a  very  ample  estate,  and  died  much  regretted  by  the 
people  with  whom  he  had  long  resided,  and  had  faithfully  served. 

Mr.  Storrs  had  a  good  voice  and  a  ready  supply  of  language, 
but  he  was  not  often  a  participant  in  the  debates.  He  occasionally 
addressed  the  House,  more  in  explanation  than  for  any  other 
object.  He  was  always  deficient  in  the  warmth  of  social  feeling, 
for  which  Southern  men  are  noted,  and  in  those  agreeable  qual 
ities  which  would  make  him  a  favorite  in  legislative  circles, 
though  in  his  private  relations  he  was  more  communicative,  and 
possessed  a  fine  vein  of  humor. 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  321 

29.  DR.  ROBERT  J.  WARE,  of  Montgomery,  had  long  been  a 
member  of  the  House,  but  had  retired  for  several  years  until 
1841,  when  he  was  again  elected,  and  reflected  in  1842.     At  both 
sessions  he  struggled  manfully  to  obtain  the  aid  of  the  State  in 
behalf  of  the  Montgomery  and  West  Point  Railroad.     In  1841, 
he  asked  for  the  State's  guaranty  on  the  bonds  of  the  company  to 
a  certain  amount,  to  enable  the  stockholders  to  complete  the  road, 
and  thus  render  available  the  capital  already  invested.     In  this 
he  failed;  but  never  despairing,  he  renewed  the  subject  in  1842 
in  a  new  light,  making  it  appear  that  the  two  per  cent,  fund  could 
be  applied  by  the  State,  under  the  specific  limitations  of  the  act 
of  Congress,  in  no  other  way  than  establishing  the  very  line  of 
improvement,  of  which  the  road  formed  an  extensive  link.     He 
ultimately  succeeded  in  getting  an  act  passed,  loaning  to  the  com 
pany  §120,000  of  that  fond,  on  adequate  security  to  the  State. 

Dr.  Ware  was  considered  one  of  the  most  sagacious  and  solid 
members  of  the  House.  When  he  had  an  object  in  view,  he  set 
it  boldly  before  his  audience,  and  gave  the  whole  argument  in  a 
nutshell,  so  that  before  the  attention  was  in  the  least  fatigued,  the 
question  was  laid  open  in  all  its  parts,  as  with  the  dissecting  knife. 
He  had  large  views  vf  everything,  and  was  never  cramped  or 
timid  in  his  movements.  Perhaps  he  had  no  superior  in  the 
House  in  public  spirit,  and  it  was  the  fewest  number  who  excelled 
him  in  business  intelligence.  His  manner  of  speaking  was  highly 
agreeable,  and  his  disposition  eminently  stubborn.  One  might  as 
well  undertake  to  level  the  Andes  by  a  zephyr  as  to  drive  him 
from  any  position.  Where  his  judgment  and  free  will  led,  there 
he  would  go  in  spite  of  the  world;  further,  the  combined  universe 
could  not  force  him. 

From  this  view,  it  will  be  perceived  that  Dr.  Ware  had  largely 
the  elements  of  strength  and  firmness  in  his  character.  In  1849, 
he  was  elected  to  the  Senate,  which  closed  his  public  career.  He 
then  gave  more  exclusive  attention  to  the  management  of  his  im 
mense  property.  His  nature  was  unsocial,  tinged  a  good  deal  with 
hauteur,  which  made  him  unpopular  with  the  masses,  and  shortened 
the  period  of  his  public  life.  He  was  a  Whig  in  politics.  From 
his  great  love  of  wealth,  and  his  losses  by  the  war,  probably  his 
spirit  was  crushed  by  the  shock,  and  death  came  to  his  relief  in. 
1866.  At  the  time,  however,  he  could  not  have  been  under  sixty- 
five  years  of  age,  with  physical  powers  made  for  endurance  to 
four  score. 

30.  THOMAS  WILLIAMS,  of  Pickens,  formerly  resided  in  Tus- 
kaloosa  county,  and  was  many  years  in  the  Legislature.     He  was 
a  member  of  the  House  in  1837,  from  Pickens,  and  subsequently, 
always  filling  the  place  of  a  working,  watchful,  economical  man  in 

21 


322  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

all  the  avenues  of  the  public  service.  He  was  for  proceeding  to 
business  in  a  straightforward,  practical  way,  looking  into  the  condi 
tion  of  public  affairs,  correcting  the  errors  that  had  crept  in,  reform 
ing  abuses,  cutting  off  useless  expenses,  and  righting  up  matters 
generally,  just  as  a  prudent  man  would  act  for  the  future  safeguard 
of  his  interests.  The  same  rule  he  applied  to  the  body  politic, 
He  was  a  reliable  man  in  all  the  situations  of  life,  and,  in 
his  day,  exerted  a  large  influence  in  the  Legislature,  and  in  the 
counsels  of  the  Democratic  party,  to  which  he  belonged.  From 
small  beginnings  he  had,  by  dint  of  industry  and  frugality,  ac 
quired  a  large  property.  His  practical  views  he  carried  into  public 
life.  He  died  in  1855.  Two  of  his  sons,  Curtis  Williams,  and 
Samuel  Williams,  Esquires,  succeeded  him  in  the  confidence  of 
the  people  of  Pickens  county,  whom  they  have  represented  in  the 
Legislature. 

31.  WILLIAM  WOODWARD,  of  Sumter,  was  from  South  Carolina, 
and  brother  of  the  Hon.  Joseph  A.  Woodward,  a  Representative 
in  Congress  from  that  State  from  1843  to  1847.  He  was  also  the 
brother  of  Judge  Thomas  Woodward  and  John  J.  Woodward,  for 
merly  of  Talladega. 

The  member  from  Sumter  first  took  his  seat  in  the  House  in 
1841,  and  again  in  1842,  1844  and  1845.  He  was  a  hard-work 
ing  public  servant.  On  several  occasions  he  addressed  the  House, 
chiefly  as  head  of  the  committee  on  roads,  bridges  and  ferries,  to 
which  a  great  many  petitions,  bills  and  memorials  had  been 
referred.  He  was  a  sound-headed  planter,  with  smooth  delivery, 
and  unpretending  language. 

In  1853,  Mr.  Woodward  was  elected  to  the  Senate  from  the 
District  composed  of  Sumter,  Choctaw  and  Washington,  and  in 
the  canvass  for  reelection  in  1855,  he  was  beaten  by  Col.  Thomas 
McCarroll  Prince,  of  the  latter  county,  upon  the  Know-Nothing 
question.  In  1857,  he  was  again  elected  to  the  Senate,  and 
served  four  years,  which  concluded  his  public  life.  He  is  a  prom 
inent  minister  of  the  Baptist  Church,  and  resides  in  Choctaw 
county,  perhaps  at  his  old  home,  cut  off  from  Sumter  in  forming 
the  new  county,  to  commemorate  the  large  tribe  of  Indians  who 
previous  to  the  Treaty  of  Dancing  Rabbit,  in  1832,  were  proprie 
tors  and  occupants  of  the  soil. 

With  all  his  gravity  of  deportment  as  a  clergyman,  he  pos 
sessed  a  fine  flow  of  spirits,  and  indulged  occasionally  in  innocent 
humor  among  his  friends  in  the  social  relations  of  life.  He  is  a 
most  worthy  and  useful  citizen,  and  enjoys  universal  respect. 

Among  the  very  prominent  members  at  the  session  of  1842, 
Messrs,  A,  B,  Moore,  of  Perry,  and  Thomas  H.  Watts,  of  Butler,, 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  32$ 

of  the  House,  and  John  A.  Winston,  of  the  Senate,  were  included 
by  general  consent.  As  each  of  these  gentlemen  was  elected 
Governor  of  the  State  at  a  future  period,  a  special  notice  of  them 
will  appear  under  the  proper  heads  of  Administrations.  A  simi 
lar  remark  will  apply  to  William  R.  Smith,  Esq.,  of  Tuskaloosa, 
who  was  subsequently  elected  a  Representative  in  the  United 
States  Congress, 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

Congressional  Ekctions,  1843 — Spirit  of  the    Canvas* — Skrtclies  of 

Candidates. 

After  the  excitement  and  legislation  of  the  preceding  session,  a 
calm  succeeded  in  the  public  mind,  and  except  so  far  that  it  was 
moved  upon  by  the  discussion  of  Federal  politics,  the  year  1843 
was  comparatively  quiet.  Gov.  Fitzpatrick  was  reflected  without 
opposition.  In  the  Congressional  Districts,  however,  there  was 
more  or  less  activity  in  the  canvass,  except  in  the  Huutsville  Dis 
trict,  where  the  Hon.  Reuben  Chapman  was  reelected  without 
opposition. 

In  the  Florence  District,  Robert  Armstrong,  Esq.,  was  the 
competitor  of  Gen.  George  S.  Houston,  and  was  beaten.  For  the 
Tuskaloosa  District,  Mr.  Payne  was  reelected  over  Col.  Elislui 
Young.  In  the  Mobile  District,  the  canvass  was  very  animated, 
and  the  result  very  doubtful,  until  the  ballot  in  August  declared 
the  victory  to  the  Hon.  James  Delict,  Whig,  over  the  Hon.  Henry 
Goldthwaite,  who  had  resigned  the  office  of  Associate  Justice  of 
the  Supreme  Court,  to  accept  the  nomination  unanimously  ten 
dered  by  his  democratic  friends  in  convention,  as  a  candidate  to 
wrest  the  District  from  the  control  of  the  Whigs.  The  campaign 
was  marked  by  signal  ability  in  the  competitors^  who  addressed 
the  people  in  every  direction,  and  enlisted  all  the  strength  which 
personal  or  party  considerations  could  bring  to  the  support  of  their 
respective  candidates.  It  was  indeed  a  war  of  giants,  which  has 
never  been  equalled  in  power  and  dexterity  by  any  political  com 
batants  in  Alabama.  It  was  the  first  instance  of  the  kind,  probably, 
where  so  high  a  judicial  position  had  been  surrendered,  to  engage 
in  a  party  contest.  The  sacrifice,  however,  was  not  the  less  merito 
rious  on  principle,  after  failure,  than  if  it  had  resulted  in  success. 


324  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

In  the  Dallas  District,  the  Hon.  Dixon  H.'Lewis  was  opposed 
by  Henry  C.  Lea,  Esq.,  a  Whig,  the  latter  being  defeated  by  a 
large  majority.  In  the  Montgomery  District,  Col.  John  W.  A. 
Pettit  was  the  nominee  of  the  Whig  party,  who  was  successfully 
opposed  by  James  E.  Belser,  Esqfc  The  District  was  considered 
decidedly  Whig,  but  as  the  canvass  proceeded,  a  reaction  took 
place,  and  Mr.  Belser  was  elected  by  a  good  majority. 

Here  it  is  proper  to  say,  that  several  gentlemen  whose  names 
have  been  mentioned  in  connection  with  the  Congressional  elec 
tions  of  1843,  have  been  already  noticed,  or  will  be  noticed  here 
after,  in  this  work,  from  other  standpoints,  in  relation  to  the  public 
service.  A  few  brief  sketches  will  be  here  given,  as  circum 
stances  seem  to  require. 

1.  GEN.  GEOKGE  S.  HOUSTON  had  been  a  member  of  the  Leg 
islature  previous  to  1837,  and  was  that  year  elected  Solicitor  of 
the  Limestone  District  over  Mr.  Richardson,  the  incumbent,  who 
was  a  gentleman  of  fine  standing,  and  a  lawyer  of  good  ability. 
He  was  the  son-in-law  of  Captain  Nicholas  Davis,  and  continued 
to  practice  law  successfully  until  his  death  in  Limestone  county  a 
few  years  ago.  Among  the  sons  he  left,  is  Capt.  Richardson,  a 
lawyer  of  Huntsville,  of  whom  the  State  may  be  proud. 

Gen.  Houston  was  first  elected  to  Congress  on  the  general 
ticket  in  1841,  and  continued  through  successive  elections  (except 
in  1849  when  the  District  was'  represented  by  the  Hon.  David 
Hubbard)  until  the  secession  of  Alabama,  making  a  period  of 
eighteen  years  in  Congress.  On  the  reorganization  of  the  State 
Government  after  the  war,  he  was  elected  by  the  Legislature  in 
1865  a  Senator  of  the  United  States  for  the  short  term.  Before 
the  same  Legislature  in  1866  he  was  defeated  by  Gov.  Winston 
for  a  new  term  in  the  Senate ;  but  in  neither  case  did  the  one 
elected  take  his  seat. 

While  serving  in  Congress,  Gen.  Houston  attained  a  strong 
position  in  that  body.  We  was  successively  chairman  of  the  com 
mittee  on  Military  Affairs,  chairman  of  the  committee  on  Ways 
and  Means,  and  chairman  of  the  committee  on  the  Judiciary,  a 
triple  honor  which,  probably,  in  no  othej*  instance  has  been  con 
ferred  on  a  Representative.  He  took  a  leading  part  in  the 
debates,  and  his  opinions  were  much  respected.  His  influence 
became  more  established  as  years  progressed,  and  his  familiarity 
with  public  questions  rendered  his  aid  important.  His  strict, 
uniform  attention  to  his  public  duties,  and  his  large  experience 
gave  the  stamp  of  maturity  and  statesmanship  to  his  views.  In 
his  party  relations  he  was  recognized  as  a  leader  of  the  Democracy, 
and  his  counsels  had  much  weight. 
'r  In  person  Gen.  Houston  is  firmly  and  heavily  set,  wears  a 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  325 

thoughtful  face,  and  is  one  of  the  few  men  who  has  passed  a  long 
Congressional  term  in  the  maintenance  of  temperate  and  steady 
habits.  He  still  resides  in  Limestone  county,  engaged  in  the  prac 
tice  of  the  law. 

2.  JAMES  DELLET  was  a  native  of  South  Carolina,  and  settled 
at  Claiborne  in  the  practice  of  the  law,  about  the  time  Alabama 
was  passing  from  a  Territorial  condition.  He  was  returned  to  the 
first  Legislature  under  the  State  Government,  and  on  its  assem 
bling  at  Huutsville,  in  1819,  was  elected  Speaker  of  the  House 
of  Representatives.  Afterward,  he  repeatedly  served  in  the 
Legislature,  and  always  with  marked  fidelity  and  distinction. 

In  1833,  he  was  a  candidate  for  Congress  in  the  Mobile  Dis 
trict,  and  was  beaten  by  Governor  Murphy,  who,  in  his  turn,  in 
1839,  was  defeated  by  his  former  competitor  in  a  regular  political 
battle  in  the  same  District.  While  in  Congress,  Mr.  Delict  was 
recognized  for  his  great  powers  in  debate,  as  a  number  of  his 
published  speeches  will  testify.  In  April,  1840,  he  delivered  in 
the  House  of  Representatives  a  speech  of  thirty  pages  in  pam 
phlet  form,  on  the  "Civil  and  Diplomatic  Appropriation  Bill/' 
equal  iii  ability  to  that  of  any  of  his  compeers. 

Alluding  to  the  cooperation  of  Mr.  Calhoun  with  Mr.  VanBuren, 
since  1837,  in  the  sub-treasury  scheme,  Mr.  Delict  exclaimed: 

How  is  it  that  South  Carolina  is  here,  hanging  on  the  outskirts  of  this  last, 
miserable,  perishing  remnant  of  royal  aristocracy  ?  Is  she  here  by  permission  ? 
Has  she,  too,  been  seduced  by  intrigue?  Is  she  here  by  the  sting  and  the  force  of 
the  party  lash?  Or  is  she  here  in  obedience  to  the  dictates  of  a  cool  and  delib 
erate  judgment,  dispassionately  formed  on  the  facts  presented? 

Mr.  Dellet  then  adduces  the  evidence  of  disfavor  with  which 
South  Carolina  had  regarded  Mr.  Van  Buren,  when,  in  1831,  he 
was  rejected  as  Minister  to  England,  by  the  casting  vote  of  Mr. 
Calhouu,  as  Vice-President  in  the  Senate;  when,  in  1832,  the 
State  refused  to  vote  for  Gen.  Jackson  for  President,  or  Mr.  Van 
Buren  for  Vice-President,  and  then,  in  1836,  she  refused  to  take 
part,  but  stood  aloof  in  the  Presidential  election,  when  Mr.  Van 
Buren  was  a  candidate. 

After  tracing,  through  public  documents,  the  former  opposition 
of  Mr.  Calhoun  to  the  fiscal  policy  of  Gen.  Jackson  and  Mr.  Van 
Buren,  and  noticing  the  remarks  of  Mr.  Brown,  of  Mississippi, 
eulogistic  of  the  Senator  from  South  Carolina,  for  his  independ 
ence  and  honesty  in  supporting  the  Sub-Treasury,  Mr.  Dellet  ob 
served  : 

Among  others,  I  will  not  say  his  high-wrought  or  fanciful  touches,  he  likened 
the  late  volunteer,  the  new  ally,  (Mr.  Calhoun,)  in  a  fearful  hour,  in  the  service  of 
the  commander-in-chief,  to  one  of  the  sublime  and  wonderful  monuments  of  the 
natural  world ;  he  compared  him  to  the  falls  of  Niagara.  The  correctness  and 


326  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  m  Alabama. 

chastity  of  figurative  language  require  that  the  prominent  qualities  of  the  object 
compared  should  bear  a  striking  similitude  to  the  distinguishing  characteristics 
of  the  prototype.  Doos  the  analogy,  then,  consist  in  the  resistless  outpouring  of 
accumulated  and  accumulating  mighty  powers  —  never-ending  noise  —  ceaseless 
spray  above,  and  perpetual  foam  beneath  ?  Or,  is  it  in  the  barren,  desolate  waste, 
the  only  relic  that  commemorates  the  sweep  of  mighty  waters  ?  Might  he  not 
more  correctly  have  been  compared  to  the  king  of  day,  who,  by  his  own  self- 
possessed,  internal  heat,  penetrates  the  remotest  regions,  shedding  the  beams  of 
his  splendor  upon  all  minor  luminaries,  vivifying,  producing,  and  sustaining  all 
animated  nature;  ever  commanding  new  and  increased  admiration,  aave  when 
there  may  now  and  then  intervene  a  cloud,  or  storm,  or  tempest,  created  by  tho 
intensity  of  his  own  rays,  which  obscures  his  brightness  for  a  season,  sweeping 
into  desolation  the  most  beautiful  productions  and  proudest  specimens  of  his 
powers  ? 

Perhaps,  in  the  whole  history  of  parliamentary  wrestling,  there 
is  not  a  passage  more  sarcastic  than  the  construction  put  by  Mr. 
Dellet;  nor  was  there  a  more  splendid  tribute  ever  paid,  than 
that  implied  in  the  figure  of  the  "King  of  day,"  as  a  substitute 
for  the  "cataract."  It  is  introduced  here  as  a  model  of  its  kind. 

This  speech  of  Mr.  Dellet,  after  the  example  of  other  gentle 
men  of  both  political  parties  in  Congress,  embraced  every  topic, 
every  fact,  every  influence,  from  the  official  records,  which  was 
most  likely  to  prejudice  Mr.  Van  Buren,  the  Democratic  nominee, 
who  was  then  a  candidate  for  reelection  as  President  of  the  United 
States,  opposed  by  Gen.  Harrison,  the  Whig  nominee.  That  such 
was  the  character  of  the  speech  as  a  campaign  document,  may  be 
seen  from  the  following  paragraph  near  the  close: 

Sir,  it  has  been  asked,  Why  will  the  American  people  vote  for  General  Har 
rison  ?  Go  and  ask  the  brothers,  the  fathers,  and  the  sons  of  those  who  fell 
at  the  battle  of  the  Thames,  and  who  honored  a  soldier's  grave  at  the  sortie 
of  Fort  Meigs !  Go  ftnd  collect  together,  in  pious  gratitude,  the  bones  of  your 
countrymen,  the  bleached  memorials  of  savage  vengeance  at  Tippacanoe  !  Con 
verse  with  those  who  survived,  and  escaped  the  havoc  and  slaughter  of  those 
hero-won  fields  !  Do  that,  and  never  again  will  you  hear  the  deriding  inquiry, 
"Why  will  the  American  people  vote  for  General  Harrison  ?  unless  it  be  under  indi 
cations  of  self-abasement  and  withering  shame.  Sir,  those  who  sneoringly  ask 
that  question,  have  yet  to  learn  that  there  is  in  the  breast  of  every  American,  a 
warm,  animated,  living  tablet,  beating  in  every  pulse,  and  glowing  in  every  vein, 
oa  which  is  inscribed :  He  who  is  as  discreet  and  wise  in  council,  as  he  has  been 
wutioun,  prudent,  and  dauntless  in  the  hour  of  peril,  William  Henry  Harrison,  is 
entitled  to  the  confidence  of  his  country. 

The  specimens  quoted  from  Mr.  Dellet's  speech  show  that  he 
was  a  classical  scholar,  and  a  master  of  expression.  His  manner 
of  speaking  was  animated  and  agreeable,  with  force  in  the  argu 
ment,  and  always  in  good  taste.  Few  men  in  Alabama  have 
excelled  him  in  this  respect.  His  person  was  large  and  com 
manding.  He  was  in  favor  of  Mr.  Adams  for  the  Presidency  in 
1828;  a  Whig  without  discount,  always  coming  fully  up  to  the 
mark  of  party  faith  and  principle.  His  character  was  of  the 
highest  grade  in  all  the  relations  of  life.  After  his  retirement 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  327 

from  Congress,  he  devoted  himself  to  the  management  of  his 
large  property,  and  died  in  1849,  lamented  by  all  as  a  great  loss 
to  the  State. 

JOHN  MURPHY  was  a  North  Carolinian,  who  first  settled  as  a 
lawyer  in  Columbia,  South  Carolina,  and  held  for  some  time  the 
office  of  Secretary  of  the  Senate.  Removing  to  Alabama,  he 
settled  in  Monroe  county,  and  was  a  member  of  the  Convention 
which  formed  the  State  Constitution  in  1819. 

In  1825,  he  was  elected  Governor  by  the  Democratic  party,  of 
which  he  was  an  influential  member,  and  was  reflected  in  1827; 
and  in  1829,  was  succeeded  by  Gabriel  Moore.  In  1833,  he  de 
feated  Mr.  Dellet  for  Congress,  and  in  1839,  Mr.  Delict  prevailed 
in  another  contest.  This  terminated  the  public  life  of  Gov.  Mur 
phy,  who  died  in  a  few  years  thereafter  in  Clarke  county,  which 
had  for  some  time  been  his  place  of  residence. 

He  was  another  of  Alabama's  public  men  who,  starting  poor, 
and  without  patronage,  by  a  strict  regard  to  the  duties  of  the  legal 
profession,  devotion  to  the  public  interest,  and  fidelity  to  all  trusts 
committed  to  him,  attained  wealth  and  eminence.  His  manners 
were  plain  and  unpretending,  his  person  large  and  well  devel 
oped,  with  commanding  address,  and  his  delivery  was  easy  and 
forcible  as  a  public  speaker.  Few  men  of  his  day,  in  the  history 
of  the  State,  had  the  public  confidence  for  integrity  more  ex 
tended  to  him  than  Gov.  Murphy.  He  acted  well  his  part,  and 
his  memory  is  held  in  the  highest  respect  by  all  parties. 

JAMES  E.  BELSER,  a  native  of  North  Carolina,  settled  in  Mont 
gomery  as  a  mechanic,  when  quite  a  young  man.  He  was  from 
the  start  a  man  of  the  people,  and  soon  succeeded  in  identifying 
himself  with  them,  in  fortune  and  in  sympathy.  He  was  elected 
Clerk  of  the  County  Court  of  Montgomery  County.  In  the 
meantime  he  studied  law,  and  having  a  talent  and  fondness  for 
writing,  he  became  to  some  extent  connected  with  the  Mont 
gomery  press. 

My  first  acquaintance  with  Mr.  Belser  began  in  1838,  when  he 
was  elected  Solicitor  of  the  8th  Circuit,  an  office  which  he  hold 
a  few  years,  and  then  resigned.  In  1842,  Gov.  Fitzpatrick  ap 
pointed  him  commissioner  or  agent  of  the  State  to  visit  Washing 
ton  City  and  procure  a  settlement  of  the  claims  of  Alabama  on 
the  General  Government  for  moneys  advanced  in  the  Indian  war 
of  1836.  He  performed  this  duty  in  a  very  able  and  satisfactory 
manner,  and  succeeded  in  obtaining  such  legislation  by  Congress 
as  led  to  settlement,  whereby  the  State  was  reimbursed  for  her 
expenditures. 


328  Reminiscences  of  PMic  Men  in  Alabama. 

In  1843,  Mr.  Belscr  was  brought  forward  by  the  Democrats  of 
the  Montgomery  District  for  Congress,  in  opposition  to  Col.  Pettit, 
the  Whig  nominee.  The  canvass  was  spirited,  and  the  District 
politically  revolutionized  by  the  election  of  Mr.  Belser.  At  the 
session  of  1843-'4,  the  annexation  of  Texas  to  the  United  States 
was  before  Congress.  In  May,  1844,  Mr.  Belser  made  a  speech 
in  its  support,  in  which  he  displayed  patient,  laborious  research 
touching  the  several  treaties  between  Spain  and  France,  and  be 
tween  France  and  the  United  States,  for  the  cession  of  Louisiana, 
embracing  all  the  territory  west  of  the  Mississippi,  to  the  Rio 
Grande.  He  also  recited,  copiously,  the  facts  of  the  colonization 
of  Texas  by  people  of  the  United  States,  and  the  Mexican  laws 
governing  the  same  from  1800  to  1835.  He  quoted  from  writers 
on  international  law,  and  from  the  letters  and  speeches  of  public 
men  in  our  country,  and  from  decisions  of  the  courts,  in  such  a 
manner,  with  such  force  of  application,  as  to  make  out  a  strong 
case  on  his  side  of  the  question,  to-wit:.That  it  was  a  stipulated 
obligation  of  the  Treaty  of  Paris,  of  1800,  for  the  inhabitants  of 
the  territory  ceded,  to  "be  incorporated  into  the  United  States, 
and  admitted,  as  soon  as  possible  according  to  the  principles  of  the 
Federal  Constitution,  to  the  enjoyment  of  all  the  rights,  advan 
tages  and  immunities  of  the  citizens  of  the  United  States ;  and  in 
the  meantime,  that  they  shall  be  maintained  and  protected  in  the 
free  enjoyment  of  their  liberty,  property,  and  the  religion  which 
they  profess." 

He  contended  that  either  by  treaty  or  joint  resolution,  it  was 
competent  for  Texas  to  be  brought  into  the  Union.  With  regard 
to  the  pretended  claim  by  Mexico  of  jurisdiction  over  Texas  as  a 
province,  Mr.  Belser  said : 

The  declaration  of  American  independence,  and  that  of  Texian  also,  asserts 
the  fundamental  principle  that  man  is  capable  of  governing  himself,  and  this  self- 
evident  truth  impelled  Texas  to  throw  off  the  Mexican  yoke,  and  take  a  place  in 
the  list  of  Republics.  Does  Santa  Anna  possess  the  power,  by  Divine  right,  to 
hold  on- to  Texas?  Is  this  Government  to  await  his  pleasure  for  a  full  recognition 
of  Texian  sovereignty?  Who  made  him  a  king  de  jure,  to  acknowledge  the  inde 
pendence  of  Texas  only  when  he  thinks  proper  ?  Can  we  not  move  in  the  matter 
without  his  potential  assent?  He  is  a  usurper,  not  a  ruler  de  jure.  He  has  vio 
lated  repeatedly  the  fundamental  laws  of  Mexico,  to  which  Texas  was  a  party, 
without  her  consent.  His  tyranny  toward  the  Texians,  a  gallant  people,  was 
insupportable.  He  rendered  himself  a  scourge  to  the  human  race,  and  this  au 
thorized  every  foreign  power,  that  saw  fit,  to  come  to  the  rescue  against  such  an 
oppressor.  Well  has  it  been  remarked  that  "all  antiquity  has  praised  Hercules 
for  delivering  the  world  from  an  Antaeus,  a  Busiris,  and  aDiomede." — See  VatteVs 
Law  of  Nations,  page  156. 

In  1837,  when  the  United  States  refused  to  receive  Texas,  no  nation  had  ac 
knowledged  her  independence.  Then  it  was  that  Mexico  had  just  been  using  the 
most  active  exertions  to  subjugate  her,  and  her  right  to  enter  into  treaties  had  not 
been  admitted  by  this  and  other  Governments.  Whenever  one  Government 
acknowledges  the  independence  of  another,  and  her  right  to  make  treaties,  then 
it  is  too  late,  according  to  English  and  American  authority,  to  deny  to  her  full 


JReminiseences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  329 

and  entire  sovereignty.  The  treaty  between  this  Government  and  Texas,  by 
which  the  two  have  been  united,  is  a  valid  compact,  and  could  not  hereafter  be 
set  aside  by  Mexico.  It  is  a  part  of  the  general  right  of  sovereignty  (say  the 
Supreme  Court)  attached  to  independent  nations,  "to  fix  the  disputed  boundaries 
between  their  respective  limits ;  and  the  boundaries  so  established  and  fixed  by 
compacts  between  nations,  become  conclusive  on  all  the  subjects  and  citizens 
thereof,  and  are  to  be  treated,  to  all  intents  and  purposes,  as  the  real  boundaries." 
See  1st  Peters'  Reports,  page  185. 

The  great  industry  evinced  by  Mr.  Belser,  in  selecting  and  ar 
ranging  papers  from  the  public  archives,  and  from  authors,  and 
the  skill  with  which  he  deduces  the  argument,  remind  the  atten 
tive  reader  of  the  habits  of  Mr.  Benton,  in  preparing  his  speeches 
in  the  Senate.  He  gives  chapter  and  verse,  and  there  seems  to 
be  no  limit  to  the  stores  of  his  information.  Mr.  Belser,  was  evi 
dently  a  hard-working  member,  and  never  took  the  floor  in  de 
bate  unless  he  was  thoroughly  prepared. 

The  treaty  for  the  annexation  of  Texas  to  the  United  States, 
was  concluded  at  Washington,  April  12,  1844,  between  John  C. 
Calhoun,  Secretary  of  State,  and  Isaac  Van  Zaudt,  and  J.  Pinckney 
Henderson,  plenipotentiaries  of  Texas,  and  transmitted,  by  Presi 
dent  Tyler,  to  the  Senate,  on  the  22d  of  April,  where,  after  due 
consideration  in  secret  session,  it  was  rejected  by  a  vote  of  16  to 
35.  The  second  article  of  the  treaty  provided : 

The  citizens  of  Texas  shall  be  incorporated  into  the  Union  of  the  United  States, 
maintained  and  protected  in  the  free  enjoyment  of  their  liberty  and  property,  and 
admitted,  as  soon  as  may  be  consistent  with  the  principles  of  the  Federal  Consti 
tution,  to  the  enjoyment  of  all  the  rights,  privileges,  and  immunities,  of  citizens 
of  the  United  States. 

The  closing  portion  of  Mr.  Belser's  speech  is  here  given : 

Sir,  we  are  asked  by  many  what  we  want  with  Texas,  and  what  do  we  expect 
to  gain  from  its  annexation?  If  the  younger  son,  described  in  the  parable  as  hav 
ing  taken  a  journey  into  a  far  distant  country,  and  there  wasted  his  substance  in 
riotous  living,  could,  on  his  return  to  his  father's  mansion,  have  spread  before  him 
the  "fatted  calf,"  and  be  regaled  with  "music  and  dancing,"  what  joy  will  there 
be  when  the  "lone  star"  shall  be  brought  to  this  Union?  Her  return  will  not  be 
like  that  of  the  prodigal  son,  with  her  substance  wasted  by  licentiousness  ;  but  she 
will  bring  with  her  the  fruits  of  perseverance,  and  the  indomitable  spirit  of  free 
dom.  Her  triumphal  entry  will  be  celebrated  from  Maine  to  Louisiana,  not  alone 
with  "music  and  dancing,"  but  the  tear  of  gratitude  to  the  Ruler  of  all  nations 
will  fall  from  many  an  eye,  in  commemoration  of  the  glorious  event. 

What  we  have  already  witnessed  on  this  subject  is  but  the  beginning  of  the  ex 
citement.  The  question  of  Texian  annexation  can  not  die.  The  silence  which  at 
this  time  pervades  some  portions  of  the  Union  in  regard  to  it,  is  like  unto  that 
which  precedes  the  earthquake.  Senators  may  reject  the  treaty,  but  the  treaty  in 
the  end  will  reject  them.  The  flame  is  not  to  be  extinguished.  Texas  is  ours,  and 
no  government  can  deprive  a  mother  of  such  a  daughter.  Her  Constitution,  laws, 
religion,  language,  and  kindred,  are  a  part  of  our  own ;  and  those  whom  God  has 
thus  united  let  not  nations  put  asunder.  Great  Britain  may  attempt  again  and 
again  to  cajole  her  into  a  fatal  embrace ;  but  while  we  remain  true  to  our  obliga 
tions,  she  will  turn  from  the  wiles  of  the  harlot  with  increased  indignation. 


330  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

Sir,  is  tho  proffered  boon  to  be  rejected?  Before  that  God  who  knows  all 
things,  he  trusted  not.  He  looked  with  confidence  to  the  final  triumph  of  man's 
birthright  in  every  clime  and  country  on  the  globe.  He  hailed  with  delight  the 
influence  of  liberty  everywhere,  and  was  anxious  to  see  that  day  come  when  our 
sacred  National  banner  shall  float  over  Texas,  over  Oregon,  over  California,  and 
over  Canada  too ;  and  when  other  nations,  witnessing  our  prosperity,  shall  hasten 
to  cover  themselves  with  its  folds,  acknowledging  that  they  caught  the  first  spark 
of  freedom's  fire  from  the  American  example,  and  forwarding  the  radiant  beams 
until  they  shall  have  electrified  the  most  benighted  portions  of  the  earth. 

"O,  Liberty,  transcendent  and  sublime, 

Born  on  the  mountain's  solitary  crest — 
Nature  thy  nurse,  thy  sire  unconquering  Time, 

Truth  the  pure  inmate  of  thy  glowing  breast. 
'Tis  thine,  when  sanguinary  demons  lower, 

Amid  the  thickening  host  to  force  thy  way, 
To  qUell  the  minions  of  oppressive  power, 

And  shame  the  vaunted  nothings  of  a  day. 
Still  shall  the  human  mind  thy  name  adore, 

Till  chaos  ends,  and  worlds  shall  be  no  more." 

On  the  28th  January,  1845,  Mr.  Belser  delivered  a  speech  on 
the  Oregon  bill,  which  abounded  in  documentary  references, 
showing  the  right  of  the  United  States  to  terminate  the  joint 
occupation  of  Oregon  with  Great  Britain,  under  the  stipulations 
of  1818  and  1827,  at  any  time,  on  twelve  months7  notice  being 
given  by  either  party  after  the  20th  of  October,  1828. 

Mr.  Belser  then  examined  the  provisions  of  the  bill  before  the 
House — proposing  the  organization  of  a  temporary  government 
out  of  all  the  country  belonging  to  the  United  States  West  of  the 
summit  of  the  Rocky  Mountains,  and  bounded  on  the  South  by 
the  fifty-second  and  on  the  North  by  the  fifty-fourth  degree  and 
forty  minutes  North  latitude,  forming  an  area  of  three  hundred 
and  fifty  thousand  square  miles,  drained  by  the  Columbia  river 
and  its  tributaries.  He  contended  that  the  bill,  so  far  as  regarded 
boundary,  was  correct,  and  that  it  was  the  same  recognized  in  our 
treaties  with  Spain,  Russia  and  Mexico. 

To  encourage  settlements,  the  bill  requires  that  provision  shall 
be  made  by  law  to  secure  and  grant  640  acres  of  land  to  every 
white  male  inhabitant  of  the  Territory  of  Oregon,  being  a  citizen, 
of  the  age  of  eighteen  years  and  upward,  who  shall  cultivate  and 
use  the  same,  or  any  part  thereof,  for  five  consecutive  years;  and 
that  to  every  such  inhabitant,  being  a  married  man,  there  shall  be 
granted,  in  addition,  160  acres  to  his  wife,  and  160  acres  to  the 
tether  for  each  child  under  eighteen  years  of  age. 

A  third  speech  by  Mr.  Belser,  in  pamphlet  form,  was  delivered 
on  the  llth  of  February,  1845,  on  the  Bill  to  admit  Iowa  and 
Florida  into  the  Union  as  States.  The  practice  of  the  Govern 
ment  had  been  to  admit  States  by  pairs,  one  of  Northern  and  the 
other  of  Southern  type,  so  as  to  preserve  the  equilibrium  of  power 
in  Congress,  one-half  non-slaveholding,  and  the  other  half  slave- 


Heminisdences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  331 

holding,  which  equilibrium  was  preserved  in  the  thirty  States 
existing  in  1850,  prior  to  the  admission  of  California,  since  which 
time  the  Northern  element  has  preponderated  in  the  Senate. 

The  people  of  Florida,  after  holding  a  Convention  of  delegates 
authorized  by  Congress,  had  framed  a  constitution,  and  with  a 
memorial  had  submitted  it  for  approval,  with  a  view  to  admission 
as  a  State  of  the  Union.  Against  this  application  on  the  part  of 
Florida,  four  principal  objections  of  Northern  origin  seemed  to 
have  been  urged  in  the  debates  of  Congress. 

1.  That,  according  to  the  last  Census,  she  had  not  the  requisite 
amount  of  population  to  entitle  her  to  admission. 

2.  That  she  constitutes  no   part   of  the   Government  of  the 
United  States  which  was  embraced  in  the  original  thirteen  States, 
or  in  the  treaty  of  peace  which  closed  the  Revolution. 

3.  That  Congress  has  the  discretionary  power  to  admit  or  not 
admit  her  as  a  new  State,  and  that  the  Constitution  presented  by 
her  recognizes  slavery  in  a  country  not  included  in  the  compromises 
of  the  i  ederal  Constitution. 

4.  That,  aside  from  these  and  other  objections,  it  is  inexpedient 
thus  early  to  change  her  Territorial  form  of  Government,  because 
of  its  deleterious  influence  on  other  sections. 

It  would  occupy  more  space  than  can  be  afforded,  consistent 
with  the  objects  of  this  work,  to  give  even  a  synopsis  of  the  views 
of  Mr.  Belser,  in  refutation  of  the  Northern  argument  against  the 
admission  of  Florida,  the  whole  of  which  argument  was  prompted 
from  intense  hatred  of  the  Southern  institution.  The  resort  to 
authorities  and  precedents  by  Mr.  Belser  was  further  proof  of  his 
great  industry  to  sustain  the  side  of  the  question  he  advocated. 
He  quoted  from  speeches  made  in  Congress  on  the  bill  admitting 
Missouri  as  a  State  in  1820,  and  referred  to  the  prediction  of  Mr. 
Quincy,  of  Massachusetts,  that  the  admission  of  Louisiana  virtu 
ally  dissolved  the  Union,  and  to  similar  remarks  by  Mr.  Kin^r,  of 
New  York,  when  the  Missouri  question  was  pending  before  Con 
gress. 

Mr.  Yinton,  of  Ohio,  though  liberal  in  some  of  his  views, 
(which  Mr.  Belser  acknowledged)  had  imputed  to  the  Southern 
states  a  selfish  policy,  looking  to  their  own  aggrandizement  on  all 
questions  of  power,  and  as  an  instance  he  referred  to  the  cession 
made  to  the  United  States,  by  Virginia,  of  all  her  North-west 
territory,  out  of  which  had  sprung  the  States  of  Ohio,  Indiana, 
Illinois,  Michigan,  and  the  Territory  of  Wisconsin.  In  the  articles 
of  cession  by  Virginia  in  1787,  the  restriction,  of  which  Northern 
complaint  is  made — "  There  shall  be  formed  in  the  said  territory, 
not  less  than  three,  nor  more  than  five  States" — prevented  the 
West,  as  free  States,  from  multiplying  their  number  as  popula 
tion  and  other  circumstances  might  require  for  the  prosperity  and 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

influence  of  that  section.  Having  answered  the  objections  urged 
against  the  admission  of  Florida,  and  given  his  reasons  in  its 
favor,  Mr.  BELSER  closed  his  speech  in  the  following  language : 

i 

This  Republic  is  consecrated  by  kindred  blood,  kindred  affection,  and  by  the 
same  ties  it  will  be  perpetuated.  Instead  of  gentlemen  conjuring  up  spectres  of 
disunion,  let  theni  inculcate  more  patriotic  principles.  Above  all,  let  .them  nerve 
their  hearts  against  that  unrelenting  disposition  which,  with  religion  in  one  hand 
and  philanthropy  in  the  other,  dresses  itself  out  in  the  garland  of  piety,  and  rides 
triumphant  over  the  sovereignty  of  the  States.  In  the  purest  days  of  the  lloman 
Republic,  her  Curtius  was  willing  to  leap  into  the  flaming  gulf,  which  the  oracle 
had  assured  him  could  be  closed  in  no  other  way.  And  have  we  no  Curtius  among 
us  to  stay  these  elements  of  discord  and  misrule  which  have  been  let  loose  in  our 
midst  ? 

The  time  was  when  a  jealousy  existed  between  the  North  and  the  South.  It 
was  then  confined  to  the  original  States.  That  period  has  gone  by,  and  hereafter 
it  will  be  with  the  monopolist  and  the  agriculturist — between  power  and  privilege. 
The  growth  of  the  West  had  astonished  the  lords  of  the  loom,  and  struck  terror 
into  the  millionaires.  The  influence  of  both  of  these  classes  had  recently  become 
paralyzed :  another  census,  and  it  will  be  gone  forever.  The  rivers  of  the  North 
may  serve  a  little  longer  to  fill  the  vision  of  the  traveler,  but  they  will  not  vie 
with  the  majestic  streams  on  the  western  side  of  our  mountains.  "The  centre  of 
this  Republic  is  destined  to  be  in  that  vast  region  which  is  westward  of  the  Mis 
sissippi  and  its  tributaries,  and  the  organization  of  new  political  societies  will  accel 
erate  that  end.  Tbese  are  the  two  reasons  why  gentlemen  here  are  opposing  the 
admission  of  new  States,  and  the  formation  of  new  Territorial  Governments  on 
our  western  and  southwestern  borders.  The  idea  that  such  an  opposition  is  to 
prostrate  agriculture,  is  chimerical.  The  pioneers  of  the  wilderness  will  have 
their  full'  participation  in  the  administration  of  this  Government,  and  New  Or 
leans  must  yet  become  the  London  of  America. 

If  any  one  doubts  the  future  superiority  of  the  West,  let  him  take  a  retrospect 
into  the  past.  Let  him  view  her  rise  and  progress  in  the  scale  of  greatness,  and 
then  place  his  compass  on  the  map  of  this  continent,  and  he  will  no  longer  be  de 
ceived.  Her  mark  to  aspire  is  written  with  the  pencil  of  light.  The  spirit  of 
liberty  is  in  that  quarter — the  bird  of  Jove  is  soaring  afar ;  and  truly  has  it  been 
observed  : 

"  His  throne  is  on  the  mountain  top ; 

His  fields  the  boundless  air ; 
And  hoary  peaks,  that  proudly  prop 
The  skies,  his  dwellings  are. 

He  rises,  like  a  thing  of  light, 

Amid  the  noontide  blaze ; 
The  midway  is  clear  and  bright — 

It  cannot  dim  his  gaze." 

A  few  more  remarks,  and  he  was  done  with  the  subject.  He  thought  it  prob 
ably  it  was  the  last  speech  he  should  ever  make  on  that  floor.  The  session  was 
drawing  to  a  close,  and  he  did  not  expect  to  return.  He  yielded  to  no  man  in  his 
love  for  the  Union,  as  it  came  from  the  hands  of  those  who  accomplished  the  Rev 
olution.  Their  spirits  were  now  hovering  around  us,  anxiously  awaiting  the 
sound  of  that  trump  which  shall  announce  the  emancipation  of  mankind,  the  re 
generation  of  the  world.  He  was  pleased  to  hear  his  friend  (Mr.  Vinton)  say 
that  the  West  was  the  connecting  link  between  the  North  and  the  South.  Such  a 
sentiment  was  highly  patriotic,  and  well  worthy  the  source  from  whence  it  came. 
But  he  would  tell  the  honorable  gentleman  that  there  was  but  one  way  in  which 
the  West  could  perform  the  part  of  an  umpire,  and  that  was  to  be  just  to  both 
parties.  The  South  had  always  been  ready  to  make  sacrifices  for  the  common 
benefit.  Her  sons  are  generous.  They  learned  the  lesson  of  freedom  from  those 


Reminiscences  of  Public  3fen  in  Alabama.  333 

who  once  stood  erect  amid  the  fires  of  persecution  and  the  blood  of  martyrs. 
They  could  never  be  made  slaves,  nor  permit  their  rights  of  property  to  be  inter 
fered  with.  The  principle  which  protected  them  was  to  be  found  in  the  compact, 
and  it  was  too  sacred  to  be  disturbed. 

These  extracts  will  suffice  to  place  Mr.  Belser  on  high  ground 
as  a  debater,  and  to  give  a  proper  view  of  the  several  measures 
under  discussion.  He  probed  things  to  the  bottom,  and  when  he 
pretended  to  argue  at  all,  he  took  no  refuge  behind  empty  gener 
alities,  which  signified  nothing  in  fact,  and  a  little  of  everything 
by  construction.  He  planted  himself  upon  the  record,  and  gave 
forth  his  utterances  with  sincerity. 

His  course  in  Congress  rendered  him  still  more  popular  at  home, 
and  he  was  thereafter  a  man  of  mark  and  influence.  He  declined 
a  reelection  and  applied  himself  more  closely  to  his  profession. 

When  Gen.  Taylor  was  spoken  of  for  the  Presidency  in  1847, 
Mr.  Belser  was  among  the  few  leading  Democrats  of  Alabam'a 
who  espoused  his  claims.  The  first  meeting  held  at  any  capitol 
of  the  States  was  that  on  the  8th  of  January,  1848,  at  Mont 
gomery,  over  which  Mr.  Belser  presided,  which  was  largely 
attended.  A  number  of  gentlemen  of  Alabama  addressed .  the 
meeting,  and  the  "war-horse  of  Troup,"  the  Hon.  Julius  C.  Al- 
ford,  of  Georgia,  was  called  for,  and  responded  in  his  usual  earnest 
style.  The  influence  of  Mr.  Belser  in  the  canvass  did  more  than 
any  other  agency  in  securing  so  large  a  vote  for  Gen.  Taylor  in 
the  State.  From  that  time  his  connection  with  the  Democratic 
party  ceased,  and  His  political  alliances  were  with  the  Whig  party 
and  with  the  Know-Nothings.  Although  he  indulged  no  bitter 
ness  toward  his  old  political  friends,  but  continued  his  social  rela 
tions  with  them,  they  were  made  to  encounter  defeat  in  many 
counties  through  the  weight  of  his  name.  In  evidence  of  this 
fact,  it  may  be  stated  that  in  1849  and  1851  the  AVhigs  had  the 
control  of  the  Senate,  and  to  elect  a  Whig  President  of  that  body 
was  an  event  which  had  not  occurred  in  a  long  time.  It  is  not 
saying  more  than  the  premises  will  justify,  when  the  opinion  is 
expressed,  that  the  course  of  Mr.  Belser  in  1848  cut  him  oil*  from 
the  first  honors  of  the  State;  for  no  man  at  that  period  had  so 
strong  a  hold  upon  the  confidence  and  affections  of  the  masses  of 
the  people.  The  writer  knew  him  well,  and  had  many  conversa 
tions  with  him  in  regard  to  this  political  step,  and  never  doubted 
the  purity  of  his  convictions  and  his  sense  of  duty  to  the  South. 

In  1853,  Mr.  Belser  was  elected  a  member  of  the  House,  and 
again  in  1855,  at  both  which  sessions  he  devoted  his  enlightened 
mind  and  energies  to  the  interest  of  the  State,  in  devising  and 
perfecting  schemes  for  the  development  of  her  vast  resources. 
He  was  wedded  to  a  system  of  Internal  Improvement,  and  to  the 
various  projects  now  concentrating  railroads  to  Montgomery;  and 


334  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

connecting  North  and  South-Alabama.  The  session  of  1855  ended 
his  public  career,  and  he  died  suddenly  in  1858,  in  the  meridian 
of  life  and  usefulness. 

Mr.  Belser  had  but  limited  opportunities  for  education,  in  early 
life;  but  he  was  sufficiently  acquainted  with  books  to  acquire  a 
fondness  for  reading,  and  with  a  good  amount  of  common  sense, 
he  built  successfully  on  this  foundation,  as  his  speeches  in  Congress, 
at  the  bar,  and  on  the  stump,  fully  prove.  The  State  may  well  be 
proud  of  such  a  Representative  and  such  a  citizen. 

In  person,  he  was  considered  by  many  as  of  rough  exterior,  and 
by  no  means  comely.  True,  he  was  not  a  handsome  man,  but  he 
was  by  no  means  repulsive.  His  face  was  entirely  redeemed  by 
an  intellectual  expression.  Among  the  people,  he  was  a  giant  in 
the  political  canvass,  swaying  the  multitude  at  his  pleasure.  But  it 
was  as  a  man  whose  heart  was  filled  with  the  warmest  and  most 
generous  impulses,  that  he  was  most  sought  and  admired.  In  the 
substantial  qualities  of  a  kind,  indulgent,  and  charitable  gentle 
man,  very  few,  if  any,  excelled  him.  He  was  constant  and  sin 
cere  in*  his  friendships,  and  seemed  incapable  of  doing  an  inten 
tional  wrong  to  his  fellows,  but  willing  to  do  favors  to  all.  This 
facility  of  temper,  no  doubt,  operated  to  his  injury  in«many  cases, 
yet  he  never  complained.  Considering  his  social  nature,  he  was 
rather  inclined  to  be  taciturn  and  thoughtful.  He  filled  a  large 
space  in  public  estimation,  and  his  death  was  regarded  as  a  ca 
lamity  to  the  city  of  Montgomery,  where  he  had  long  resided, 
and  to  the  State. 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  335 


CHAPTER  XX. 

« 

Session  of  1843 — Judicial  Elections — Personal  Sketches. 

The  members  of  the  Legislature  elected  in  August,  1843, 
assembled  at  the  Capitol  in  Tuskaloosa,  on  Monday,  2d  of  De 
cember. 

The  Senate  was  organized  by  the  election,  unanimously,  of  N. 
Terry,  President;  William  J.  Couch,  of  Coosa,  Secretary;  Geo. 
B.  Clitherall,  Assistant  Secretary,  and  A.  R.  Thomas,  Doorkeeper. 

In  the  House,  A.  B.  Moore  was  unanimously  elected  Speaker. 
The  other  officers  elected  were  Joseph  Phelan,  Principal  Clerk; 
A.  B.  Clitherall,  Assistant  Clerk;  Wilson  C.  Bibb,  Engrossing 
Clerk,  and  James  H.  Owen,  Doorkeeper. 

There  was  wanting  in  the  elections  of  1843  that  absorbing  in 
terest  on  the  part  of  the  people  which  governed  the  elections  of 
1842,  whereby  a  very  unusual  amount  of  character  and  ability 
was  secured  in  the  Legislature,  as  preceding  chapters  have  shown. 
Still,  the  elections  of  the  present  year  were  to  some  extent  a 
resemblance  of  the  former  in  the  character  and  efficiency  of  the 
members  returned,  both  in  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representa 
tives,  evidence  of  which  will  appear  in  the  proceedings.  Mr. 
Terry,  the  President  of  the  Senate,  had  much  experience  in  legis 
lation;  and  as  a  presiding  officer,  Mr.  Moore,  Speaker  of  the 
House,  also  had  considerable  experience  as  a  member,  and  at 
once  entered  upon  the  duties  of  the  chair  with  easy  dispatch  of 
public  business. 

The  annual  message  of  the  Governor  was  communicated  to  both 
Houses  on  Tuesday,  by  the  Secretary  of  State.  It  was  altogether 
of  a  business  character,  without  any  allusion  to  Federal  policy,  or 
to  any  political  issues.  The  following  synopsis  is  submitted  for 
the  information  of  the  reader: 

1.  In  reply  to  proposals  by  the  Governor,  for  printing  and  bind 
ing  3,000  copies  of  the  Digest  of  the  Laws  of  Alabama,  prepared 
by  the  Hon.  C.  C.  Clay,  the  contract  had  been  awarded  to  M.  D. 
J.  Slade,  the  lowest  bidder,  at  $7  14  per  page,  and  the  books  de 
livered.  J.  Withers  Clay,  Esq.,  had  been  appointed  to  superin 
tend  the  printing,  in  place  of  the  Hon.  C.  C.  Clay,  who  declined 
that  labor. 


336  ReminiscMices  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

2.  Pursuant  to  act  of  February  13,  1843,  for  the  final  settle 
ment  of  the  aifairs  of  the  Planters7  and  Merchants7  Bank  of  Mo 
bile,  an   injunction   in  the  nature  of  ;a  quo  warrant  o,  had  been 
tiled  by  the  Solicitor  of  the  Mobile  Circuit,  and  the  charter  of  the 
Bank  declared  forfeited,  from  which  no  appeal  had  been  taken. 

3.  Two -Commissioners  for  each  Branch  Bank  of  the  State  had 
been  appointed  to  examine  and  value  the  real  estate  belonging  to 
each.  '  Partial  returns  had  been  made,  and  portions  of  the  estate 
brought  to  sale.     In  some  instances,  the  sale  had  been  deferred  to 
a  more  auspicious  season  in  the  market. 

4.  Under  the  joint  resolutions  of  February  14,  1843,  authoriz 
ing  the  Governor  to  institute  actions  at  law  against  the  President 
and  Directors  of  the  State  Bank  and  Branches,  to  recover  money 
illegally  expended  by  them,  within  the  last  six  years,  Commis 
sioners  had  been  appointed  to  examine  the  Expense  Account  of 
the  Banks,  and  report  the  result  of  their  investigations.     That 
duty  had  been  performed,  and,  in  some  instances,  suits  had  been 
brought,  where  the  excuse  was  not  satisfactory.     The  reports  of 
the   Commissioners   on  the   subject  were   transmitted  with   the 
message. 

5.  Measures  had  been  taken  for  the  extension  to  the  1st  June, 
1850,  of  the  State  bonds  payable  in  1844,  reserving  the  right 
further  to  extend  their  payment,  if  it  should  be  the  pleasure  of 
the  State  hereafter  to  do  so. 

6.  The  President  and  Directors  of  the  State  Bank,  in  presence 
of  the  Governor  and  the  Secretary  of  State,  as  directed  by  law, 
ha,d  destroyed,  during  the  year,  by  burning,  bills  of  the  different 
Branches,  amounting  to  $5,036,697,  and  blank  impressions  to  the 
amount  of  $7,013,428;  and  bills  of  the  State  Bank  had  also  been 
destroyed,  in  like  manner,  amounting  to  $609,416. 

7.  For  the  additional  labor  devolved  upon  the  President  and 
Directors  of  the  State  Bank,  on  the  winding  up  of  the  Branches, 
in  superintending  the  payment  of  interest  on  State  bonds,  and  for 
receiving,  registering  and  destroying  the  redeemed  circulation  of 
the  four  Branches,  an  increase  of  compensation  is  recommended; 
and  also  that  the  number  of  Directors  be  reduced  to  four. 

8.  The  bad  and  doubtful  debts  due  the  Banks  in  the  several 
counties,  having  been  placed  in  the  hands  of  attorneys  for  collec 
tion,  the  labor  of  the  Directors  has  been  thereby  diminished,  so 
as  to  justify,  on  the  score  of  economy,  the  reduction  of  the  num 
ber  in  the  Branch  Banks.     The  Governor  recommends  that  the 
Cashier  be  made  ex-offitio  a  Director,  who,  with  the  President  and 
one  Director,  will  form  a  body  entirely  sufficient  to  manage  the 
business  of  each  Branch.       , 

9.  To  comply  with  the  act  of  Congress,  of  August  16,  1842, 
requiring  authenticated  copies  of  papers  which  have  been  lost  or 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  337 

destroyed,  relating  to  the  claims  of  the  State  for  moneys  expended 
during  the  Indian  hostilities,  to  be  received  as  evidence,  demands 
the  further  attention  of  a  special  agent.  Our  delegation  in  Con 
gress  had  done  all  in  their  power  to  adjust  these  claims.  The 
Governor  recommended  that  a  reasonable  per  cent,  be  allowed 
such  agent  on  sums  that  he  might  collect  from  the  General  Gov 
ernment. 

10.  Relative  to  the  claims  of  Sheriffs  against  the  State  for  the 
support  of  prisoners,  for  which  about  $10,000  was  appropriated  at 
the  last  session,  he  recommends,  as  the  most  equitable  mode,  that 
the  counties  in  which  the  offense  is  committed,  provide  a  special 
fund,  out  of  which  these  claims  should  be  paid,  under  the  control 
of  the  County  Judge  and  Commissioners,  with  power  to  decide 
on  their  correctness,  and  order  their  payment. 

11.  He  again  directs  attention  to  the  law  regulating  the  salary 
of  the  Adjutant  and  Inspector  General,  as  too  vague  and  indefi 
nite  in  the  amount  of  compensation  he  shall  receive. 

12.  The  sum  of  $1,192.00,  out  of  the  $1,500.00  appropriated  at 
the  last  session,  had  been  expended  for  re-covering  the  Capitol. 
The  whole  roof  had  been  re-covered  anew,  except  the  cupola, 
and  that  was  inspected  by  competent  workman,  who  concurred  in 
the  opinion  that  it  was  sound,  and  required  only  some  slight 
repairs,  which  had  been  made. 

13.  The  law  as  to  returns  of  elections  of  members  of  Congress 
requires  amendiment.     Sheriffs  frequently  fail  to  make  returns  of 
elections  important  to  the  people,  thus  defeating  the  popular  will. 
The  Solicitors  of  the  Circuit,  and  the  Grand  Juries  should  be 
required  to  look  into  all  such  irregularities,  and  where  there  is  no 
reasonable  excuse,  prosecutions  should  be  instituted. 

14.  The  first  installment,  amounting  to  $119,207.61,  of  the  two 
per  cent,  fund,  had  been  by  the  Cashier  of  the  State  Bank  invested 
in  United  States  Treasury  notes  bearing  an  interest  of  six  per 
cent. 

15.  Pursuant  to  a  joint  resolution  of  the  Legislature,  Congress 
had  passed  an  act,  authorizing  the  different  Land  Offices  to  receive 
the  bills  of  the  State  Bank  and  Branches  in  payment  of  preemp 
tion  rights,  which  will  form  the  second  installment  of  the  two  per 
cent,  fund,  which  will  probably  be  larger  than  the  first.     Out  of 
this  fund,  $120,000  of  the  money  is  to  be  loaned  to  the  Mont 
gomery  and  West   Point   Railroad   Company.      The  Company, 
through  their  President,  Charles  T.  Pollard,  Esq.,  had  intimated 
an  unwillingness  to  accept  the  loan  on  the  terms  specified  in  the 
act,  and  proposed  some  modifications,  as  will  be  seen  in  the  letter 
of  the  President  accompanying  the  message. 

16.  The  opinion  is  expressed  that  the  amount  on  deposit  in  the 
Banks,  arising  from  the  sale  of  16th  Sections,  is  a  trust  fund  held 

22 


838  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

by  the  State,  the  principal  of  which  should  not  be  touched,  and 
the  interest  alone  applied  to  Education.  He  is  opposed  to  pay 
ing  over  the  amount,  in  currency,  to  the  commissioners  of  the 
townships,  and  suggests  that  a  certificate  of  stock  be  issued  to 
each  township,  renewable  at  the  pleasure  of  the  State,  the  inter 
est  on  which  to  be  appropriated  annually  to  the  purposes  of  edu 
cation. 

17.  In  yielding  his  assent  at  the  last  session  to  the  bills  placing 
the  Branch  Banks  in  liquidation,  the  Governor  did  so  with  some 
degree  of  reluctance,  from  an  apprehension  that  so   sudden  a 
change  in  our  financial  policy  would  have  an  injurious  effect.     But. 
experience  had  removed  that  fear,  and  the  people  have  approved 
the  acts. 

18.  The  operations  of  our  banking  system  are  pronounced  by 
the  Governor  to  be  deceptive  in  theory  and  delusive  in  practice,., 
as  all  forms  of  Bank  credits  must  necessarily  be.     When  a  bad 
currency  is  displaced,  a  better  one  will  fill  the  vacuum,  so  that 
gold  and  silver  will  come  in  from  foreign  exchanges,  until  the 
level  of  currency  and  prices  is  fully  established,  of  which  Louis 
iana  and  Mississippi  already  furnish  examples. 

19.  As  an  effectual  way  of  closing  up  the  Banks,  the  plates  on 
which  the  bills  were  printed,  should  be  destroyed,  an  omission  in 
the  act  of  the  last  Legislature  requiring  the  bills  to  be  burned. 

20.  State  bonds  due  in  1842,  1844,  and  1865,  amounting  in  the 
aggregate  to  $219,000,  have  been  paid  by  the  Huntsville  branch, 
and  are  now  to  be  disposed  of  as  the  Legislature  may  direct.     The 
Governor  recommends  that  they  be  destroyed  by  the  President 
and  Directors  of  the  State  Bank. 

21.  The  tax  imposed  by  the  last  General  Assembly  for  the  sup 
port  of  the  Government,  has  been  cheerfully  submitted  to  by  the 
people.     The  mode  of  assessing  the  tax  on  land,  without  classifi 
cation,  has  not  been  generally  approved,  and  should  be  modified 
to  meet  the  wishes  of  the  people. 

22.  The  public  faith  must  be  protected.     Honor  and  interest 
demand  it  at  any  sacrifice  of  a  temporary  convenience.     The  Gov 
ernor  says  "  in  parting  Avith  a  portion  of  our  property  in  discharg 
ing  a  public  debt,  we  are  only  going  to  the  expense  of  preserving 
a  principle,  which  renders  the  remainder  more  secure,  and  there 
fore  more  valuable." 

23.  With  our  usual  punctuality,  the  interest  on  our  State  has 
been  paid  for  1843,  and  ample  means  are  in  the  banks  to  pay  the 
interest  due  in  1844.     [The  Bank  reports  show  it  to  be  $471,- 
507.80.]     Tne  Governor  recommends  that  a  sufficient  fund  be 
raised  by  taxation  to  provide,  permanently,  for  all  payments  of 
interest  in  the  future. 

24.  At  great  expense  to  the  State  at  every  session  the  General 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  339 

Assembly  is  called  upon  for  a  vast  quantity  of  special  legislation, 
such  as  constituting  married  women  free  traders,  as  fames  sole;  in 
corporating  small  towns  and  villages;  commercial,  manufacturing 
and  mining  companies;  special  tax  laws;  establishing  toll-gates 
and  ferries;  besides  many  other  subjects  purely  local  and  special 
in  their  character — all  of  which  might  be  transferred,  by  a  general 
act,  to  the  Courts  of  Chancery,  to  the  Circuit  Courts,  and  to  the 
County  Courts,  in  classes  to  suit  the  exigency. 

25.  The  University,  under  its  present  able  faculty,  is  receiving, 
as  it  merits,  a  liberal  patronage  from  the  public,  as  a  nursery  of 
the  talents  of  young  men  who  are  destined  to  fill  important  sta 
tions  in  society.     Provision  by  law  is  recommended  to  relieve  the 
institution  of  the  large  drain  upon  it,  in  the  form  of  interest  to 
the  State  Bank. 

26.  The  Constitution  requiring  the  census  of  Alabama  to  be 
t&ken,  in  1844,  provision  by  law  is  recommended  for  that  purpose. 

27.  Two  certain  lots  in  Mobile,  belonging  to  the  Branch  Bank, 
as  a  part  of  its  real  estate,  have  been  excluded  from  sale,  at  the 
request  of  the  Medical  Society  of  Mobile,  who  intend  to  memori 
alize  the  Legislature  to  make  a  donation  of  these  lots  to  the  So 
ciety,  for  the  purpose  of  founding  a  Medical  College.     As  the  lots 
were  not  likely  to  depreciate  in  value  from  the  postponement,  the 
Governor  was  willing  to  leave  the  way  open  to  their  final  dis 
position  by  the  General  Assembly. 

28.  Among  the  vacancies  which  had  occurred  in  judicial  offices 
since  the  last  adjournment,  was  that  caused  by  the  resignation  of 
the  Hon.  Henry  Goldthwaite,  Judge  of  the  Supreme  Court;  of 
two  Judges  of  the  Circuit  Court,  one  Solicitor,  the  Quarter-Master- 
General,  and  the  Judges  of  the  County  Courts  of  eight  counties. 

29.  The  Governor  says  that,  on  the  6th  of  October,  he  made 
the  annual  visit,  as  required  by  law,  to  the  Penitentiary,  and  ex- 
,amined  the  prison  and  convicts,  with  that  scrutiny  which  the  act 
required  him  to  perform,  and  which  duty  seemed  to  demand. 
The  result  of  the  examination  satisfied  him,  that  neatness  and 
order  pervaded  the  institution,  and  that  a  proper  discipline  ap 
peared  to  characterize  its  operations. 

30.  The  annual  report  of  the  Inspectors,  submitted  with  the 
message,  suggests  some  alterations  in  the  Penal  Code,  Avhich  seem 
to  be  salutary,  in  the  administration  of  criminal  justice. 

The  message  was  read  and  laid  on  the  table,  and  in  the  House 
3,000  copies  ordered  to  be  printed. " 

A  joint  Committee  of  Arrangements,  having  prepared  for  the 
ceremony,  Gov.  FITZPATRICK  was  inaugurated  for  a  second  term, 
on  Friday,  December  8,  in  presence  of  both  Houses,  and  of  a 
large  audience  in  the  lobby  and  gallery,  including  a  rich  display 
of  beauty  and  fashion  by  the  fair  sex. 


540  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

This  may  be  noted  as  a  quiet,  short  session,  the  Legislature  de 
voting  itself  mainly  to  such  amendments  as  the  experience  of  the 
year  suggested,  under  the  measures  of  the  last  session  relating  to 
the  Banks  and  the  revenue.  The  subject  of  apportionment  of  the 
members  of  the  General  Assembly,  and  the  White  and  Mixed 
basis,  was  brought  forward  early  in  the  session,  by  Mr.  Marion  D. 
K.  Taylor,  one  of  the  Kepresentatives  from  Butler.  It  is  proper 
to  remark  that,  in  the  elections  of  1843,  the  issue  of  the  basis  of 
apportionment  made  at  the  last  session,  was  raised  in  many  counties 
in  which  candidates  called  "  Mixed  Basis "  Democrats  were  in  the 
field,  and  which  counties  were  otherwise  Whig,  and,  in  some  in 
stances,  they  were  elected.  Mr.  Taylor  was  a  Democrat,  in  favor 
of  the  mixed  basis.  His  resolutions  are  the  following : 

Resolved  by  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives  of  the  State  of  Alabama  in 
General  Assembly  convened,  That  the  only  true  measure  of  political  power  guaran 
teed  to  the  States  of  this  Union  by  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States,  touching 
their  Federal  representation,  is  the  enumeration  of  the  whole  number  of  free  per 
sons  in  each  State,  including  those  bound  to  service  for  a  term  of  years,  and 
excluding  Indians,  not  taxed,  and  three-fifths  of  all  other  persons. 

2.  Be  it  further  Resolved,  That  in  the  organization  of  Congressional  Districts  in 
a  particular  State,  in  view  of  furnishing  her  Federal  representation  under  the 
district  system,  equality  of  political  power  among  the  several  Districts,  should  be 
the  governing  principle,  and  the  adoption  of  any  other  rule  or  basis  giving  more 
political  power  to  one  District  than  to  another,  is  manifestly  unequal  and  unjust, 
and  in  violation  of  the  representative  principle  of  the  Federal  Government,  as 
fixed  by  the  Constitution  thereof. 

3.  Be  it  further  Resolved,  That  the  Federal  representatives  of  this  Union  de 
rived  their  power,  and  are  based  on,  persons  numbered,  and  not  in  territory ;  that 
those  individuals  are  the  whole  number  of  free  persons,  including  those  bound  to 
service  for  a  term  of  years,  and  excluding  Indians  not  taxed,  three-fifths  of  all 
other  persons ;  therefore,  in  the  formation  of  Congressional  Districts,  and  in  the 
computation  of  political  power  due  to  each,  to  discard  one  of  the  elements  of  Fed-, 
eral  representation  admits  the  right  to  disregard  another  or  all ;  and  the  asser^ 
tion  of  such  right  on  the  part  of  a  State  is  of  mischievous  tendency,  and  highly 
dangerous  in  its  character,  destructive  of  a  representative  principle  dear  to  the 
Southern  States,  and  in  violation  of  the  Constitution  of  the  Union. 

4.  Resolved  further,  That  the  Congressional  Representation  of  this  Union  is  not 
Federal,  but  National  in  its  character,  viz :  The  representatives  under  the  district 
system,  must  spring  directly  from  their  respective  basis  or  numbers  entitled  to  be 
represented ;    and  the  doctrine  which  accords  to  a  State  the  power,  in  providing 
her  Federal  representation,  of  exercising  the  wild  discretion  of  wholly  disregard 
ing  this  beautiful  and    cherished  feature  of  this  Government,  well  merits  the 
universal  condemnation  of  the  friends  of  civil  liberty. 

6.  Be  it  further  Resolved,  That  the  resolution  adopted  at  the  last  session  of  the 
General  Assembly  of  this  State,  averring  that  the  Congressional  Districts  in  this 
State  be  formed  on  what  is  termed  the  "  White  Basis,"  does  not  meet  the  appro 
bation  of  this  body,  and  the  same  is  hereby  rescinded. 

Be  it  further  Resolved,  That  the  Governor  is  hereby  required  to  transmit  a  copy 
of  the  foregoing  resolutions  to  the  Governors  of  each  of  the  States  of  this  Union, 
with  a  request  that  they  be  laid  before  their  respective  Legislatures,  and  that  our 
Senators  and  Representatives  in  Congress  be  also  furnished  with  a  copy  of  the 


The  resolutions  gave  rise  to  an  extended  debate,  in  which  most 
of  the  gentlemen  participated  who  were  in  the  habit  of  address- 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabcwia.  341 

ing  the  House.  There  was  great  earnestness  on  both  sides.  The 
friends  of  the  resolutions  had  strong  hopes,  and,  indeed,  some 
prospect  at  first  to  pass  the  whole  series;  but  by  fighting  off,  and 
avoiding  a  direct  vote,  the  machinery  employed  to  defeat  them, 
they  were  weakened,  until  at  last  virtually  defeated  by  postpone 
ment  to  a  late  day,  and  when  that  day  arrived,  the  resolutions 
were  laid  on  the  table,  by  a  vote  of  yeas  47,  nays  28.  The  ques 
tion  was  not  directly  discussed  in  the  Senate,  which  awaited  the 
action  of  the  House. 

There  was  a  good  deal  of  skirmishing  on  Federal  politics,  and 
during  the  session  both  parties  held  large,  intelligent,  and  influ 
ential  Conventions  at  the  Capitol,  to  organize  for  the  Presidential 
contest  of  1844.  The  Democratic  Convention  met  first.  There 
was  some  division  in  the  party  between  the  friends  of  Mr.  Van 
Buren  and  those  of  Mr.  Calhoun,  as  to  who  should  be  the  choice 
of  Alabama  in  the  Nominating  Convention,  and  leaders  were  active 
in  their  support  of  the  claims  of  their  respective  favorites.  Mr. 
George  W.  Gayle  and  Benjamin  G.  Shields  were  prominent  in 
support  of  the  former,  while  Judge  Meek  and  others  were  upon 
the  side  of  the  latter.  The  Convention  voted  by  counties  on  a 
basis  of  political  strength  reported  by  a  Business  Committee,  and 
the  result  of  the  vote  favored  the  nomination  of  Mr.  Van  Buren. 
A  platform  of  principles  was  adopted,  and  delegates  were  ap 
pointed  to  the  National  Democratic  Convention  to  meet  in  Balti 
more,  in  May,  to  nominate  candidates  for  President  and  Vice- 
Presideut  of  the  United  States. 

The  Whig  Convention  met  late  in  the  session,  and  there  was  a 
large  attendance  of  delegates.  There  was  no  difference  among 
them  as  to  their  choice  for  the  Presidency — all  eyes  being  turned 
to  Mr.  Clay  as  the  unanimous  choice.  Delegates  were  appointed 
to  the  Whig  Nominating  Convention,  also  to  meet  in  Baltimore, 
and  an  Electoral  Ticket  was  organized. 

The  Whig  Convention  was  presided  over  by  Capt.  NICHOLAS 
DAVIS,  of  Limestone,  a  gentleman  venerable  in  years,  of  great 
experience  in  public  affairs,  and  of  the  highest  personal  worth.  He 
was  a  Representative  in  the  first  Legislature  held  in  Alabama,  in 
1819.  Subsequently,  from  1820  to  1828  inclusive,  he  was  a 
member  of  the  Senate,  and  for  five  sessions  was  its  President. 

Until  the  Winter  of  1843,  it  was  never  my  privilege  to  form 
his  acquaintance.  He  had  long  retired  from  public  life,  owing, 
perhaps,  to  the  strength  of  the  Democratic  party  in  his  county, 
and  in  that  section  of  the  State.  He  occupied  a  high  rank,  how 
ever,  in  the  estimation  of  all  parties  as  a  citizen,  and  for  faithful 
public  services ;  and  in  the  councils  of  the  Whig  party  his  views 
were  received  with  confidence.  He  was  placed  at  the  head  of 
the  Whig  Electoral  Ticket  for  1844,  and  his  speech  at  the  close 


342  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabarriti,. 

of  the  Convention,  in  taking  leave  of  his  fellow- Whigs,  was  very 
impressive.  He  was  truly  the  "old  man  eloquent."  He  was  a 
great  lover  of  his  country,  and  in  alluding  to  its  future  under  a 
good  government,  and  the  visions  opened  to  him  in  the  dis 
tance,  and  the  important  influence  the  Whig  party  was  destined 
to  exert  in  developing  the  energies  and  greatness  of  the  country, 
he  became  overpowered  with  his  emotions,  which  brought  relief 
in  a  flood  of  tears  as  he  took  his  seat. 

In  1847,  Captain  Davis  was  the  candidate  of  the  Whig  party 
for  Governor,  in  opposition  to  the  Hon.  Reuben  Chapman;  but 
the  Whigs  being  in  a  minority  in  the  State,  he  was  defeated.  Not 
many  years  thereafter,  he  died. 

Captain  Davis  was  a  Virginian.  His  wife,  whose  maiden  name 
was  Martha  Hargrave,  belonged  to  an  old  and  wealthy  Quaker 
family,  and  was  related  to  the  Pleasants  and  Raglands,  of  Vir 
ginia.  She  was  a  beautiful  and  accomplished  lady,  and  made  an 
admirable  and  devoted  wife.  In  her  household,  which  was  Whig 
head-quarters  in  North-Alabama,  for  many  years,  she  dispensed  a 
liberal  and  elegant  hospitality. 

Col.  Jeremiah  Clemens,  in  dedicating  his  work  entitled  "Mus 
tang  Gray,"  to  Nicholas  Davis,  the  son — after  speaking  of  the  en 
dearing  associations  and  friendships  with  him  which  prompted  it — 
uses  this  language  in  relation  to  his  parents: 

But  it  is  not  these  alone  that  move  me  to  write  your  name  on  the  first  page  of 
this  volume.  The  last  words  your  mother  was  ever  heard  to  speak,  were  words  of 
warm  regard  for  me ;  and,  to  the  hour  of  his  death,  your  father  honored  me  with 
a  friendship  which  is  among  my  proudest  recollections.  In  the  whole  range  of  my 
acquaintance,  I  have  never  known  two  persons  more  remarkable  for  unswerving  in 
tegrity  of  thought  and  action,  or  more  distinguished  for  a  lofty  scorn  of  all  that 
was  low  or  vile  in  humanity. 

Such  a  testimonial  attests  the  character  of  this  lady  as  an  orna 
ment  of  society,  whose  example  can  not  fail  to  have  a  salutary 
influence  on  the  daughters  of  Alabama. 

Her  husband  possessed  ample  means  to  support  his  establish 
ment  in  the  true  Virginia  style,  so  renowned  for  its  genuine  cour 
tesies.  He  was  fond  of  blooded  stock,  and  always  had  the  best 
around  him,  particularly  of  fine  horses.  He  devoted  much  of  his 
time  to  the  raising  of  blooded  horses  and  cattle,  and  to  his  efforts 
and  example  North-Alabama  is  much  indebted  for  its  superior  ad 
vantages  in  that  respect. 

It  is  only  just  to  say,  in  conclusion,  that  in  Virginia,  and  from 
Virginia  society,  Captain  Davis  imbibed  the  ideas  and  principles 
which  influenced  and  adorned  his  subsequent  life.  He  raised  a 
large  family  in  Alabama,  some  of  whom  are  mentioned  elsewhere 
in  this  work.  While  living,  his  character  was  without  reproach, 
and  now  that  he  has  passed  away,  his  memory  is  held  in  the  strict- 


Reminiscences  of  PMic  Men  in  Alabama.  343 

est  reverence  by  those  who  knew  him,  without  regard  to  former 
party  distinctions. 

Resuming  the  narrative  of  party  movements  during  the  session 
of  1843,  it  may  be  remarked,  that  the  Conventions  and  the  Legis 
lature  brought  together  many  leading  spirits  from  the  different 
portions  of-  the  State,  who  did  not  fail,  in  their  respective  political 
spheres,  to  achieve  all  that  was  possible,  not  only  to  advance  their 
own  interests,  but  to  embarrass  their  opponents  by  the  introduc 
tion  of  issues,  out  of  which  capital  was  to  be  made  in  the  political 
canvass.  In  this  respect  the  Whigs,  being  in  a  minority,  and  hav 
ing  shrewd^and  experienced  party  leaders,  had  the  advantage,  of 
which  an  instance  is  here  given. 

Mr.  Hubbard,  Chairman  of  the  Committee  on  Federal  Relations, 
reported  joint  resolutions  in  regard  to  the  protective  policy.  Mr. 
Baldwin,  of  Sumter,  a  prominent  Whig,  offered  this  amendment: 
"Be  it  further  resolved,  That  we  disapprove  of  the  refusal  of  the 
present  Congress  to  repeal  or  modify  the  existing  Tariff  laws." 

This  amendment,  Mr.  Hubbard  moved  to  lay  upon  the  table, 
and  it  was  carried  by  yeas  and  nays,  every  Democrat  voting  in 
the  affirmative,  and  every  Whig  in  the  negative.  Unfortunately 
for  many  Democrats  who  voted  for  laying  the  ameaidment  on  the 
table,  there  was  nothing  upon  the  Journal  of  the  House  to  ex 
plain  why  this  vote  was  given — that  the  amendment  was  offered 
by  a  Whig  as  a  mere  trap  to  hobble  the  Democratic  party.  Han 
dled  by  expert  Whigs  the  next  year,  it  caused  many  Democrats 
to  be  beaten,  or  obliged  them  to  give  way  to  others. 

Mr.  Howard,  of  Monroe,  a  young  member,  but  a  zealous,  bold 
Whig,  who  took  a  leading  part  on  political  questions,  offered  as  an 
amendment : 

That  no  tariff  but  a  horizontal  tariff  is  constitutional ;  that  a  horizontal  tariff 
toeans  an  ad  valorem  duty  upon  the  necessaries  of  life  and  luxuries,  indiscrimi 
nately. 

This  amendment  was  cut  off  by  the  previous  question.  Mr. 
Howard  was  in  advance  of  many  members  of  the  House.  Mr. 
George  Williams,  of  Henry,  a  political  friend  of  Mr.  Howard, 
said,  in  a  few  humorous  remarks,  that  he  thought  it  would  be  a 
good  time  to  simplify  the  issue  upon  the  tariff,  and  with  that  view 
he  moved  to  strike  out  "horizontal"  in  the  resolution,  and  insert 
"perpendicular"  as  the  better  suited  to  the  understanding  of 
members. 

Mr.  Howard  also  brought  forward  a  joint  resolution  relative  to 
the  share  to  which  Alabama  was  entitled  from  the  proceeds  of  the 
sale  of  the  public  lands,  under  act  of  Congress.  His  preamble 
and  resolution  are  the  following: 

WHEREAS,  The  State  of  Alabama,  as  one  of  the  members  of  this  Union,  is 
entitled  to  all  the  rights  and  benefits  arising  under  the  administration  of  the  same  j 


344  &emini<iccnce&  tf  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

and  whereas,  the  Government  of  the  United  States,  at  the  first  session  of  the 
twenty-seventh  Congress,  by  an  act  approved  fourteenth  September,  A.D.,  one 
thousand  eight  hundred  and  forty-one,  appropriated  the  proceeds  of  the  sales  of 
the  public  lands,  and  provided  thereby  with  a  certain  proviso  therein  named,  that 
said  proceeds  should  be  divided  among  the  twenty-six  States  of  the  Union,  and 
the  District  of  Columbia,  and  the  Territories  of  Wisconsin,  Iowa  and  Florida, 
according  to  their  respective  Federal  representative  population,  as  ascertained  by 
the  last  Census,  to  be  applied  by  the  Legislatures  of  said  States  to  such  purposes 
as  the  Legislatures  may  direct:  And  whereas,  according  to  the  deeds  of  cession 
and  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States,  said  act  of  Congress  is  constitutional : 
And  whereas,  the  State  of  Alabama  in  accepting  her  share  of  said  proceeds  will 
receive  that  which  is  due  her  as  a  sovereign  State. 

And  whereas,  it  is  more  in  accordance  with  the  honesty,  patriotism  and  sover 
eignty  for  a  State  to  accept  her  own  than  refuse  so  to  do,  upoi^the  ground  that 
such  acceptance  will  corrupt  her  free  and  independent  people,  as  the  people  of  the 
United  States  are  known  to  be  by  the  written  constitution  of  their  several  States, 
and  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States,  and  by  their  act  from  the  day  of  the 
declaration  of  Independence  to  the  present  time :  And  whereas,  it  is  the  policy  of 
the  State  of  Alabama,  from  the  great  embarrassment  in  her  finances,  to  resort  to 
every  legitimate  source  of  revenue,  whether  from  that  source  is  derived  much  or 
little,  to  redeem  her  pledges,  and  to  defray  the  expenses  of  her  Government. 
Therefore, 

Be  it  Resolved  by  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives  of  the  State  of  Alabama 
in  General  Assembly  convened,  That  it  is  expedient  for  the  Legislature  of  this 
State  to  pass  a  law  providing  for  the  acceptance  of"  the  proceeds  of  the  public 
lands  according  to  the  aforesaid  act  of  Congress. 

By  a  vote  of  28  to  56,  the  House  refused  to  adopt  this  resolu 
tion,  because  at  the  time  the  Democratic  party  were  opposed  to 
the  policy  of  distribution,  regarding  it  as  an  offer  to  bribe  the 
States  with  money.  Mr.  Howard  doubtless  anticipated  the  fate 
of  his  resolution,  and  he,  too,  may  have  agreed  with  Mr.  Adams 
who  voted  for  the  measure  in  Congress.  When  a  gentleman 
remonstrated  with  him  at  the  passage  of  the  bill,  saying  it  was 
useless,  as  the  States  would  reject  it,  Mr.  Adams  replied,  "they 
will  likely  reject  it  at  first,  but  it  is  money,  and  they  will  accept  it 
after  a  while."  And  it  turned  out  to  be  so  with  Alabama.  The 
Legislature  rejected  it  at  this  session,  and  the  next;  but  in  1845 
it  was  thought  it  would  aid  to  the  extent  of  a  few  thousand  dol 
lars  in  providing  the  means  to  pay  the  public  indebtedness — so 
the  Legislature  passed  a  joint  resolution  to  accept  it. 

JUDICIAL  ELECTIONS. 

As  mentioned  in  the  Governor's  message,  a  vacancy  existed 
by  the  resignation  of  the  Hon.  Henry  Goldthwaite  as  Judge  of 
the  Supreme  Court.  In  the  meantime,  the  Hon.  C.  C.  Clay  had 
been  appointed  by  the  Executive  to  fill  the  place  temporarily. 
Judge  Goldthwaite  having  been  defeated  for  Congress,  desired  to 
occupy  his  former  station  as  a  matter  of  justice  for  the  sacrifice  he 
had  made ;  but  it  seems  that  Judge  Clay  was  not  disposed  to  yield 
as  a  mere  party  convenience.  A  competition  ensued  between 


Iteminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 


345 


these  gentlemen,  which  was  decided  on  joint  ballot  of  the  two 
Houses  in  favor  of  the  former — Goldthwaite,  71 ;  Clay,  55. 

For  the  3d  Judical  Circuit,  the  contest  was  longer  and  more 
stubborn,  as  the  ballotings  indicate : 

1st,        2d.       3d.       4th.      5lh.      6th.     1th. 

For  Walker  K.  Baylor 51,  50,  54,  54,  57,  62,  71 

For  William  Cochran 15,  14,  12,  12,  11,  8,  * 

For  Sydenham  Moore 35,  33,  35,  37,  35,  39,  57 

For  John  W.  Wornack 30,  33,  30,  30,  26,  20,  * 


For  JucPge  of 'the  8th  Circuit,  George  Goldthwaite  and  Abram 
Martin,  Esquires,  were  in  nomination,  when  the  former  was 
elected — the  vote  being  71  to  54. 

For  Judge  of  the  9th  Circuit,  Messrs.  Sampson  W.  Harris, 
Green  T.  McAfee,  L.  B.  Robertson,  George  D.  Shortridge,  John 
J.  Steiner  and  George  W.  Stone,  were  in  nomination . 


1st 

2d 

:M 

4th 

5th 

6th 

7th 

8th 

9th 

10th 

llth 

35 

94 

37 

39 

39 

33 

30 

7 

9 

4 

McAfee  .. 

7 

4 

3 

* 

Robertson  

31 

29 

* 

Steiner     

9 

9 

4 

* 

Shortridge  ....         .... 

40 

4? 

46 

49 

48 

49 

49 

53 

5?, 

51 

56 

Stone  

18 

18 

32 

41 

41 

45 

47 

48 

50 

56 

58 

On  the  eleventh  ballot,  as  shown  by  the  above  table,  Mr.  Stone 
was  elected. 

For  the  office  of  Attorney-General,  the  contest  was  still  more 
earnest  and  protracted,  seven  gentlemen,  to- wit :  Messrs.  Benjamin 
F.  Porter,  William  R.  Smith,  Robert  T.  Clyde,  B.  L.  Defrese, 
Thomas  D.  Clarke,  Henry  Stith,  and  Joseph  Phelan,  having  been 
placed  in  nomination,  with  the  following  result: 


1st 

2d 

3d 

4th 

5th 

6th 

7th 

8th 

9th 

10th 

llth 

12th 

IBth 

14th 

15th 

Clarke  
Clyde 

21 
17 

21 
14 

18 
14 

24 
10 

25 
q 

28 

5 

35 

8 

42 

* 

41 

37 

41 

44 

51 

60 

65 

Defreese  
Phelan  
Porter 

24 
22 
14 

25 

20 
16 

23 

19 
15 

31 
23 
16 

30 
27 

18 

34 
31 

17 

85 
36 

* 

39 
36 

40 
39 

34 
42 

16 
34 

38 
29 

36 
26 

50 

* 

62 

Stith  

13 

13 

12 

13 

9 

11 

5 

* 

Smith  

IS 

18 

15 

10 

9 

6 

3 

6 

6 

4 

12 

14 

13 

16 

* 

The  ballotings  for  Attorney-General  occupied  a  portion  of  two 
days.  On  the  15th  ballot,  Mr.  Clarke  was  declared  duly  elected. 

For  Solicitor  of  the  2d  Circuit,  Franklin  K.  Beck  and  Thomas 
J.  Judge,  Esquires,  were  the  candidates,  •  when  the  former  was 
elected— 72  to  56. 


*Withdrawn. 


346 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 


For  Solicitor  of  the  8th,  known  as  the  Montgomery  Circuit, 
eight  gentlemen  were  candidates,  as  the  several  ballotings  will 
show : 


1st 

2d 

3d 
49 

14 
13 

5 
23 

I1 

4th 

5th 

Marion  A.  Baldwin  

35 
2 
13 
14 
16 
19 
9 
10 

41 

* 

16 
16 
12 
19 
16 
# 

49 

15 
13 

* 

30 
13 

65 
* 

•X- 

32 
22 

Elkin  Heydenfeldt  

Lewis  Kennedy                   ...             .  .  .  .  . 

W  C.  Ligon                   

George  C.  Ball     .           

James  M.  Wiley  

Mr.  Baldwin  having  received 
was  declared  duly  elected  on  the 

a  majority  of  all  the  votes  cast, 
fifth  ballot. 

MILITARY   ELECTIONS. 

For  Adjutant  and  Inspector-General,  Gen.  James  G.  Carroll, 
the  incumbent,  and  James  W.  Lang,  were  in  nomination,  when 
the  latter  was  elected — 72  to  48. 

For  Quartermaster-General,  Messrs.  Carter  R.  Harrison,  James 
H.  Owen,  James  M.  Norment,  and  John  Arnett,  were  in  nomina 
tion.  On  the  fifth  ballot,  Mr.  Harrison  received  62  votes,  Mr. 
Norment  16,  and  Mr.  Owen  43 — Mr.  Arnett  being  withdrawn. 
Mr.  Harrison  was,  therefore,  elected. 

It  may  be  proper  to  state,  for  the  information  of  those  who  have 
never  witnessed  an  election  by  the  General  Assembly,  or  who  are 
not  otherwise  acquainted  with  the  manner  of  proceeding,  that  a 
full  vote  of  the  two  Houses  on  joint  ballot  is  133;  that  the  roll 
has  to  be  called  on  each  ballot,  and  the  name  of  every  Senator 
and  Representative  entered  upon  the  Journal,  with  that  of  the 
candidate  for  whom  he  voted.  Thus,  in  the  forty-five  ballotings 
for  the  Judicial  and  Military  officers  noticed  as  of  the  session  of 
1843,  the  names  of  the  133  members  are  repeated  on  the  Journals 
of  the  Senate  and  House,  until  they  amount  to  12,000,  or  there 
about,  occupying  24  pages  of  the  printed  Journal.  All  this  is  un 
avoidable,  as  the  Constitution  requires  these  entries  to  be  made, 
as  a  permanent  record.  In  the  elections  for  Bank  Directors,  in 
former  days,  when  candidates  by  the  score  swarmed  for  each  Bank, 
the  trouble  of  conducting  the  ballots,  and  the  expense  of  printing 
the  Journals,  must  have  been  ten-fold. 


Some  of  the  gentlemen  who  were  candidates  for  office  at  "this 
session,  have  been  noticed  in  the  preceding  pages  of  this  work. 
To  others  I  will  now  give  my  attention,  as  briefly  as  circumstances 
will  permit. 


*  Withdrawn. 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  *  347 

WILLIAM  COCHKAN  was  a  Northern  man  of  Irish  descent,  who 
settled  in  Tuskaloosa  some  years  prior  to  1837,  and  became  a  law- 
partner  of  Gen.  Crabb,  which  relation  existed  many  years.  He 
was  a  chaste  scholar,  modest  and  somewhat  reserved,  and  his  argu 
ments  in  court  were  remarkable  for  clearness,  maturity  of  prepar 
ation,  and  force.  On  the  trial  of  Washington  Moody,  Esq.,  in 
1840,  for  killing  Major  John  Cantley,  in  Tuskaloosa,  Mr.  Cochran 
was  of  counsel,  with  Mr.  Ellis  and  the  Hon.  J.  L.  Martin,  for  the 
defense,  and  greatly  distinguished  himself  by  his  cogent  and  elo 
quent  display  on  the  occasion,  which  resulted  in  the  acquittal  of 
Mr.  Moody. 

The  business  qualifications  of  Mr.  Cochran  were  of  such  a  high 
order,  that  he  was  the  Commissioner  of  every  State  in  the  Union, 
it  is  believed,  for  attesting  the  execution  of  deeds  and  other  legal 
instruments,  and  for  the  taking  of  depositions,  to  be  used  as  evi 
dence  in  other  States.  Gov.  Fitzpataick  availed  the  State  of  his 
services  as  a  Director  of  the  State  Bank  in  winding  up  that  insti 
tution,  counting,  registering,  and  burning  the  bills  and  blank  im 
pressions. 

For  several  years  the  health  of  Mr.  Cochran  gave  way  under  a 
pulmonary  affection,  and  he  died  in  the  meridian  of  life,  much  re 
gretted  by  those  who  knew  his  exalted  qualities  in  professional 
and  social  life.  He  married  a  daughter  of  Mr.  Hardiu  Perkins, 
of  Tuskaloosa,  which  connection  enlarged  his  influence  and  con 
tributed  to  his  prosperity.  He  always  maintained  a  high  position 
in  society.  He  was  a  nephew  of  Dr.  Cochran,  of  Pickens  county, 
who  married  the  worthy  widow  of  Col.  Joseph  Blackshear,  of 
Laurens  county,  Georgia,  and  sister  of  Col.  William  A.  Teunille, 
the  former  Secretary  of  State  at  Milledgeville. 

GEORGE  W.  STONE  is  a  Temiesseean  by  birth  and  education, 
and  settled  in  Talladega  about  1835,  where  he  at  once  entered 
upon  the  practice  of  the  law,  and  his  progress  is  shown  by  the 
office  to  which  he  succeeded  in  1843,  on  the  death  of  Judge  Eli 
Shortridge,  who,  at  the  session  of  1842  defeated  him  before  the 
Legislature. 

Judge  Stone  continued  several  years  on  the  bench,  and  in  1849  his 
name  was  prominently  before  the  Democratic  nominating  Conven 
tion  for  Governor.  Changing  his  residence  to  Lowndcs  county,  he 
was  enabled,  by  his  legal  attainments  and  experience,  and  his  an 
tecedents,  to  enter  at  once  into  a  large  practice.  In  1855,  he  was 
elected  an  Associate  Justice  of  the  Supreme  Court,  which  office 
he  filled  until  the  end  of  the  war.  In  1865,  the  Legislature  en 
gaged  his  services,  in  connection  with  John  W.  Sheppard,  Esq.,  to 
prepare  a  Revised  Penal  Code,  adapted  to  the  change  in  the  inter 
nal  affairs  of  the  State,  brought  about  by  the  results  of  the 


348  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

and  the  Code  now  of  force  in  Alabama  Is  the  labor  of  that  Com 
mission.  Judge  Stone  is  now  engaged  in  the  practice  of  the  law 
in  Montgomery,  a  partner  in  the  firm  of  Stone,  Clopton  &  Clan- 
ton.  His  promotion  to  high  places,  and  the  responsible  trusts  con 
fided  to  him  attest  his  legal  abilities. 

As  a  citizen  and  gentleman  he  is  much  respected,  more  on  ac 
count  of  his  high  moral  worth,  than  for  any  particular  social  quali 
ties.  Judge  Stone  has  been  a  student  a  great  part  of  his  life,  and 
early  habits  of  application  in  stemming  the  currents  of  fortune 
with  which  he  had  to  contend,  while  they  have  contributed  to  de 
velop  his  mental  faculties,  did  little  toward  the  cultivation  of  the 
social.  His  present  accomplished  wife,  whom  he  married  in  1866, 
was  Mrs.  Wright,  a  daughter  of  Mrs.  Harrison,  formerly  of 
Lowndes.  The  Judge  is  a  prominent  member  of  the  Presbyte 
rian  Church.  "With  fine  literary  attainments,  he  has  written  some 
good  poetry,  which  has  been  published. 

THOMAS  D.  CLARKE,  elected  Attorney-General,  was  from 
North  Carolina,  and  came  to  Alabama  when  a  youth,  without 
patrimony,  or  much  education;  but  through  persevering  efforts, 
and  the  practice  of  frugality,  he  was  able  to  qualify  himself  for 
the  bar,  and  settled  in  Talladega.  He  was  not  slow  in  attracting 
public  notice,  and  in  the  summer  of  1843  he  was  nominated  by 
the  Democratic  party  for  the  House,  and  was  elected.  After  he 
obtained  the  office  of  Attorney-General,  he  changed  his  residence 
to  Tuskaloosa,  then  the  seat  of  Government,  where  his  official 
duties  required  his  presence.  It  is  not  unkind  to  say  that  he  was 
ambitious  of  distinction,  and  that  to  open  his  way  to  advancement, 
he  felt  the  necessity  of  applying  all  his  energies  to  his  profession, 
and  to  close  study,  as  the  means  of  success.  In  this  praiseworthy 
labor,  he  perhaps  overtasked  his  physical  powers,  and  the  failure 
of  his  health  was  the  consequence. 

Representing  the  interests  of  the  State  in  the  Supreme  Court, 
where  litigated  points,  civil  and  criminal,  from  Courts  below, 
required  investigation,  the  young  Attorney-General  summoned 
all  his  strength  to  sustain  the  dignity  of  his  office  and  the  interest 
of  the  State.  He  possessed  a  high  moral  courage  which  enabled 
him  to  grapple  with  difficulties  of  any  kind.  His  aim  was  noble, 
and  he  proceeded  straightforward  in  the  line  of  duty.  When  he 
first  appeared  in  his  official  character  in  the  Supreme  Court,  he 
was  a  stranger  to  that  tribunal,  and  was  naturally  embarrassed. 
But  he  toiled  on,  and  by  the  courtesy  of  his  manners,  and  the 
vigilance  and  efficiency  he  displayed,  he  soon  became  a  recognized 
figure,  with  the  respect  of  the  Court.  His  rise  in  professional 
circles  was  rapid — -the  future  bright  and  encouraging.  As  a  gen 
tleman,  his  habits  were  strictly  moral  and  temperate.  The  dream 


Reminiscences  oj  Publio  Men  in  Alabama.  349 

of  life  closed  with  him  in  1847,  ere  he  had  reached  the  zenith. 
A  few  years  previously,  he  had  married  a  sister  of  James  R. 
Powell,  Esq.,  now  of  Montgomery. 

JOSEPH  PHELAN,  of  Tuskaloosa,  was  first  elected  Assistant 
Clerk  of  the  House  in  1838,  and  was  reflected  in  1839  and  1840. 
In  1842,  and  for  several  years  in  succession,  he  was  elected  Clerk 
of  the  House.  In  1845,  he  had  opposition  in  a  very  respectable 
gentleman,  and  received  every  vote  of  the  House,  his  competitor 
not  receiving  a  single  vote.  This  was  painful  to  the  kind  feelings 
of  Mr.  Phelan,  who  sympathised  with  the  defeated  man  more 
than  anybody  else. 

The  character  of  Mr.  Phelan  was  always  moral  and  exemplary. 
He  possessed  strong  religious  emotions,  and  was  a  man  of  deep 
piety.  In  1847,  he  entered  the  ministry  of  the  Methodist  Epis 
copal  Church,  and  labored  with  marked  success  in  the  several 
appointments  to  which  he  was  sent  by  the  Conference.  His 
health  failing,  he  located,  and  settled  in  Coosa  county.  In  1853, 
he  was  elected  Secretary  of  the  Senate,  and  reflected  in  18  55. 
By  this  time  the  condition  of  his  health  brought  him  down  to 
a  sick  room,  where  he  lingered  until  the  latter  part  of  1858,  when 
he  died — a  man  without  reproach,  universally  respected  for  his 
consistent  Christian  deportment  and  his  high  social  qualities.  At 
an  earlier  period  of  his  life  he  married  Miss  Laura  Powell,  a  sis 
ter  of  Col.  James  E.  Powell. 

MARION  A.  BALDWIN,  the  successful  candidjtfe  for  Solicitor  of 
the  8th  Circuit,  was  a  native  Alabamian,  and  from  his  election  to 
his  death  was  engaged  in  the  public  service.  In  1847,  he  was 
elected  Attorney-General  of  the  State,  which  office,  after  the 
removal  of  the  Seat  of  Government  to  Montgomery,  embraced  the 
Solicitorship  of  the  8th  Circuit.  In  1851,  again  in  1855,  and 
again  in  1859  and  1863,  he  was  reflected,"  and  continued  in  office 
until  the  overthrow  of  the  Confederate  cause,  making  a  period  of 
twenty-two  years  in  which  he  was  engaged  as  a  prosecuting  officer 
for  the  State,  during  which  time  his  efficiency  was  acknowledged, 
so  that  no  complaint  was  heard  of  a  want  of  faithfnlnesss,  or  that 
the  majesty  of  the  law,  or  the  dignity  of  the  State,  had  in  any 
degree  been  compromised.  He  represented  the  State  in  all 
cases  in  which  it  was  a  party,  with  an  ability  that  fully  came  up 
to  the  high  standard  of  official  and  professional  duty,  and  the 
same,  elevated  tone  of  character  was  maintained  in  all  the  rela 
tions  of  life. 

The  exalted  qualities  of  Col.  Baldwin  were  obvious  to  all.  As 
a  man,  his  good  nature,  his  accommodating  disposition,  his  pleas 
ant  manner,  his  cheerful  smile  and  beaming  countenance  made 


350  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

him  a  general  favorite.  Entirely  free  from  moroseness,  his  ready 
and  winning  response  to  the  kind  salutations  of  friends,  was  a  joy 
of  itself,  and  will  long  be  remembered  by  hundreds  and  thou 
sands  who  have  respected  and  admired  him.  Of  enemies  he  had 
but  few,  if  any;  for  none  could  be  his  enemy,  unless  from  feel 
ings  of  envy.  He  was  so  kind  and  self-sacrificing  in  his  inter 
course  with  men,  that  I  never  knew  how  any  could  dislike  him. 
His  earthly  career  closed  in  August,  1865,  in  the  meridian  of 
life,  with  bright  prospects  from  mature  character  and  influence 
among  his  fellow-men.  The  name  of  "Gus"  Baldwin  will, 
wherever  mentioned,  fall  pleasantly  upon  the  ear  thoughout  the 
generation  that  knew  him. 

RUSH  ELMORE,  a  son  of  Gen.  John  Elmore,  was  raised  in 
Autauga  county,  and  came  to  the  bar  a  year  or  two  before  this 
contest  for  the  Solicitorship  in  1843.  He  served  in  the  Mexican 
war  as  Captain,  and  returned  home  with  a  good  name  for  bearing, 
and  correct  deportment  as  an  officer.  He  was  soon  after  elected 
Brigadier-General  of  militia.  Continuing  the  practice  of  the 
law  until  1854,  he  was  appointed  by  President  Pierce  a  Judge  of 
the  United  States  Court  in  Kansas,  and  afterward  made  his  resi 
dence  there,  except  that  during  the  war  between  the  States,  he 
retired  to  Texas  as  a  climate  more  congenial  to  his  political  feelings. 
Not  long  thereafter  he  died. 

Judge  Elmore  was  a  gentleman  of  great  warmth  of  social  feel 
ings,  which  were  cultivated  and  developed  in  his  intercourse  with 
his  fellow-citizens.  He  was  honorable  in  his  bearing  and  dealings, 
and  when  he  departed  from  Alabama  to  Kansas,  he  left  behind 
him  many  warm  friends  who  had  already  become  attached  to  him 
though  he  was  still  considered  as  belonging  to  the  class  of  young 
men. 

GEORGE  C.  BALL  was  a  native  of  Virginia,  where  he  was  lib 
erally  educated.  On  his  removal  to  Alabama,  he  settled  in  Mont 
gomery  as  a  member  of  the  legal  profession,  and  was  for  several 
years  associated  in  the  practice  with  Charles  Cromelin,  Esq.  In 
1848,  he  was  appointed  Clerk  of  the  Supreme  Court,  an  office  he 
held  many  years  and  then  resigned.  He  married  a  sister  or  Col. 
Charles  T.  Pollard,  of  Montgomery,  an  alliance  which  secured 
him  a  strong  influence. 

Mr.  Ball  was  a  gentleman  of  fine  person  and  culture,  with  rare 
conversational  powers.  In  addition  to  his  legal  attainments,  he 
possessed  a  business  capacity  which  opened  up  to  him  a  successful 
future.  His  social  qualities  were  of  a  high  order,  and  indulged 
to  excess,  until  that  unguarded  habit  fastened  upon  him  which  too 
often  enslaves  a  warm,  generous  and  confiding  nature  like  his. 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  351 

He  died  before  his  day-star  had  reached  its  meridian.  In  the 
amenities  of  social  and  official  life,  which  the  writer  enjoyed  in 
friendly  intercourse  with  him  for  several  years,  Mr.  Ball  had  but 
few  equals.  He  was  kind  to  everybody  but  himself. 

J.  McCALEB  WILEY  was  born  in  Cabarras  county,  North  Car 
olina,  in  1806.  "While  he  was  at  school  his  father  removed  to 
Alabama,  and  in  1823  he  came  to  his  father  in  Lawrence  county, 
and  in  a  few  years  he  began  a  career  of  adventures. 

From  North- Alabama,  Mr.  Wiley  removed  to  Dallas  county, 
and  thence  emigrated  to  Louisiana  in  1829.  Being  in  bad  health 
lie  was  advised  by  his  friends  to  spend  the  winter  of  1832-3  on 
the  Gulf  of  Mexico.  Accordingly  he  went  to  Matamoras,  and 
stayed  there  until  the  first  of  February.  He  then  started  across 
the  country  to  Paral,  and  was  robbed  on  the  journey.  He  man 
aged  to  get  down  to  Tampico  where  he  was  aided  by  the  Ameri 
cans,  and  he  again  started.  He  found  a  caravan  at  Papanela,  and 
went  with  it  to  the  city  of  Puebla.  Thence  he  set  out  for  Mazat- 
lan  on  the  Pacific,  and  being  two  and  a  half  days  on  the  journey, 
lie  was  again  robbed,  and  then  went  back  to  the  Gulf  at  Tuespan 
where  had  spent  some  time.  Whilst  there  he  was  induced  by 
Gen.  Santa  Anna  to  join  the  regular  army,  and  became  his  Aid- 
de-Camp,  with  the  command  of  a  Major  of  Infantry,  in  Octo 
ber,  1833.  He  remained  in  the  Mexican  army  until  1836,  when 
he  deserted. 

In  the  meantime,  Major  Wiley  passed  through  many  perilous 
adventures,  in  battles  and  otherwise.  Among  them,  he  was 
ordered  to  Texas  in  1836,  and  on  refusing  to  go,  he  was  tried  by 
a  court-martial  and  sentenced  to  be  shot.  He  was  confined  in  the 
castlo  of  San  Juan  de  Ulloa,  at  Vera  Cruz,  when  the  battle  of 
San  Jacinto  was  fought  on  the  21st  of  April,  1836,  and  was  finally 
discharged  from  the  Castle,  and  from  arrest,  without  any  intima 
tion  from  any  human  being  as  to  whom  he  owed  his  deliverance. 
He  always  thought,  however,  that  there  was  a  certain  mysdic,  influ 
ence  which,  by  its  labor  of  love,  wrought  his  liberation.  On  his 
release  from  imprisonment  he  was  ordered  to  duty. 

At  this  time,  the  Americans  in  Mexico  were  in  very  bad  odor, 
and  he  took  the  first  private  opportunity  to  escape,  and  to  return 
to  Alabama,  since  which  time  he  has  remained  a  quiet  citizen, 
with  enough  of  romance  in  his  early  manhood  to  render  old  age 
the  more  tranquil  and  indulgent. 

After  his  return  from  Mexico  to  Alabama,  in  1836,  Mr.  Wiley 
settled  in  Bibb  county.  In  1839,  Chancellor  Crenshaw  appointed 
him  Register  in  Chancery,  when  he  removed  to  Clayton,  Barbour 
county,  where  he  continued  to  reside  until  January,  1850,  Ho 
then  removed  to  Troy,  Pike  county,  his  present  home. 


352  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

In  politics,  Mr.  "Wiley, was  an  old  fashioned  Whig,  and  in  1850 
and  1851,  he  took  an  active  part  with  the  Union  men  to  prevent 
the  mishaps  which  have  since  occurred.  At  an  earlier  period,  so 
far  back  as  1838,  he  was  a  candidate  before  the  Legislature  for  the 
office  of  Solicitor,  and  was  defeated  by  F.  S.  Jackson,  Esq.  As 
some  recognition  of  his  claims  to  public  favor  he  was  elected 
Major-General  of  Militia,  in  the  Barbour  Division.  In  1852, 
Gov.  Crawford,  the  Secretary  of  War,  appointed  him  one  of  the 
Board  of  Visitors  to  the  Military  Academy  at  West-Point. 

Gen.  Wiley  was  elected  Grand  Master  of  the  Grand  Lodge  of 
Masons,  in  Alabama,  of  which  institution  he  is  a  zealous  member. 
In  1865,  he  was  appointed,  by  Gov.  Parsons,  Judge  of  the  Eighth 
Circuit,  but  was  beaten  before  the  people  by  Gen.  Clayton.  In 
1866,  he  was  elected  to  Congress  from  the  Montgomery  District, 
to  supply  the  place  of  Major  Freeman,  but  was  not  permitted  to 
take  his  seat.  When  the  reconstruction  measures  of  Congress  took 
effect  in  Alabama,  he  was  elected  Judge  of  the  Circuit  Court — 
holding  the  office  now,  (1871).  In  social  circles,  Gen.  Wiley  is 
affable,  communicative,  and  companionable. 

Although  some  of  the  gentlemen  who  are  noticed  as  candidates 
in  the  preceding  pages  of  this  chapter,  may  not  have  been  con 
nected  with  public  life,  to  the  extent  of  acting  a  part  in  history, 
still  it  has  been  deemed  proper  to  refer  to  them,  briefly,  while 
passing  through  the  crowd,  to  which  circumstances  have  brought 
the  author  of  this  work  in  a  relation  more  or  less  familiar.  In 
the  next  chapter,  the  course  of  legislative  action  is  resumed,  with 
a  number  of  personal  sketches. 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  353 


CHAPTEE  XXI. 

Session  of  1843   Continued — New  Senators — Sketches  of  the  House. 

But  few  changes  had  been  made  in  the  Senate  by  the  elections 
of  1843.  John  W.  Bishop  succeeded  Gen.  McConnell;  John  A. 
Winston  took  the  place  of  Mr.  J.  E.  Jones;  Gen.  Moses  Kelly 
succeeded  Mr.  Baylor;  Dr.  Berney  succeeded  Judge  Hunter; 
Mr.  Robert  S.  Hardaway  followed  Mr.  Buford ;  Robert  Dougherty 
succeeded  Dr.  Dailey;  Mr.  W.  L.  Yancey  succeeded  Mr.  Hall, 
and  Solomon  McAlpin  succeeded  to  the  seat  of  Judge  Thornton. 
A  passing  notice  of  some  of  these  gentlemen  is  necessary : 

DR.  JAMES  E.  BERNEY,  of  Lowndes,  is  a  South  Carolinian,  and 
served  only  this  session  in  the  Senate.  He  was  a  Whig  of  the 
Henry  Clay  school,  and  upon  party  questions  maintained  his  prin 
ciples.  As  a  legislator,  he  was  active  and  attentive  in  the  dis 
charge  of  his  duties,  to  which  he  brought  a  large  fund  of  informa 
tion.  In  social  life,  his  qualities  shone  brightly,  and  the  zest 
of  his  humor  and  good  nature  brought  about  him  always  a  circle 
of  friends  who  delighted  in  his  society. 

He  came  to  Alabama  a  young  man,  in  the  practice  of  his  pro 
fession,  and  married  a  daughter  of  the  Hon.  Reuben  Saffbld,  who 
was  a  member  of  the  Convention  in  1819  which  framed  the 
State  Constitution,  and  afterward  occupied,  for  years,  a  seat  upon 
the  Supreme  Court  bench.  Dr.  Berney  still  lives,  in  the  vigor 
of  life  and  usefulness  as  a  physician. 

ROBERT  DOUGHERTY,  of  Macon,  was  from  Georgia,  where  he 
graduated  in  the  University,  and  served  in  the  Legislature  of  that 
State.  He  was  a  brother  of  the  Hon.  Charles  Dougherty,  distin 
guished  in  the  legislative  and  judicial  history  of  Georgia,  in  whose 
honor  a  county  has  been  named;  and  also  a  brother  of  William 
Dougherty,  Esq.,  of  Atlanta,  one  of  the  most  eminent  members 
of  the  Southern  bar.  This  family  connection  is  alluded  to  merely 
to  indicate  that  abilities  of  a  high  order  were  natural  in  his  case. 
They  had  been  well  improved  by  education,  and  when  he  ap 
peared  at  the  session  of  1843,  he  was  a  perfect  specimen  of  fine 
health  and  temperate  habits,  openly  espousing  the  temperance 
reform,  and  allying  himself  with  the  movement. 
23 


354  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

He  was  a  Whig  of  very  decided  convictions,  and  could  relate 
anecdotes  Avith  provoking  pungency  to  ridicule  his  opponents,  as 
well  as  to  serve  his  OAvn  cause.  Some  of  his  stories  have  been 
incorporated  in  books,  as  among  the  very  best  from  any  source. 
His  manner  was  inimitable.  He  related  an  adventure  Avhich  he 
professed  to  have  had  with  a  large  alligator  in  the  Alabama  River, 
he  found  sleeping  in  shallow  Avater,  and  whose  back  he  straddled, 
while  the  alarmed  animal  instantly  made  into  deep  water  with 
his  reluctant  rider,  who  had  a  remarkable  voyage  for  a  mile  or 
two,  sometimes  half-drowned,  before  he  could  extricate  himself, 
or  run  his  craft  011  a  sand-bar.  All  the  particulars  of  this  odd 
adventure  were  given  Avith  minute  precision,  and  with  such  grav 
ity,  that  Judge  Collier  Avho  happened  to  be  present,  and  who 
never  indulged  in  humor,  or  suspected  invention  in  others,  was 
much  impressed  by  it,  and  related  it  to  a  number  of  his  friends, 
ladies  and  gentlemen,  at  his  fireside,  as  a  remarkable  instance  of 
the  goodness  of  Providence  in  rescuing  Mr.  Dougherty  from  his 
perilous  situation.  Upon  this  being  casually  mentioned  to  the 
latter  gentleman,  with  a  hint  that  the  pious  Judge  expected  he 
would  become  a  minister  of  the  Gospel  after  such  deliverance, 
almost  as  wonderful  as  that  of  Jonah,  he  seemed  to  be  a  little  con 
fused,  and  desired  his  friend,  the  first  time  he  met  with  the  Judge, 
to  signify  that  the  affair  Avith  the  alligator  had  been  a  little  exag 
gerated — in  fact,  that  it  had  never  occurred  at  all,  and  was  intended 
merely  as  a  joke  to  amuse  the  company.  In  what  light  the  grave 
Chief  Justice  regarded  the  veracity  of  Mr.  Dougherty  aftonvard, 
or  his  peculiar  qualifications  for  the  ministry,  never  transpired. 
The  great  story-teller  Avas  often  bantered  on  the  subject  by  his 
jovial  companions;  but  he  seemed  not  to  relish  the  fun,  and  begged 
as  a  favor  that  they  would  say  no  more  about  it. 

The  practical  jokes  of  Mr.  Dougherty  were  sometimes  very  ex- 
pensive  to  his  friends,  in  the  way  of  comfort.  He  weighed  not  less 
than  two  hundred  pounds,  and  Avas  the  very  picture  of  robust, 
vigorous  manhood.  He  was  very  intimate  with  Mr.  A.  B.  Clith- 
erall,  Assistant  Clerk  of  the  House,  who  Avas  a  tall,  sickly-looking 
man,  though  full  of  Avit  and  humor,  and  always  ready  for  a  prank. 
Mr.  Dougherty  assured  him  that  cold  bathing,  Summer  and  Win 
ter,  every  morning,  would  make  him  as  stout  and  healthy  as  him 
self,  and  begged  Mr.  Clitherall  to  accompany  him  in  one  of  his 
visits  to  the  Warrior  River,  at  Tuskaloosa,  Avhere  he  was  in  the 
habit  of  taking  a  plunge  and  a  good  swim  at  the  dawn  of  each  day 
during  the  session — the  Avater,  at  that  hour,  being  of  mild  tem 
perature,  and  very  pleasant  to  bathe  in.  There  Avas  no  mistake 
in  the  comfort  of  the  operation,  nor  in  its  efficiency  to  make  a 
new  man,  a  strong  man,  a  very  effective  man,  physically,  of  tha 
novitiate 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  355 

Mr.  Clitherall  consented  to  try  the  experiment,  and  if  it  agreed 
with  him  he  would  continue  the  practice.  A  certain  morning  was 
appointed,  which  happened  to  be  cold  and  frosty.  The  friends 
went  to  the  river  at  dawn  of  day,  and,  after  divesting  himself, 
Mr.  Dougherty  plunged  in  head  foremost,  rising  and  swimming 
like  a  duck,  praising  the  water  for  affording  him  warmth  against 
the  cold  atmosphere.  By  the  time  Mr.  Clitherall  was  ready  to 
follow,  his  teeth  began  to  chatter,  and  he  felt  very  much  like  hav 
ing  an  ague;  but  being  encouraged,  he  threw  himself  into  the 
water,  and  being  perfectly  satisfied  with  one  dip,  he  came  out, 
hastily  putting  on  his  garments,  as  if  life  demanded  their  protec 
tion.  His  whole  Ijody  quivered  in  the  cold  like  a  leaf  shaken  by 
the  wind.  His  face  and  his  finger-nails  turned  purple.  He  was 
the  very  image  of  despair  and  suffering.  Mr.  Dougherty  told 
him  that  his  distress  was  caused  by  not  remaining  in  the  water 
long  enough  to  produce  a  reaction,  which  was  probably  true ;  but 
the  Assistant  Clerk  did  not  concur  in  that  opinion,  and  vowed  that 
it  was  his  last  Winter  bath.  They  both  related  the  adventure 
with  such  fringing  as  the  rich  cloth  seemed  to  require,  which 
always  afforded  amusement  to  others. 

Mr.  Dougherty  was  in  mind  and  in  logic  a  strong  man,  and  a 
very  earnest  debater,  with  a  voice  of  considerable  power,  and  a 
person  quite  commanding.  He  was  so  intensely  Whig  in  his  prin 
ciples,  that  he  seemed  to  have  little  charity  for  opponents,  and  by 
this  spirit  his  influence  was  sensibly  diminished.  He  was  a  good 
lawyer,  made  able  reports  from  committee,  and  was  very  attentive 
to  his  public  duties.  His  Senatorial  term  closed  in  1844,  after 
which  he  retired,  to  devote  himself  more  entirely  to  the  practice 
of  his  profession.  When,  in  1850,  the  choice  of  Judges  was  given 
to  the  people,  he  was  elected  Judge  of  the  Ninth  Circuit,  a  pogi- 
tion  which  he  continued  to  hold  under  the  changes  of  government, 
until  the  surrender,  in  1865.  In  reorganizing  the  State  Govern 
ment,  Provisional  Governor  Parsons  appointed  him  to  his  old 
office,  the  duties  of  which  he  continued  to  discharge  until  he  was 
superseded  by  the  reconstruction  measures  of  Congress,  shortly 
after  which  he  died. 

There  is  one  light  in  which  the  character  and  example  of  Judge 
Dougherty  should  be  held  up  to  public  view,  and  it  is  with  reluc 
tance  that  I  refer  to  it.  After  his  first  election  as  Judge,  his  tem 
perate  habits  began  to  give  way,  and  his  downward  course  in  this 
direction,  was  rapid,  and  brought  him  to  a  premature  graye,  which 
should  serve  as  a  warning  to  youth,  and  to  men  of  mature  age,  to 
keep  at  a  distance  from  the  temptation.  His  social  qualities  were 
very  attractive  and  exuberant,  and  when  in  the  best  of  his  days, 
before  a  blight  had  withered  his  moral  nature,  he  could  keep  a 
circle  of  friends  in  a  constant  roar  of  laughter  for  hour$  a.t  a  time. 


356  Reminiscences  of  Publio  Men  in  Alabama. 

His  stories  were  his  own,  told  in  his  own  way,  and  admit  of  no 
transfer  to  paper.  His  admirers  were  many,  and  his  friends  not  a 
few-  How  much  to  be  regretted  that  a  man  so  genial,  and  so  fully 
qualified  to  add  to  the  happiness  of  others,  and  withal  to  render 
substantial  service  to  his  country,  should  become  a  wreck,  and  pass 
away  under  a  cloud !  This  was  the  fate  of  Judge  Rober^,  Dough 
erty,  who  died  at  home,  in  1868. 

ROBERT  S.  HARDAWAY,  of  Russell,  a  native  of  Virginia,  made 
his  first  appearance  in  the  Senate  at  this  session,  and  continued  a 
member  of  that  body  until  1847.  He  was  an  intelligent  planter, 
modest  and  reserved,  and  seldom  participated  in  debate.  His  dis 
position  was  enterprising,  and  he  had  considerable  skill  in  the 
management  of  corporations.  Business  of  this  character  induced 
him,  after  the  conclusion  of  his  Senatorial  service,  to  remove  to 
Columbus,  Georgia.  In  his  deportment,  he  resembled  the  olden 
school  of  gentlemen;  sedate,  dignified,  and  courteous,  without  any 
manifestations  of  humor  or  hilarity.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 

At  the  session  of  1845  Mr.  Hardaway  introduced  the  bill  to  in 
corporate  the  Girard  and  Mobile  Railroad  Company.  The  Mont 
gomery  delegation  in  the  Legislature  supposed  that  the  work  con 
templated  would  interfere  with  the  prosperity  of  their  city,  by 
diverting  trade  in  another  direction.  While  they  admitted  the  jus 
tice  and  benefits  of  the  proposed  line  of  communication  to  the 
people  represented  by  Mr.  Hardaway  and  others  in  that  section  of 
the  State,  the  delegation  said  they  were  instructed  by  their  consti 
tuents  to  oppose  the  charter,  and  they  would  be  compelled  to  vote 
against  it.  The  question  of  removing  the  Seat  of  Government 
from  Tuskaloosa,  in  the  form  of  an  amendment  to  the  Constitution, 
wdk  then  pending  in  the  Legislature,  and  the  vote  of  Mr.  Harda 
way  against  the  proposed  change  would  defeat  it  in  the  Senate. 
He  saw  his  opportunity,  and  took  occasion  to  inform  the  members 
Iron i  Montgomery,  that,  if  they  persisted  in  opposing  his  railroad 
bill,  he  would  return  the  compliment  on  the  question  of  "removal." 
This  hint  was  enough.  Mr.  Hardaway  obtained  his  charter,  and 
Montgomery  the  Seat  of  Government,  through  votes  thus  accom 
modated  to  the  emergency. 

After  the  lapse  of  twenty-five  years  it  may  be  added,  that,  in 
the  opinion  of  many,  the  railroad  constructed  under  this  charter 
has  largely  increased  the  business  and  wealth  of  Columbus,  where 
Mr.  Hardaway  still  resides.  For  many  years  he  has  been  Presi 
dent  of  the  Board  of  Directors. 

GEN.  MOSES  KELLY,  of  Jefferson,  had  served  in  many  public 
stations  previous  to  1843,  and  continued,  with  very  little  intermis- 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  357 

sion,  until  1853.  He  was  a  Brigadier-General  of  Militia,  and 
later  in  life,  Judge  of  Probate  for  the  county  of  Jefferson.  With 
out  pretending  to  a  great  deal,  he  filled  many  public  trusts  with 
uniform  fidelity,  and  thus  secured  the  public  confidence.  Elc  was 
a  Democrat  of  the  old  Jackson  type;  served  under  him  in  the  In 
dian  war,  and  his  kind  recollections  of  his  old  commander,  and  his 
high  regard  for  him,  were  apt  to  be  shown  on  the  8th  of  January, 
the  anniversary  of  the  battle  of  New  Orleans.  He  was  faithful 
in  his  friendships,  obliging  in  disposition,  and  gentle  in  his 
manners. 

Gen.  Kelly  was  a  brother  of  the  Hon.  William  Kelly,  Senator 
in  Congress  from  Alabama,  1822-25,  a  lawyer  of  high  standing, 
and  a  brother  also  of  the  late  Isham  Kelly,  Esq.,  a  rising  young 
lawyer  in  Pickens  county,  who  married  a  daughter  of  Mrs.  Har 
riet  Herbert,  of  Tuskaloosa,  and  who  died  from  consumption  in 
the  morning  of  life.  Gen.  Kelly,  himself,  has  been  dead  several 
years. 

MEMBERS  OF  THE  HOUSE,  1843. 

Of  the  one  hundred  constituting  the  House  of  Representatives, 
a  number  had  served  at  previous  sessions,  who  have  been  noticed 
elsewhere  in  this  work.  To  others,  especial  attention  is  now  paid. 

ENOCH  ALPRIDGE,  of  Blount,  was  a  member  of  the  House  in 
1837,  and  continued,  with  occasional  intermissions,  in  one  or  the 
other  branch  of  the  Legislature  until  the  secession  of  Alabama  in 
1861.  Although  far  beyond  military  age,  he  entered  the  service 
of  the  Confederate  States,  and,  if  I  mistake  not,  was  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  of  the  47th  Alabama  Regiment,  commanded  by  Colonel 
Sheffield.  He  was  in  several  battles,  and  was  wounded  at  Cedar 
Run,  in  Virginia,  which  compelled  him  to  leave  the  service,  yith 
the  savor  of  a  good  name  and  a  brave  soldier. 

Col.  Aldridge  was  a  well-informed,  vigilant  and  useful  member 
of  the  Legislature,  and  often  spoke  informally  on  the  merits  of  a 
question,  but  always  with  good  sense  and  to  the  point.  As  chair 
man  of  the  Committee  on  Accounts,  (a  position  generally  assigned 
him)  he  was  particularly  watchful  of  the  interests  of  the  State, 
and  if  a  claim  passed  his  scrutiny  it  was  generally  considered  all 
right.  He  was  a  Democrat  of  the  old  school,  who,  without  con 
fusing  his  head  with  abstractions,  looked  every  four  years  to  the 
National  Democratic  Convention  as  the  exponent  of  his  political 
faith.  He  still  resides  in  Blount  county,  respected  as  a  citizen, 
and  for  his  long  and  faithful  service  both  at  the  Capitol  and  in  the 
field. 


358  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

DECATUR  C.  ANDERSON,  of  Marengo  county,  for  the  first  time 
elected  to  the  House,  was  a  young  lawyer  of  fine  abilities,  gallant 
in  bearing,  and  the  model  of  courtesy.  In  1851,  he  was  elected 
Solicitor  of  the  Mobile  Circuit,  the  duties  of  which  office  he  per 
formed  faithfully  and  efficiently.  Since  that  time  he  has  resided 
in  the  city  of  Mobile,  in  the  practice  of  his  profession. 

JOSEPH  G.  BALDWIN,  of  Sumter,  a  native  of  Virginia,  was  de 
cidedly  a  young  man  of  rare  gifts  and  cultivation.  He  was  a  law 
yer  in  good  practice,  and  at  once  took  a  high  rank  in  debate,  and 
in  the  business  of  legislation. 

On  the  resolutions  of  Mr.  Taylor,  of  Butler,  to  rescind  the 
white  basis  in  the  formation  of  Congressional  Districts,  Mr.  Bald 
win  made  a  speech  of  acknowledged  power,  which  wa's  published 
in  a  pamphlet  of  sixteen  pages.  A  brief  passage  is  here  given : 

My  constituents,  sir,  find  themselves,  since  the  last  session  of  this  body,  de 
prived  of  a  large  portion,  in  fact,  almost  of  a  moiety  of  the  political  power  which 
they  enjoyed  before  that  time.  A  sudden,  violent,  an  unprecedented  innovation 
was  made  upon  the  manner  of  exercising  the  noblest  franchise  they  enjoyed, 
equivalent,  in  its  operation,  to  taking  from  them  nearly  one-half  of  the  political 
power  they  possessed  ;  and  they  have  a  sight  to  demand  that  the  strongest,  most 
convincing  reasons  should  be  given  for  that  innovation,  and  for  that  deforcement 
of  their  rights.  They  will  not  be  satisfied  with  less.  No  artful  appeals  to  party 
feelings;  no  juggleries  of  State;  no  mere  arrangements  of  political  maneuvers  to 
create  party  capital  by  the  deprivation  of  their  rights,  will  excuse,  or  palliate  to 
them  what  they  esteem  a  reckless  scheme  of  legislative  robbery. 

The  closing  paragraph  is  as  follows: 

But  the  South  may,  notwithstanding  all  the  efforts  of  her  enemies,  rest  secure, 
as  long  as  she  is  true  to  herself.  They  will  be  safe  no  longer.  Her  rights  are 
guaranteed  by  the  Constitution.  I,  for  one,  am  for  preserving  the  guaranty.  I 
am  for  upholding  the  banner  as  planted  by  our  fathers  in  the  deep  granite  of  that 
charter.  After  all,  sir,  that  banner,  guard  it  as  we  will,  may  go  down.  Pressed 
upon  and  overwhelmed  by  external  foes,  our  united  strength  may  not  be  able  to 
bea^it  up.  It  may  go  down  by  the  charge  of  banded  zealots  from  without ;  nay, 
sir,  it  may  fall  by  the  paracidal  hands  of  those  who  should  defend  it  to  the  last 
extremity  with  "life,  and  limb,  and  terrene  honor."  But  one  thing  1  know  full 
well :  when  it  does  go  down,  many  a  true  Southern  heart — many  a  gallant  South 
ern  spirit — will  go  down  with  it. 

From  this  specimen,  the  abilities  of  Mr.  Baldwin  in  debate  will 
be  at  once  recognized.  He  was  a  Whig,  and  a  skillful  tactician, 
giving  trouble  and  anxiety  to  his  opponents  at  every  move  on  the 
political  chess-board.  He  was  courteous,  and  always  confined 
himself  within  parliamentary  rules  in  his  efforts  on  the  floor.  A 
man  of  great  firmness,  he  never  blustered.  He  respected  the 
personal  rights  and  feelings  of  others  in  discussion,  and  demanded 
the  like  civilities  to  himself.  On  a  few  occasions,  his  strong  blows 
touched  the  nerves  of  an  opponent,  so  as  to  provoke  interruption ; 
but  he  was  at  all  times  self-possessed,  and  never  failed  to  satisfy 
the  complaint  by  a  candid  explanation. 


Heminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  35  U 

In  1849,  Mr.  Baldwin  was  brought  forward  by  the  Whig  party 
as  a  candidate  for  Congress  in  opposition  to  the  Hon.  Samuel  W. 
Inge,  in  the  Tuskaloosa  District;  but  his  Democratic  rival  had 
the  advantage  of  knocking  down  an  abolition  member  on  the 
floor  of  Congress  in  a  general  mehc,  and  this  gave  him  much  pres 
tige.  The  District  was  ably  canvassed  by  both  gentlemen,  and 
Mr.  Baldwin  defeated  by  a  small  majority. 

In  the  midst  of  his  professional  labors,  Mr.  Baldwin  found 
leisure  to  write  the  "Flush  Times  of  Alabama  and  Mississippi," 
mostly  descriptive  of  persons  and  scenes  well  known  in  the  section 
where  he  resided,  at  a  period  extending  from  1833  to  1840,  when 
commercial  credits  were  freely  given,  and  speculation  prevailed 
on  a  very  small  money  basis,  and  extensively  at  times  without 
any  basis  at  all.  Then  a  series  of  financial  experiments  followed, 
in  loans  from  the  State  Bank  to  debtors,  and  the  formation  of  pri 
vate  banking  associations,  whose  stock  consisted  of  real  estate  on 
mortgage,  upon  the  faith  of  which  notes  were  issued  for  circula 
tion,  generally  payable  twelve  months  after  date  in  gold  or  silver. 
'How  the  latter  was  to  be  provided,  did  not  exactly  appear ;  nor 
did  the  people  seem  to  care  so  that  they  had  lota  of  money  to  trade 
upon  while  the  thncs  were  fltixh.  This  work  of  Mr.  Baldwin  was 
an  admirable  hit,  containing  a  variety  of  transactions  in  detail, 
with  scenes  in  Court  and  elsewhere,  rich  in  originality  and  char 
acters,  and  rarely  surpassed  in  the  humor  of  the  narrative.  The 
work  was  published  in  New  York,  and  found  ready  sale. 

Mr.  Baldwin  was  also  the  author  of  another  work  of  merit, 
entitled,  "Party  Leaders,"  in  which  Jefferson,  Hamilton,  Adams, 
Kandolph  and  Clay  were  introduced  as  representative  men,  with 
ixmtrasts  and  parallels  well  delineated,  showing  a  great  fund  of 
information,  and  remarkable  power  of  analysis,  in  the  writer. 

He  married  a  daughter  of  the  Hon.  John  White,  a  Judge  of 
the  Circuit  Court  previous  to  1830.  Not  satisfied  to  remain  4n 
Alabama,  where  the  political  majority  precluded  the  gratification 
of  his  hopes  of  preferment,  Mr.  Baldwin,  not  long  after  his  defeat 
for  Congress,  removed  to  California,  where  his  distinguished  tal 
ents  and  legal  capacity  soon  obtained  for  him  a  seat  on  the  bench 
of  the  Supreme  Court  of  that  State,  an  office  which  he  held  at 
the  time  of  his  death,  a  few  years  ago. 

FRANCIS  BUGBEE,  of  Montgomery,  is  a  Northern  man  by  birth, 
but  settled  in  Alabama  at  an  early  day,  to  practice  his  profession 
as  a  lawyer.  He  served  in  the  Legislature  only  at  the  session  of 
1843,  but  brought  with  him  into  the  House  an  extensive  knowl 
edge  of  business  which  made  him  a  useful  member.  He  was 
thirty-five  years  consecutively  a  Trustee  of  the  University,  hav 
ing  been  elected  in  1836  to  that  honorable  position. 


360  Reminiscences  of  PMic  Men  in  Alabama. 

In  1844,  Col.  Bugbee  was  selected  by  the  other  Trustees  to 
examine  the  financial  condition  of  the  University,  the  lands 
granted  by  Congress,  the  endowment  and  income  from  all  sources, 
the  expenditures  of  the  fund,  and  the  amount  borrowed  from  the 
State  Bank.  At  the  session  of  1845,  he  made  an  exceedingly 
able  report,  minute  in  detail,  and  complete  in  statement,  which 
was  published  in  pamphlet  form  by  order  of  the  Legislature. 

The  account  of  the  State  in  relation  to  University  lands,  and 
the  loan  from  the  State  Bank  to  the  Trustees  is  thus  condensed : 

Loss  to  University  by  Relief  Laws $144,239.18 

Interest  for  3  years  at  6  per  cent 25,963.05 

Profits,  estimating  same  at  12  percent.,  made  by  the  Bank  previous  to 

1837,  over  6  percent,  allowed 108,962.00 


Balance  due  University  from  the  State .$279,164.23 

Deduct  notes  of  University  held  by  the  Bank 64,500.00 


Balance  due  the  University $214,664.23 

This  document  afforded  evidence  of  the  superior  business  and 
legal  qualifications  of  Col.  Bugbee.  During  the  whole  period 
in  which  he  served  as  Trustee,  be  seldom  failed  to  attend  a  meet 
ing  of  the  Board,  or  a  Commencement  at  the  University.  To  his 
zeal  and  fostering  care  the  institution  is  greatly  indebted  for  its 
good  management  in  former  years. 

Upon  the  reorganization  of  the  State  Government  in  1865,  Pro 
visional  Governor  Parsons  appointed  Col.  Bugbee  a  Judge  of  the 
Circuit  Court.  In  his  brief  administration  on  the  bench,  he  dis 
played  an  ability  and  fitness  for  the  high  place  which  was  credit 
able  to  his  character  and  satisfactory  to  the  public.  In  1866, 
President  Johnson  appointed  him  United  States  Attorney  for  the 
£^>rthern  District  of  Alabama,  a  position  which  he  filled  in  a 
praiseworthy  manner  until  he  was  displaced  by  President  Grant. 

Enough  has  been  said  to  show  that  Judge  Bugbee  is  an  old, 
faithful  public  servant,  and  deserves,  what  is  accorded  to  him  with 
great  unanimity,  the  respect  and  confidence  of  the  people.  He 
would  have  made  an  excellent  Master  of  the  Rolls  in  a  British 
Court  of  Chancery,  where  learning,  patience,  and  strong  power  of 
analysis,  are  required  to  bring  order  out  of  confusion.  Judge 
Bugbee  still  resides  at  Montgomery,  and,  with  his  mature  experi 
ence,  is  engaged  in  the  practice  of  the  law. 

CHARLES  DEAR,  of  Wilcox,  was  returned  to  the  House  in  1842. 
His  first  effort  on  the  fioor  made  it  necessary  to  refer  to  a  number 
of  legal  authorities  in  support  of  a  measure  he  had  introduced  in 
relation  to  land  titles;  and  from  the  facility  and  closeness  with 
which  he  urged  the  point,  he  convinced  the  House  that  he  was  no 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  361 

stranger  to  the  books  of  his  profession,  or  the  mode  of  establishing 
his  premises.  He  was  an  industrious  member,  and  a  diligent  ob 
server  of  proceedings.  When  he  engaged  in  debate,  lie  usually 
dealt  in  facts  and  figures,  and  in  sensible  views  of  any  question 
before  the  House  —  never  in  empty  generalities,  as  if  for  the  mere 
pleasure  of  showing  how  well  he  could  talk. 

At  the  session  of  1843,  Mr.  Dear  was  again  a  member,  and  was 
appointed  Chairman  of  the  Committee  on  Propositions  and  Griev 
ances,  and  his  frequent  reports  on  the  multiplicity  of  matters  re 
ferred  to  that  Committee  brought  him  prominently  and  favorably 
before  the  House.  He  generally  searched  for  the  truth,  and 
spared  no  labor  in  the  pursuit.  Indeed,  he  was  so  given  to  books 
and  legislative  documents,  that  he  rarely  found  time  for  social 
intercourse,  on  which,  indeed,  he  seemed  to  place  but  little  value 
as  a  source  of  enjoyment.  He  established  a  good  name  in  the 
public  service,  and  voluntarily  retired,  to  follow  more  profitably 
his  double  vocation  of  planter  and  lawyer.  He  was  a  Whig  in 
politics,  and  still  resides  in  Wilcox. 

PLEASANT  HILL,  of  Bibb,  was  returned  to  the  House  in  1843. 
He  was  a  son  of  James  Hill,  Esq.,  who  was  for  many  years  a 
prominent  Senator  from  Bibb  county,  and  who  participated  freely 
in  the  movements  of  the  Democratic  party  in  his  day.  Mr.  Pleas 
ant  Hill  was  liberally  educated,  and  endowed  by  nature  with  a 
good  mind  and  much  genial  humor.  His  social  qualities  were  of 
a  character  to  draw  around  him  many  friends  and  admirers. 

In  1839,  and  again  in  1840,  he  was  elected  Secretary  of  the 
Senate,  which  position  brought  him  and  the  writer,  who  was  the 
Clerk  of  the  House  of  Representatives,  into  constant  communica 
tion,  official  and  otherwise,  which  enabled  him  to  understand  and 
appreciate  the  many  good  qualities  of  his  associate.  In  1844  and 
in  1855,  he  was  again  Secretary  of  the  Senate,  and  made  an  effi 
cient  and  popular  officer.  He  had  many  friends  wherever  known, 
and  was  his  own  worst  enemy. 

Mr.  Hill  married  Catharine  J.,  a  daughter  of  S.  W.  Davidson, 
Esq.,  a  wealthy  planter  of  Bibb  county,  who  was  also  a  member 
of  the  House  in  1840.  In  looking  back  on  the  past,  there  is  no 
one  associate  in  public  life  of  whom  the  writer  has  more  agreeable 
memories,  than  of  Pleasant  Hill.  He  died  before  he  reached  mid 
dle  age. 

WILLIAM  B.  H.  HOWARD,  of  Monroe,  appeared  for  the  first 
time  as  a  member  of  the  House  at  this  session.  He  was  from 
South  Carolina,  and  was  well  educated.  After  completing  a  course 
of  legal  studies,  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar,  and  settled  in  Clai- 
borne  for  the  practice  of  his  profession.  He  married  Miss  Gail- 


362  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

lard,  a  connexion  of  the  distinguished  Carolina  family  of  that 
/  name,  of  \vhom  was  the  Hon.  John  Gaillard,  a  Senator  in  Con 
gress  from  1804  until  his  death  in  1826,  during  which  time  lie 
was  President,  pro  tenipore,  of  the  Senate,  continually,  from  1814, 
except  in  the  rear  1819,  when  the  Hon.  James  Barbour,  of  Yir- 
ginia,  officiated. 

It  was  the  law  in  1843,  and  for  years  previously  and  subse 
quently,  for  members  of  the  Legislature  to  take  an  oath,  that  they 
had  not  been  concerned,  as  principals  or  as  seconds,  in  fighting  a 
duel  within  a  specified  time.  When  Mr.  Howard  advanced  to  the 
Speaker's  chair  to  be  sworn,  that  oath  was  not  administered  to 
him,  as  he  had  been  specially  exempted  from  taking  it  by  an  act 
of  Assembly  for  his  relief — he  having  been  engaged,  within  a  few 
years,  in  a  dueling  transaction.  Indeed,  a  mere  glance  at  his 
physiognomy  and  bearing  would  satisfy  any  one  that  chivalry  was 
a  part  of  his  nature. 

The  resolutions  he  offered,  to  accept  the  distributive  share  of 
the  proceeds  of  the  public  lands  to  which  Alabama  was  entitled,, 
have  been  included  in  a  preceding  chapter.  His  speech  in  their 
support  was  able,  spirited  and  patriotic,  savoring,  perhaps,  a  little 
too  much  of  party  bias,  as  he,  a  Whig,  undertook  to  teach  the 
Democratic  majority  their  duty  in  behalf  of  a  measure  to  which 
they  were  disinclined  on  principle.  The  views  of  Mr.  Howard, 
and  the  principles  on  which  he  acted  were  no  less  worthy  of 
respect;  and  it  must  have  been  a  triumph  to  him  that  his  policy 
was  adopted  by  the  Democratic  majority  at  another  session. 

As  a  debater,  Mr.  Howard  had  considerable  power.  He  had 
fine  command  of  language,  a  well  disciplined  mind,  and  a  delivery 
at  once  animate  and  pleasant.  Owing  to  a  sanguine  temperament, 
and  the  lofty  standard  of  action  which  he  had  prescribed  to  him 
self,  he  was  at  times  a  little  rash  and  intolerant  toward  those  who 
differed  from  him  in  opinion.  Yet  the  departure  from  the  strict 
est  parliamentary  decorum  was  but  momentary,  and  he  seldom 
failed  to  rectify,  of  his  own  accord,  any  seeming  error  or  injustice 
into  which  his  strong  feelings  had  betrayed  him  in  the  ardor  of 
debate.  Bold,  impetuous  and  daring  in  his  flights  of  eloquence, 
he  often  surprised  and  gatified  his  audience,  and  perhaps  as  often 
wounded  the  sensibilities  of  a  portion  whose  political  tenets  did 
not  accord  with  his  own.  Had  he  been  less  fiery  in  his  disposi 
tion,  and  more  conciliating  in  his  manner,  his  influence  would,  no 
doubt,  have  been  more  largely  extended.  At  all  events,  his 
talents  were  beyond  question,  and  he  was  acknowledged  as  a 
leading  member  on  the  Whig  side  of  the  House.  His  social 
intercourse  partook,  to  some  extent,  of  his  earnest  political  attain 
ments,  and  it  is  probable  that  he  was  satisfied  to  let  the  Demo 
crats,  who  controlled  the  Legislature  for  their  own  purposes,  as  he 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

pb 

imagined,  remain  undisturbed  by  his  personal  attention.  At 
least,  such  appeared  to  be  his  course  at  the  first  session.  Further 
experience,  it  is  belived,  led  to  a  more  generous  habit,  and  his 
former  sternness  has  been  partially  laid  aside. 

At  the  session  of  1844,  Mr.  Howard  again  returned  to  the 
House,  and  took  a  high  position.  Afterward  he  withdrew  from 
public  life  for  a  while  and  in  1848  he  removed  to  New  Orleans, 
as  a  better  field  for  professional  enterprise  and  success.  At  the  bar 
of  that  city  he  was  brought  in  contact  with  many  distinguished 
gentlemen,  who  exchanged  with  him  the  courtesies  due  a  stranger. 
About  that  time,  Messrs.  S.  S.  Prentiss,  Isaac  T.  Preston,  William 
Elrnore,  Pierre  Soule,  Randall  Hunt,  J.  P.  Benjamin,,  M.  M. 
Cohen,  Christian  Roselius,  William  C.  Micou,  and  William  J. 
Vason,  were  in  full  practice  among  the  recognized  lights  of  the 
profession.  The  Hon.  John  Slidell,  and  the  veterans,  John  R. 
Grymes  and  Mr.  Mazareau,  were  then  retiring,  and  seldom  ap 
peared  in  court  unless  on  important  occasions.  The  Civil  Law 
being  of  force  in  Louisiana,  which  in  its  principles,  rules,  and  prac 
tice,  was  so  wholly  different  from  the  common  and  statute  law  sys 
tem  to  which  Mr.  Howard  had  been  accustomed  in  Alabama,  that 
he  no  doubt  became  discouraged.  From  New  Orleans  he  went 
to  California,  where  he  remained  several  years. 

Returning  to  Alabama,  Mr.  Howard  settled  in  Mobile,  and,  in 
1855,  was  one  of  the  members  elected  to  the  House  from  that 
county,  on  the  Know-Nothing,  or  American  ticket.  His  confi 
dence  in  Gov.  Fitzpatrick,  who  was  that  year  reflected  to  the 
Senate  of  the  Uniied  States,  induced  him  to  interest  himself  ac 
tively  to  prevent  any  organized  opposition  to  him,  and  in  this  he 
succeeded  to  a  great  extent,  .After  1855,  Mr.  Howard  retired 
from  public  life,  and  I  saw  but  little  of  him  until  1864,  when  the 
war  was  raging,  and  all  the  energies  of  the  South  were  called  for 
to  arrest  the  onward  march  of  the  Federal  armies.  I  met  him  in 
Montgomery,  dressed  in  the  coarse  homespun  gray  of  a  Confede 
rate  soldier,  a  private,  hastening  to  report  for  duty,  in  the  ditches, 
after  a  short  visit  to  his  home  on  furlough.  The  contrast  between 
his  appearance  in  1843 — a  bold,  finely  dressed,  dashing  young 
Southerner,  battling  manfully  for  his  principles  on  the  floor  of  the 
House — and  the  private  soldier  of  1864,  in  the  garb  mentioned, 
was  truly  striking.  But  he  carried  in  his  heart  the  same  devo 
tion  to  the  South  in  the  one  position  as  in  the  other,  always  heroic 
in  courage,  always  ready  to  give  his  fortune  or  his  life  to  his 
country  whenever  she  needed  the  sacrifice.  A  nobler  spirit  never 
breathed  in  legislative  halls,  or  flashed  its  energies  in  the  field. 

After  the  war,  Mr.  Howard,  in  1865,  was  elected  Solicitor  of 
the  Twelfth  Circuit,  over  very  formidable  opposition.  He  con 
tinued  to  discharge  the  duties  of  that  office  with  ability  and  effi- 


364  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

ciency,  until  he  was  superseded  by  the  reconstruction  measures  oi 
Congress.  He  now  resides  in  Camden,  Wilcox  county,  engaged 
in  the  practice  of  the  law.  The  lights  and  shadows  of  life,  and 
the  vicissitudes  of  the  last  twenty-seven  years,  of  an  active,  spir 
ited  career,  have  left  some  marks  upon  Mr.  Howard;  but,  in  addi 
tion  to  his  mature  intellect,  he  still  retains  the  manly  form,  the 
expanded  forehead,  and  the  beaming  face  of  former  years. 

DAVID  C.  HUMPHREYS,  of  Morgan,  served,  in  1843,  his  first 
session  in  the  House.  He  afterward  removed  to  Huntsville,  and 
represented  Madison  county  several  years.  He  was  a  lawyer  by 
profession,  with  a  clear,  penetrating,  logical  mind,  which  gave  him 
prominence  in  debate..  In  fact,  he  was  intellectually  a  strong 
man,  in  a  small,  nervous,  feeble  frame,  which  sometimes  operated 
against  the  full  exhibition  of  his  powers.  His  manner  was  sim 
ple  and  unpretending,  and  in  his  associations  he  was  true  and  con 
fiding.  A  National  Democrat,  he  espoused  the .  cause  of  Mr. 
Douglas  in  1860,  and  was  a  delegate  to  the  Convention  of  that 
party  in  Baltimore.  He  was  opposed  to  secession,  and  did  all  he 
could  to  prevent  it;  but  after  the  act  was  done,  and  trouble  came, 
he  entered  the  Confederate  service  as  a  private,  and,  I  think,  rose 
to  the  command  of  a  regiment.  He  afterward  left  the  army,  and 
remained  at  home  to  the  end  of  the  war. 

In  the  organization  of  parties  in  the  South,  after  the  surrender, 
he  allied  himself  with  the  Republicans,  and  under  their  control 
of  the  Government  of  Alabama,  he  was  a  candidate  before  the 
Legislature  for  United  States  Senator,  but  was  beaten  by  another 
member  of  the  party.  Soon  thereafter  he  was  elected  to  fill  a 
vacancy  in  the  House  from  Madison  county,  and  served  to  the  end 
of  the  term.  More  retently,  he  has  been  appointed  by  the  Pres 
ident,  and  confirmed  by  the  Senate,  as  Judge  of  the  •  Supreme 
Court  of  the  District  of  Columbia,  which  office  he  now  holds. 

While  the  late  political  course  of  Mr.  Humphreys  has  sepa 
rated  him  from  many  old  and  long-cherished  friends  in  Alabama, 
it  is  due  him  to  say  that  in  other  days  he  was  esteemed  a  gentle 
man  of  probity  and  character,  and  of  kind,  generous  impulses.  He 
is  no  doubt  an  excellent  Judge,  upright  and  impartial. 

BAKUS  W.  HUNTINGTON,  of  Tuskaloosa,  was  from  one  of  the 
New  England  States,  and  settled  in  Alabama  as  a  young  lawyer, 
about  1838.  He  became  a  professional  partner  of  the  Hon. 
Joshua  L.  Martin,  and  married  a  daughter  of  Daniel  M.  Riggs, 
Esq.,  formerly  Cashier  of  the  State  Bank.  Thus  favorably  con 
nected,  both  in  the  practice  of  the  law  and  in  his  social  relations, 
he  seemed  to  press  forward  to  a  bright  destiny.  He  was  well 
educated,  and  his  talents  were  far  beyond  ordinary. 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  365 

In  1843,  he  was  elected  to  the  House  as  a  Democrat,  and 
plunged  at  once,  with  great  self-reliance,  in  the  debates  on  all  im 
portant  questions.  His  literary  culture  gave  him  a  good  style, 
and  his  legal  training  supplied  him  with  arguments,  so  that  he 
often  appeared  to  much  advantage  on  the  floor.  On  the  white 
basis  he  made  a  very  elaborate  speech,  which  was  creditable  to  his 
intelligence,  and  his  manner  as  a  speaker.  Mr.  Baldwin  deemed 
it  worthy  of  a  reply,  and  gave  it  special  attention.  The  misfor 
tune  of  Mr.  Huntington  seemed  to  be  too  great  a  consciousness  of 
superiority  on  his  part  on  all  occasions,  whether  in  the  Legisla 
ture,  or  in  the  court-house.  This  conviction  of  power  in  himself 
led  him  too  often  into  discussion,  as  if  his  opinions,  and  his 
reasoning  faculties,  were  essential  to  unfold  almost  any  subject  be 
fore  the  House.  By  this  unfortunate  habit,  he  lost  much  of  his 
influence.  A  man  is  sometimes  more  valued  for  his  silence,  after 
he  has  shown  the  ability  to  talk  well.  This  lesson  might  be  use 
fully  studied  by  many  others  in  the  Legislature  who  have  pro 
clivities  in  the  same  direction. 

Mr.  Huntington  was  again  a  candidate  for  the  House  in  1845, 
and  was  beaten.  After  the  election  of  Judges  was  given  to  the 
people,  he  canvassed  for  office  in  the  Seventh  Circuit,  and  was 
elected  Judge  of  the  Circuit  Court.  After  occupying  the  bench  a 
few  years,  he  resigned,  and  returned  to  the  North,  settling  in  the 
city  of  New  York,  for  the  practice  of  his  profession.  From  last 
accounts,  between  1854  and  1858,  he  was  indulging  a  little  too 
freely  in  the  use  of  wines  and  other  comforting  beverages.  Since 
then,  I  have  no  very  precise  information  about  him.  He  had 
merit  enough  to  command  success  anywhere,  if  his  personal  ad 
dress  could  be  a  little  more  subdued,  and  less  tinged  with  self- 
complacency. 

HENRY  C.  JONES,  of  Franklin,  served  in  the  House  at  this 
session.  He  was  raised  in  North- Alabama,  and  educated  at  La 
Grange  College. 

In  1841,  a  young  man,  comparatively  a  stranger  to  the  Legis 
lature,  he  came  to  Tuskaloosa,  seeking  the  office  of  County  Judge, 
but  received  little  encouragement  from  the  members  of  his  county. 
Indeed,  by  some  of  them  he  was  repelled,  and  told  that  he  might 
go  home,  for  he  could  not  get  the  office.  Timid  and  discouraged, 
he  left;  but  he  had  fuinglcd  to  some  extent  among  the  members, 
and  made  a  good  impression,  among  whom  the  opinion  soon  got 
abroad  that  he  had  been  badly  treated.  The  tide  then  began  to 
flow  in  his  favor,  so  that  when  the  election  came  on,  he  had  a 
majority  of  votes  in  his  favor,  although  he  was  not  present,  and 
ceased  to  expect  the  office. 

Judge  Jones  brought  into  the  Legislature  a  mind  well  culti- 


366  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

vated,  and  practical,  with  ready  speaking  abilities,  and  soon  be 
came  one  of  the  active  business  members.  After  serving  many 
years  in  the  House,  he  was  transferred  to  the  Senate,  exhibiting 
maturity  of  mind  and  legislative  talent  which  gained  him  promi 
nence  in  the  deliberations  of  that  body.  He  was  a  Democrat,  and 
entered  fully  into  the  councils  of  the  party.  In  1861  he  was  a 
member  of  the  State  Convention  called  upon  the  election  of  Mr. 
Lincoln,  and  took  a  decided  stand  against  the  Ordinance  of  Seces 
sion,  opposing  it  with  all  his  influence  and  ability  in  debate.  Not 
withstanding,  he  was  elected  by  the  Convention  a  deputy  to  the 
Congress  of  States,  to  assemble  at  Montgomery,  for  the  purpose  of 
forming  a  separate  Government  for  the  South.  This  was  no  small 
compliment  to  him,  considering  how  he  had  opposed  the  wishes 
and  views  of  the  majority.  After  this  service  he  retired,  and  en 
gaged  in  his  profession  as  a  lawyer,  settling,  I  think,  in  Florence, 
where  he  no\V  resides,  in  the  meridian  of  life,  enjoying  the  confi 
dence  and  friendship  of  his  fellow-citizens.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 

NORMAN  McLEOD,  of  Pike,  was  a  North  Carolinian  who  settled 
in  that  county  a  few  years  previous  to  1840.  In  1841,  he  first 
took  his  seat  in  the  House,  and  served  jlgain  in  1843,  and  at  the 
session  of  1849.  He  was  a  weakly  man,  physically,  and  retired, 
after  1849,  and  never  again  sought  legislative  honors. 

Mr.  McLeod  was  a  planter,  and  a  citizen  of  influence,  maintain 
ing,  through  life,  an  unblemished  reputation.  He  was  a  Demo 
crat  in  principle,  but  Catholic  in  his  general  views,  and  social  in 
his  disposition.  As  a  member,  he  took  decided  position  among 
the  business  men  o/  the  Legislature,  with  a  mind  strong,  and  com 
prehending  the  questions  of  State  policy  under  consideration.  He 
was  much  respected  for  his  frank  and  straightforward  course,  and 
for  his  attention  to  business,  as  well  as  for  his  high  traits  of  Chris 
tian 'character.  When  he  died,  a  few  years  ago,  the  State  lost  a 
good  citizen  and  an  honest  man.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Pres 
byterian  Church. 

JOHN  W.  PORTIS,  of  Clarke,  was  elected  to  the  House  in  1843 
as  a  mixed  basis  Democrat,  and  took  an  active  part  in  the  debates 
upon  that  and  other  questions  during  the  session.  He  considered 
the  adoption  of  the  white  basis  as  a  serious  blnnder,  and  predicted 
trouble  from  it.  He  was  reflected  in  1844,  and  served  through 
the  session  with  the  activity  and  usefulness  of  a  well  educated, 
intelligent  young  lawyer. 

He  was  a  Trustee  of  the  University  from  1844  to  1858,  earn 
estly  endeavoring  to  promote  the  success  of  the  institution  in  the 
changes  which  had  been  adopted  some  years  previously  in  the 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Hen  in  Alabama.  367 

course  of  study.  He  usually  attended  the  State  .Democratic  Con 
ventions,  and  was  a  delegate  to  the  Conventions  of  that  party  at 
Cincinnati,  Charleston  and  Baltimore. 

In  the  war  which  followed  the  secession  of  the  Southern  States, 
he  warmly  embarked — volunteered  as  a  private  in  April,  1861, 
and  was  thereafter  placed  in  command  of  a  regiment.  Col.  Portis 
is  a  native  of  North  Carolina,  born  in  1818,  but  removed  to  Ala 
bama  \vhen  quite  young.  He  received  his  education  at  the  Uni 
versity  of  Virginia,  and  studied  law  in  the  office  of  Messrs.  Cooper 
&  Parsons,  at  Claiborne,  and  after  his  admission  to  the  bar,  he 
settled  at  Suggsville,  where  he  engaged  in  the  practice  of  the  law 
and  in  planting  in  the  vicinity.  He  is  connected  with  a  large 
family,  some  of  whom  have  held  public  places  in  the  State.  He 
is  justly  esteemed  a  well-read  lawyer  and  cultivated  gentleman, 
and  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  South. 

Col.  Portis  is  a  brother  of  David  Y.  Portis,  Esq.,  formerly  of 
Livingston,  an  eloquent  young  lawyer  who,  about  the  year  1837, 
emigrated  to  Texas.  By  his  marriage  with  an  heiress  in  the  Re 
public,  he  became  a  very  large  land-owner — perhaps  of  not  less 
than  100,000  acres.  The  gifted  mind,  the  exuberant  social  nature, 
and  the  lofty  ambition  of  Mr.  D.  Y.  Portis  can  be  at  no  loss  to 
enjoy  to  the  best  of  advantage  such  a  magnificent  turn  of  fortune. 

HOWELL  ROSE,  of  Coosa,  who  took  his  seat  in  the  House  at  the 
session  of  1843,  was  a  member  of  the  Senate  at  the  first  session 
of  the  Legislature  of  Alabama,  which  met  at  Huntsvillo  in  1819. 
He  then  represented  Autauga  county.  Afterward,  he  was  involved 
in  many  fierce  political  and  personal  broils,  and  was  defeated  in 
his  aspirations  for  public  life.  He  then  turned  his  attention  for 
many  years  to  the  business  of  planting  and  operations  in  land,  by 
which  he  acquired  large  possessions.  In  the  meantime,  hu  removed 
to  Coosa  county,  and  settled  a  few  miles  from  Wetumpka.  He 
owned  extensive  bodies  of  land  in  this  county,  besides  his  quar 
ters  on  the  West,  in  Autauga  and  Lowndes. 

In  1844  and  1845,  he  was  again  elected  to  the  House,  and  at 
the  latter  session,  he  devoted  much  of  his  time,  and  all  his  ener 
gies  and  influence,  in  behalf  of  Wetumpka,  as  the  most  eligible 
place,  in  his  opinion,  for  the  Seat  of  Government,  after  its  removal 
from  Tuskaloosa.  Many  ballotiugs  took  place  after  the  passage  of 
the  bill  authorizing  the  removal.  He  put  Wetumpka  in  nomina 
tion;  other  gentlemen  brought  forward  Mobile,  Selma,  Montgom 
ery  and  Tuskaloqsa  as  competitors  for  the  honor.  Every  time  the 
roll  was  called,  the  clear-toned  voice  of  Col.  Rose  was  heard  for 
Wetumpka.  When  combinations  were  formed,  either  express  or 
implied,  between  the  friends  of  different  localities,  there  was  no 
compromivsejonjiis  part — no  abandonment  of  his  favorite;  and  at 


368  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

length,  when  he  stood  firmly  almost  alone,  and  his  neighboring 
town  of  Montgomery  was  rising  like  a  young  giant  in  the  race, 
he,  almost  alone,  gave  the  last  sound  for  Wetumpka.  Had  he 
succeeded,  he  would  have  gained  probably  not  less  than  $200,000 
by  the  increased  value  of  his  town  property,  and  the  adjoining 
lands,  most  of  which  belonged  to  him. 

Col.  Rose  had  read  much,  was  well  informed  on  many  subjects, 
and  had  an  ample  fund  of  common  sense,  which  was  better  than 
all  in  the  practical  aims  of  life.  He  frequently  shared  in  the  de 
bates,  was  even  eloquent  at  times,  and  always  interesting.  Though 
a  married  man  for  thirty  years,  or  more,  he  was  childless;  and  in 
discussing  a  measure  which  touched  the  domestic  relations  of  men, 
and  the  education  of  children,  he  ventured  to  express  sentiments, 
very  proper  in  themselves,  but  which  provoked  the  retort  that  he 
had  no  experience  on  the  subject,  as  no  heir  had  been  born  to  his 
name  and  fortunes.  He  replied  that  it  was  the  best  argument  in 
favor  of  his  competency  to  advise  where  he  was  not  personally 
interested;  that  Providence  often  denied  children  to  men,  that 
they  might  devote  themselves  more  exclusively  to  the  public  wel 
fare.  Washington,  Madison,  Jackson  and  Polk  had  no  children, 
yet  they  were  great  men,  true  patriots,  and  capable  of  advising. 
The  humble  member  from  Coosa  finds  himself  in  good  company, 
and  is  not  anxious  to  be  one  of  the  multitude  of  common  men 
whose  greatest  and,  perhaps,  only  success  in  life,  is  in  contributing 
to  the  population.  He  preferred  a  different  prosperity,  and  a  dif 
ferent  record  of  fame.  The  House  was  amused  at  his  witty  re 
joinder. 

Col.  Rose  was  a  Democrat  of  the  old  Jackson  school,  and  was 
opposed  in  every  shape,  and  under  any  pretense  or  provocation, 
to  breaking  up  the  Government,  and  I  question  if  any  man  in  the 
State  was  more  opposed  in  heart  and  expression  to  the  act  which 
took  Alabama  out  of  the  Union.  He  indulged  a  good  deal  of  vio 
lence  in  his  feelings  and  denunciations  of  men,  and  especially  of 
the  politicians  whom  he  distrusted.  This  indulgence  ended  in 
extreme  bitterness,  which  rendered  him  unhappy  in  the  evening 
of  life.  He  retained  confidence  in  but  few  men,  and  two  or  three 
of  these  were  made  his  executors,  with  good  legacies. 

It  was  believed  throughout  the  war  that  Col.  Rose  had  a  large 
sum  of  gold.  For  this  he  was  not  troubled  until  about  the  time 
of  the  surrender.  When  everything  was  in  confusion,  and  no  law 
was  enforced,  a  band  of  armed  men  went  to  his  house  and  de 
manded  his  treasure,  which  he  refused  to  give  up.  They  applied 
a  rope  to  his  neck,  and  suspended  him  to  a  beam,  hoping  thus  to 
alarm  him,  and  get  the  desired  information;  but  they  were  mis 
taken  in  their  man.  Though  the  painful  operation  was  repeated 
twice,  with  threats  of  instant  death,  he  refused  to  yield  them  any 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  369 

favor,  and  so  they  had  to  leave  him,  without  accomplishing  their 
wicked  purpose.  Col.  Rose  possessed  strong  points  of  character, 
and  was  a  man  of  mark  in  the  early  days  of  the  State,  and  even 
to  old  age.  The  loss  of  his  very  large  property  by  the  war,  or  at 
least  a  considerable  portion  of  it,  preyed  upon  his  spirits,  and  prob 
ably  hastened  his  death  in  1866. 

JOHN  C.  WHITSITT,  of  Sumter,  was  a  North  Carolinian.  His 
first  session  in  the  House  was  in  1843.  He  was  a  merchant, 
and  possessed  fine  business  qualities,  which  led  to  success  in  life. 
Though  rarely  engaging  in  debate,  he  was  a  useful  member,  bring 
ing  a  sound  judgment  and  great  business  capacity  into  action  in 
the  councils  of  the  State.  Nature  had  given  him  a  good  face, 
upon  which  beamed  a  pleasant  smile  of  recognition  whenever  he 
met  his  friends,  that  never  failed  to  please. 

After  the  session  of  1843,  Major  "Whitsitt  withdrew  from  public 
life  until  1851,  when  he  was  again  elected  to  the  House,  and 
reflected  in  1853,  which  was  his  closing  service  in  the  Legislature. 
His  health  had  become  infirm,  which  prevented  his  longer  contin 
uance  in  public  life,  and  he  died  during  or -about  the  close  of  the 
war. 

GEORGE  W.  WILLIAMS,  of  Henry,  was  a  native  of  South  Car 
olina,  and  a  graduate  of  Columbia  College.  He  was  a  fat,  jolly 
man,  with  a  young  face  and  a  bald  head,  which  gave  him  a  notable 
appearance.  His  profession  was  that  of  the  law,  and  he  used  to 
visit  some  of  the  courts  in  Georgia,  near  the  Chattahoochee,  where 
in  his  younger  days  he  had  a  fair  practice,  and  where  his  mirthful 
qualities  made  him  quite  popular.  At  one  of  these  courts,  the 
subject  of  conversation,  in  a  group  of  gentlemen  of  the  bar,  of 
which  Mr.  Williams  was  one,  happened  to  be  on  the  highest  forms 
of  politeness  and  good  breeding,  when  Judge  James  Polhill  related 
an  instance  which  he  thought  could  not  be  surpassed. 

A  Kentucky  drover  had  sold  a  number  of  mules  to  Judge 
Huger,  of  South  Carolina,  and  as  the  dinner  hour  was  at  hand, 
the  rough,  but  honest  Kentuckian  was  invited  to  dine  with  the 
Judge.  It  was  customary  then,  as  it  is  now,  at  the  tables  of  many 
families  of  great  wealth,  after  the  course  of  meats,  and  before  the 
wine  and  the  dessert  appeared,  to  have  a  bowl  of  water  taken  by 
a  servant  to  each  person  at  table,  to  relieve  the  fingers  from  any 
incumbrance  or  impurity  while  handling  the  soup,  or  greasy  sub 
stances.  On  this  occasion,  the  servant  took  the  bowl  of  water  first 
to  the  Kentuckian,  who  supposed  it  was  intended  to  quench  his 
thirst;  whereupon  he  raised  it  to  his  mouth  and  drank  heartily. 
To  prevent  embarrassment  to  the  guest,  Judge  Huger  ordered  the 
servant  to  bring  the  bowl  of  water  to  him,  out  of  which  he  sipped. 
24 


370  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

and  in  this  manner  it  went  around  the  table,  the  elegant  young 
ladies  and  their  mother  all  refreshing  themselves  out  of  the  same 
bowl  of  water.  It  was  then  taken  away,  and  not  a  smile  or  a  look 
was  seen  to  disturb  the  innocent  composure  of  the  Kentuckian. 
No  fingers  were  bathed  at  the  table  on  that  occasion.  Every  per 
son  present  at  the  telling  of  the  story,  admitted  this  to  be  an  act 
of  genuine  politeness,  and  none  but  a  nobleman  by  nature  could 
have  set  the  example. 

This  story  brought  out  the  experience  of  Mr.  Williams  at  a 
dinner  party  given  by  Gov.  Taylor  to  the  students  of  the  College. 
As  luck  would  have  it,  young  Williams  sat  at  a  corner  of  the 
table,  which  induced  the  servant  to  bring  the  water  to  him  first  of 
all  the  guests.  Never  having  heard  of  finger-bathing  at  table, 
mid  believing  the  water  designed  for  internal  refreshment,  he 
drank  out  of  the  bowl,  after  which  he  perceived  a  tittle  among  his 
fellow-students,  which  was  fully  explained  when  the  next  one 
dipped  his  fingeas  in  the  water,  and  daintily  dried  them  with  the 
napkin  on  the  servant's  arm.  Here  was  trouble,  real  agony  to 
poor  Williams,  who  would  have  been  glad  for  a  hole  in  the  floor 
through  which  he  could  suddenly  have  disappeared  from  his  tor- 
jnonters.  But  finding  no  such  relief  he  blushed  and  suffered 
through  the  long  dinner  ceremony.  There  was  no  Judge  Hager 
there,  nor  any  disciple  of  nature's  nobility,  he  said,  to  drink  after 
him  out  of  the  bowl,  and  save  his  wounded  sensibilities.  The  in 
cident  affords  a  beautiful  lesson,  and,  on  this  account,  it  is  here  re 
lated,  in  the  notice  of  Mr.  Williams. 

The  political  majority  in  Henry  county,  where  Mr.  Williams 
resided,  was  strongly  Democratic,  while  he  was  a  Whig.  For 
tunately  for  him,  he  had  some  little  private  capital  to  fall  back 
upon,  gained  in  the  Indian  war  of  1836,  in  which  he  had  exhib 
ited  much  bravery,  and  this  enabled  him  to  squeeze  into  the  Leg-- 
islat.ure  occasionally,  though  at  every  session  in  which  he  served 
his  course  stirred  up  such  objections  at  home,  that  he  had  to  be 
quiet  for  several  years  before  he  could  again  take  the  field  with 
any  hope  of  success.  Hence,  his  visits  to  the  Capitol  were  few 
and  far  between,  until  at  length  his  independence  of  character 
was  better  understood,  and  a  partial  impunity  was  granted,  to 
make  any  political  demonstrations  he  pleased  in  the  Legislature, 
without  being  held  to  a  rigid  account  by  the  majority  of  his  con 
stituents,  who  liked  the  man  but  hated  his  politics.  Close  atten 
tion  to  their  local  interests,  and  general  faithfulness,  gained  him  a 
more  permanent  footing  in  the  elections,  and  hence  his  appear 
ance  at  the  Qapitol,  in  the  latter  years  of  his  life,  was  more  fre 
quent.  Between  1837  and  1863  he  was  elected  many  times,  and 
Avas  ever  the  same  humorous  wag  in  and  out  of  the  House,  who 
amused  Hfe.  friends  and  expelled  th,e  blues  from  everybody  wh,Q 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  371 

shared  his  society.  His  supply  of  stories  and  anecdotes  appeared 
to  be  inexhaustible,  and  his  taste  in  relating  them  was  peculiar  to 
himself.  He  was  strictly  an  original,  formed  on  no  model,  and 
without  an  imitator. 

During  his  intervals  of  service  in  the  Legislature,  Mr.  Wil 
liams  was  elected  Judge  of  Probate  of  Henry  county,  in  which 
office  he  served  a  while.  His  death  occurred  in  1865  or  1866. 

An  instance  has  been  given,  while  noticing  the  resolutions  of 
Mr.  Howard  relative  to  a  horizontal  tariff,  of  the  turn  of  merri 
ment  in  Judge  Williams  whenever  an  opportunity  was  offered  in 
the  House,  whether  at  the  expense  of  political  friend  or  adversary. 
He  possessed  a  warm  heart  and  generous  feelings,  without  any 
particular  breadth  of  talents.  His  social  nature  and  indulgences 
brought  upon  him  a  habit  which  showed  itself  too  plainly  upon  his 
intellect  and  tastes  in  the  latter  years  of  his  life,  and  which  no 
doubt  brought  him  to  his  grave  long  before  age  had  marred  his 
mirthful  physiognomy. 


CHAPTER  XXII. 

Presidential   Canvass,  1844 — The  Legislature — Senatorial   and 
Judicial  Elections — Personal  Notices. 

The  year  1844  was  one  of  excitement,  discussion  and  effort  in 
the  political  arena,  relative  to  the  election  of  President  and  Vice- 
President  of  the  United  States.  The  excitement  began  to  show 
itself  in  the  Winter  of  1843,  and  was  increased  by  the  visit  of 
Mr.  Clay  to  New  Orleans,  and  his  journey  through  Alabama  and 
other  Southern  States  to  Raleigh,  where  he  had  an  engagement 
with  the  Whigs  of  North  Carolina,  to  be  present  on  the  1 2th  of 
April,  his  sixty-seventh  birthday,  which  they  intended  to  cele 
brate  by  a  mass-meeting,  and  by  every  demonstration  of  popular 
favor.  During  his  stay  in  New  Orleans,  as  the  guest  of  Dr.  Mer 
cer,  I  had  an  opportunity  to  see  him  for  the-  first  time,  in  Feb 
ruary,  and  a  few  days  thereafter  I  witnessed  his  reception  in 
Mobile.  Anticipating  his  arrival,  hundreds  of  his  ardent  friends 
and  admirers  had  visited  the  city  to  see  him ;  but  as  he  was  taken 
in  charge  by  a  lady,  of  whose  husband  (Dr.  Levert)  he  was  the 
guest,  he  was  inaccessible  to  the  masses  of  the  people,  who  were 
greatly  disappointed. 


372  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

In  a  day  or  two,  however,  it  was  announced  in  the  newspapers 
that  Mr.  Clay  would  give  a  public  reception  to  his  fellow-citizens, 
at  the  Mansion  House,  between  certain  hours.  At  the  time 
appointed,  the  large  room  was  filled  with  visitors  anxious  to  get  a 
glimpse  of  the  great  statesman.  Gov.  Gayle  and  Gen.  Desha 
officiated  in  the  ceremony  of  introduction.  All  seemed  highly 
pleased  with  the  urbanity,  ease  and  grace  with  which  every  one 
was  made  to  feel  at  home.  There  was  no  feeling  of  restraint 
after  getting  his  eye,  or  hearing  a  word  from  his  lips. 

Afterward,  at  the  Waverly  House,  he  met  a  committee  of 
twenty  gentlemen  from  Tuskaloosa,  who  had  been  deputed  to 
invite  Mr.  Clay  to  the  Seat  of  Government,  when  he  was  ad 
dressed  by  Robert  Jemison,  Esq.,  chairman  of  the  committee.  A 
large  number  of  persons  were  present,  including  the  writer.  Mr. 
Clay  briefly  and  courteously  replied,  declining  the  invitation,  as 
its  acceptance  would  be  a  departure  from  the  rule  which  he  pre 
scribed  to  himself  not  to  deviate  from  the  main  route  of  travel, 
lest  his  journey  might  assume  the  aspect  of  an  electioneering  tour, 
which  it  was  not  intended  to  be.  Both  speeches,  and  the  partic 
ulars  of  the  interview  with  the  committee,  were  next  day  pub 
lished  in  the  "Advertiser,"  a  Whig  paper,  then  edited  by  C.  C. 
Langdon,  Esq.  Of  course,  the  reception  in  Mobile  was  noticed 
by  all  the  Whig  papers  in  the  State,  which  awakened  an  enthu 
siasm  peculiar  to  the  influence  of  Mr.  Clay  over  the  Whig  party. 

During  the  few  days  Mr.  Clay  remained  in  Mobile,  the  writer 
had  the  pleasure  of  passing  an  hour  or  two  in  his  company  at  the 
residence  of  George  G.  Henry,  Esq.,  and  of  hearing  him  con 
verse  in  a  social  group  of  friends.  His  manner  was  truly  cap 
tivating. 

This  visit  of  Mr.  Clay  inspired  his  friends  in  Alabama  with 
confidence  in  his  election,  as  the  party  had  united  on  him  as  the 
first  choice  for  President.  The  National  Whig  Convention  met 
at  Baltimore  on  the  1st  of  May,  and,  amid  a  large  attendance 
of  Delegates,  and  great  enthusiasm,  he  was  unanimously  nominated 
by  acclamation.  To  show  that  Mr.  Clay  himself  believed  that 
success  was  certain,  he  used  this  language  to  the  committee  who 
notified  him  of  the  action  of  the  Convention : 

Confidently  believing  that  this  nomination  is  in  conformity  with  the  desire  of  a 
majority  of  the  people  of  the  United  States,  I  accept  it  from  a  high  sense  of  duty, 
and  with  feelings  of  profound  gratitude. 

This  announcement  was  received  by  the  Whigs  throughout  the 
Union  by  general  rejoicing,  and  the  campaign  fairly  opened  with 
the  usual  machinery  of  Clay  Clubs  and  mass  conventions  to  influ 
ence  the  public  mind.  In  the  meantime,  the  Democratic  party 
a  National  Convention,  about  the  first  week  in  June,  when 


J&emin'iscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  373 

the  first  regular  dispatch  ever  sent  by  telegraph  in  the  United 
States  was  that  from  Baltimore  to  Washington,  forty  miles,  an 
nouncing  the  nomination  of  James  K.  Polk  for  the  Presidency. 
The  Whigs  looked  upon  it  as  a  fearful  letting  down,  and  virtually 
giving  the  field  to  Mr.  Clay,  without  anything  like  a  stubborn 
contest.  They  sneeringly  inquired,  "Who  is  James  K.  Polk?" 
Events  gave  a  very  emphatic  response  through  the  Electoral 
Colleges. 

It  is  not  my  purpose  to  notice  in  detail  the  leading  features  of 
the  campaign  in  Alabama.  Both  parties  worked  hard,  and  put 
their  ablest  men  as  writers  and  speakers  in  requisition  to  gain  the 
victory  on  their  respective  sides.  Perhaps  no  canvass  was  ever 
conducted  more  earnestly,  and  with  more  talent.  It  was  the  last 
contest  for  the  Presidency  which  was  decided  upon  the  broad 
platform  of  principle.  Others  have  been  mere  imitations,  with 
planks  and  platitudes  for  all  nativities,  for  all  sections,  and  all  for 
one  purpose — party  success.  I  speak  not  as  a  politician,  but  as  an 
observer. 

The  Presidential  election  came  off  on  the  second  Monday  in 
November.  In  those  days  there  were  no  telegraphs  and  express 
trains  organized  through  the  country,  and  it  required  a  week  or 
thereabout,  for  the  mail  to  come  from  Washington  to  Tuskaloosa. 
From  Montgomery,  if  not  from  Columbus,  it  was  conveyed  en 
tirely  in  coaches.  The  votes  of  all  the  States  had  been  heard 
from,  except  New  York,  which  would  elect  the  candidate  for 
whom  it  was  cast.  The  delay  in  hearing  from  that  State  was 
painful.  To  increase  the  suspense,  the  returns  from  Western 
New  York  were  kept  back  by  the  floods  two  or  three  days.  Then 
rt  was  that  Cayuga  Bridge  became  so  prominent  a  topic  of  remark 
and  speculation.  It  was  said  by  the  Whigs,  who  claimed  to  know 
something  of  localities,  that  whoever  crossed  the  bridge  from  the 
west  with  a  majority,  would  gain  the  day,  and  that  Mr.  Clay  was 
sure  of  that  majority  with  a  margin.  So  they  talked  and  hoped, 
and  so  the  Democrats  disputed  the  premises,  until  finally  the  .stage 
from  Greensboro,  just  about  sundown,  brought  news  of  the  final 
result,  on  the  16th  of  November,  which  scattered  the  group  of 
Wrhigs  who  had  collected  at  the  Washington  Hall  corner  (Duffee's 
Hotel)  and  they  were  seldom  seen  upon  the  streets  for  several 
days  afterward.  It  is  said  that  many  of  them  wept,  and  even 
some  of  the  strong  men  were  taken  ill,  and  kept  their  rooms  a 
considerable  time  under  medical  treatment. 

The  vote  for  President  stood,  170  Electors  for  Polk,  and  105 
for  Clay.  If  New  York,  with  her  36  votes,  had  supported  the 
latter,  he  would  have  received  141  votes,  against  134  for  Mr. 
Polk.  The  Whigs  complained  that  the  election  was  carried  by 
fraud  in  the  city  of  New  York,  where,  it  was  alleged,  that  to 


374  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

secure  the  majority  of  5,000  votes  in  the  State  which  elected  Mr. 
Polk,  they  naturalized  about  13,000  foreigners  contrary  to  law. 
Of  this  charge,  however,  there  has  been  no  reliable  proof,  and  the 
suggestion  is  merely  here  as  a  passage  in  that  memorable  contest. 
On  the  night  of  the  16th  November,  there  was  a  torchlight 
procession,  with  music  and  banners,  amid  the  firing  of  cannon  by 
the  Democrats  of  Tuskaloosa.  Next  morning,  in  passing  the 
streets  where  the  artillery  played  its  part,  a  Whig  editor  saw  that 
the  burnt  wadding  was  of  newspapers,  and  from  curiosity  picked 
up  a  fragment,  when  he  discovered  that  the  cartridges  had  been 
wrapped  in  the  numbers  of  his  paper  published  in  1840,  contain 
ing  articles  in  opposition  to  Mr.  Van  Buren,  and  of  rejoicing  at  his 
defeat.  Such  was  the  revenge,  which  the  editor  himself  admitted 
to  be  just  and  reasonable,  as  he  had  gone  to  great  lengths  in 
assailing  the  character  and  principles  of  Mr.  Van  Buren,  and  in 
offending  many  of  his  supporters.  A  better  spirit  has  since  pre 
vailed. 

LEGISLATIVE. 

The  elections  in  August,  1844,  resulted  in  a  large  Democratic 
majority  in  both  Houses  of  the  Legislature,  which  met  on  the  2d 
December. 

The  Senate  was  organized  by  the  choice  of  Col.  N.  Terry  for 
President,  without  opposition.  For  Secretary,  the  vote  stood,  for 
Pleasant  Hill,  24;  for  Samuel  C.  Dailey,  5  votes.  Jennings  F. 
Warrast  was  elected  Assistant  Secretary,  and  A.  R.  Thomas,  Door 
keeper. 

In  the  House,  Mr.  A.  B.  Moore,  and  Mr.  Robert  Jemison  were 
placed  in  nomination  for  Speaker,  resulting  in  the  election  of  the 
former  by  a  vote  of  56  to  28.  Joseph  Phelan  was  elected  Clerk ; 
A.  B.  Clitherall,  Assistant  Clerk;  W.  C.  Bibb,  Engrossing  Clerk, 
and  James  H.  Owen,  Door-Keeper. 

The  talent  of  the  two  Houses  was  fully  up  to  that  of  the  last 
session.  Some  changes  had  been  made  in  the  Senate — Sampson 
W.  Harris,  Esq.,  taking  the  place  of  Mr.  Yancey,  who  had  been 
elected  to  Congress;  Edward  S.  Dargan,  Esq.,  succeeding  Gen. 
Toulmin,  elected,  at  the  close  of  the  last  session,  President  of  the 
Branch  Bank  at  Mobile;  Archibald  Gilchrist,  Esq.,  in  place  of 
Dr.  Berney ;  and  Judge  Sidney  C.  Posey,  in  place  of  Gov.  McVay. 
The  Chairmen  of  the  principal  committees  of  the  Senate  were  the 
following : 

On  the  Judiciary,  Mr.  Walker,  of  Bcnton; 

On  Federal  Relations,  Mr.  Walthall,  of  Perry; 

On  the  State  Bank  and  Branches,  Mr.  Dargan,  of  Mobile; 

On  Education,  Mr.  Watkins,  of  Monroe; 

On  Propositions  and  Grievances,  Mr.  Creagh,  of  Clarke. 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  375 

In  the  House  many  new  members  had  been  returned.  A  num 
ber  of  the  old  Representatives,  of  talent  and  experience,  were 
included/ and  the  new  ones,  in  character  and  qualifications,  formed 
rather  an  accession  of  strength.  The  Chairmen  of  the  leading 
committees  had  been  arranged  by  the  Speaker  as  follows: 

On  Ways  and  Means,  Mr.  McClung,  of  Madison ; 

On  the  Judiciary,  Mr.  Clemens,  of  Madison ; 

On  Federal  Relations,  Mr.  Phillips,  of  Mobile; 

On  the  State  Bank  and  Branches,  Mr.  Peter  Martin; 

On  Education,'  Mr.  Norman,  of  Franklin ; 

On  Internal  Improvement,  Mr.  Dunn,  of  Mobile; 

On  the  Military,  Mr.  AValker,  of  Lawrence; 

On  Propositions  and  Grievances,  Mr.  Jackson,  of  Autauga. 

On  Tuesday  the  annual  message  of  Gov.  Fitzpatrick  was  com 
municated  to  both  Houses,  and  in  the  Senate  1,000  copies  were 
ordered  to  be  printed.  This  document  occupied  about  sixteen 
pages  of  the  printed  Journal. 

BUSINESS    OF   THE   SESSION. 

The  Governor's  message,  by  appropriate  reference,  had  gone  to 
the  several  committees,  and  the  regular  business  of  the  two 
Houses  was  fairly  under  way.  The  leading  measures  related  to 
the  Banks,  and  the  best  means  of  making  collections  of  the  large 
indebtedness,  which  began  to  exhibit  a  fearful  amount  of  insol 
vency.  Other  interests  of  the  State,  however,  received  proper 
attention,  upon  which  able  reports  were  made  by  committees. 
These  generally  were  of  such  length  as  to  preclude  their  insertion 
here,  however  interesting  at  the  time,  and  even  now,  as  the  land 
marks  of  a  former  generation  of  legislators  and  constituents. 

The  apportionment  of  Senators  and  Representatives  was  made 
upon  the  State  census  of  1844.  As  usual,  this  was  a  somewhat 
difficult  question  to  settle,  as  the  gain  or  loss  of  power  generally 
leads  to  a  contest  between  those  who  are  interested  on  the  one 
side  or  the  other.  The  counties  of  Randolph,  Chambers,  Talla- 
poosa,  Talladega,  Coosa,  Macou,  Russell  and  Montgomery  gained 
nine  Representatives,  at  the  expense  of  Jackson,  Madison,  Law 
rence,  Sumter,  Pickens,  Bibb,  Mobile,  Monroe,  Tuskaloosa,  ete. 
Besides  bills  of  a  general  nature  which  were  acted  upon,  there 
was  much  business  of  a  local  character,  and  altogether  it  was  a 
working  session. 

In  the  House,  on  the  17th  December,  the  special  order  for  12 
o'clock  was  taken  up,  which  .was  the  report  of  Mr.  Phillips  from 
the  Committee  on  Federal  Relations,  in  the  following  words: 

The  Committee  on  Federal  Relations,  to  whom  was  referred  tho  resolutions  of 
the  States  of  Georgia  and  Connecticut  on  the  subject  of  repudiation,  have  unani* 


376  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

mously  instructed  me  to  report  that  they  have  given  the  subject  of  the  resolutions 
an  attentive  consideration,  and  in  full  view  of  the  heavy  debt  under  which  this 
State  now  struggles,  and  the  onerous  taxation  necessary  to  its  protection,  they  are 
yet  firm  in  the  belief  that  the  citizens  of  Alabama  will  redeem  the  plighted  faith 
of  the  State  at  any  and  every  cost. 

The  Committee  therefore  recommend  the  adoption  of  the  following  resolutions : 

1.  Resolved,  That  the  preservation  of  National  faith  is  the  only  guaranty  for 
stable  government ;  that  its  violation  leads  to  the  dissolution  of  the  political  com 
pact,  and  amidst  anarchy  which  denies  all  obligations  but  such  as  force  imposes, 
the  great  truth  will  be  again  proclaimed,  that  a  people  to  be  prosperous  .must  be 
virtuous. 

2.  Resolved,  That  in  the  possession  of  a  territory  rich  in  mineral  resources, 
admirably  adapted  to  the  culture  of  the  great  staple  of  the  South,  abundantly 
supplied  with  water  power  for  all  manufacturing  purposes,  provided  in  an  extra 
ordinary  degree  with  the  commerce  of  accessible  markets,  and  blessed  with  every 
variety  of  soil  and  climate,  the  people  of  Alabama  are  not  only  willing  but.  able  to 
maintain  the  high  honor  and  credit  which  the  State  has  always  enjoyed. 

3.  Resolved,  That  this  State  concurs  in  the  resolutions  of  the  States  of  Georgia 
and  Connecticut,  denouncing  the  repudiation  of  debts  by  the  States;  and  that  the 
Governor  be  requested  to  forward  a  copy  of  the  foregoing  resolutions  to  the  Gov 
ernor  of  each  of  the  several  States,  with  the  request  that  he  would  cause  the  same 
to  be  laid  before  their  respective  Legislatures. 

A  division  of  the  question  being  called  for,  it  was  first  taken  on 
the  adoption  of  the  first  resolution — yeas  96,  nays  0.  The  second 
resolution  was  then  adopted — Yeas  100,  nays  0.  The  third  reso 
lution  was  also  adopted — yeas  86,  nays  14. 

The  basis  question  was  again  brought  up,  but  in  a  diiferent 
form.  Massachusetts  had  adopted  resolutions  on  the  subject, 
which  were  laid  before  the  Legislature,  and  upon  which  Mr. 
Phillip  Phillips,  of  Mobile,  -Chairman  of  the  Committee  on  Fed 
eral  Relations,  made  a  report  of  considerable  length,  of  which  the 
first  paragraph  is  here  given : 

The  Committee  on  Federal  Relations,  to  whom  was  referred  the  resolutions 
from  the  State  of  Massachusetts,  proposing  to  amend  the  Federal  Constitution  by 
striking  out  that  portion  of  the  third  clause,  second  section,  first  article,  which 
apportions  representatives  and  direct  taxes,  by  adding  to  the  free  white  inhabit 
ants  "  three-fifths  of  all  other  persons"  together  with  the  replies  of  the  States  of 
Kentucky,  Maryland,  and  Virginia;  also,  resolutions  of  the  State  of  South  Caro 
lina,  in  relation  to  the  agent  sent  by  Massachusetts  to  reside  within  her  borders 
to  litigate  the  right  of  that  State  to  prevent  the  ingress  of  free  persons  of  color — 
deeply  impressed  with  their  serious  import,  have  bestowed  on  them  a  calm  and 
solemn  consideration,  and  without  division,  either  in  feeling  or  opinion,  have 
instructed  me  to  recommend  the  adoption  of  the  following  report  and  resolutions  : 

The  resolutions  are  the  following: 

Resolved,  That  the  repeal  of  the  25th  llulc  by  the  present  session  of  Congress 
was  a  weak  and  truckling  submission  to  the  spirit  of  fanaticism ;  and  it  adds 
another  and  important  triumph  to  the  faction  which,  now  fortified  in  the  halls  of 
legislation,  may  dispatch  its  fiery  arrows  over  every  section  of  our  confederacy. 

Resolved,  That  we  sympathize  with  the  patriotic  spirit  of  the  Legislature  of 
South  Carolina,  which  so  promptly  resisted  the  insolent  attempt  to  disturb  her 
domestic  tranquility. 

"The  power  of  slavery  belongs  to  the  States  respectively" — "it  is  local  in  its 
character  and  effects" — "each  State  has  a  right  to  guard  its  citizens  against 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  377 

inconveniences  and  dangers."  The  right  to  exercise  this  power  by  a  State  is 
higher  and  deeper  than  the  Constitution.  "The  evil  involves  the  prosperity  and  may 
endanger  the  existence  of  a  State."  "Its  power  to  guard  against  or  remedy  the 
evil  rests  upon  the  law  of  self-preservation ;  a  law  vital  to  every  community,  and 
especially  to  a  sovereign  State." 

Resolved,  That  the  Governor  be  requested  to  transmit  copies  of  this  report  and 
resolutions  to  the  Governors  of  the  other  States  of  the  Union,  with  the  request 
that  they  should  be  laid  before  their  respective  Legislatures ;  and  that  copies  be 
also  forwarded  to  our  delegation  in  Congress. 

The  resolutions  were  unanimously  adopted — yeas  95. 

This  was  a  long  session,  extending  from  December  2,  1844  to 
January  27, 1845.  Under  the  lead-  of  Col.  McClung,  the  revenue 
law  was  amended  and  enlarged,  looking  to  the  preservation  of  the 
public  faith,  and  to  the  general  interest  of  the  people. 

Several  important  elections  took  place  at  this  session  which  de 
serve  a  passing  notice.  As  will  be  seen  in  the  Governor's  message, 
Col.  William  fe.  King  had  resigned  his  seat  in  the  Senate  of  the 
United  States,  and,  to  fill  the  vacancy,  the  two  Houses  met  in 
convention  on  the  7th  December,  when  Dixon  H.  Lewis,  Demo 
crat,  and  Arthur  F.  Hopkins,  Whig,  were  placed  in  nomination. 
The  vote  stood,  for  Lewis  85;  for  Hopkins  45.  This  was  a  fair 
test  of  party  strength  in  the  Legislature,  with  the  exception  of 
two  votes — Mr.  Kidd  of  Shelby,  and  Mr.  Mudd  of  Jefferson, 
Whigs,  who  represented  Democratic  constituencies,  and  voted  for 
Mr.  Lewis.  The  result  was  expected  of  course.  Judge  Hopkins 
was  voted  for  by  the  Whigs,  not  so  much  with  the  hope  of  elect 
ing  him,  as  in  compliment  of  the  ablest  member  of  the  party  in 
the  State.  As  it  is  intended,  in  this  work,  to  introduce,  with 
more  or  less  formality,  candidates  and  public  men  as  their  names 
happen  to  fall  in  with  the  narrative,  that  design  will  be,  in  part, 
executed  here. 

HON.  ARTHUR  F.  HOPKINS  was  a  Virginian,  highly  educated, 
and  with  talents  of  the  first  order.  He  came  to  Alabama  while  it 
was  in  a  Territorial  condition,  and  settled  in  Lawrence  county. 
He  was  a  delegate  in  the  Convention  at  Huutsville,  which  formed 
the  State  Constitution,  in  1819,  and,  for  many  years  thereafter, 
held  public  positions,  in  the  Legislature  and  elsewhere,  including 
a  seat  upon  the  Bench  of  the  Supreme  Court,  which  he  resigned 
after  a  few  years.  For  a  long  time  he  resided  in  Huntsville,  en 
gaged  in  the  practice  of  the  law,  at  the  very  head  of  his  profes 
sion.  About  the  year  1843,  he  removed  to  Tuskaloosa,  and  there 
continued  for  a  considerable  period.  He  was  residing  there  when 
his  friends  made  use  of  his  name,  at  the  session  of  1844,  for  the 
United  States  Senate.  His  distinguished  abilities,  patriotism,  and 
private  worth  were  acknowledged^  by  all  parties.  As  a  jurist  he 
had  no  superior  in  the  State. 


378  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama* 

He  contributed  a  large  share  of  labor  to  the  preparation  of  the 
"  Address  of  the  Committee  of  the  Whig  Convention  to  the  Peo 
ple  of  Alabama/7  which  was  published,  June,  1840,  in  a  pamphlet 
of  25  pages,  defending  Gen.  Harrison  from  the  charges  made 
against  him,  and  arraigning  the  administration  of  Mr.  Van  Buroit 
for  public  judgment.  The  Committee  appointed,  and  whose  names 
appear  to  the  address,  were  John  Gayle,  Arthur  F.  Hopkins,  James 
Jackson,  Dennis  Dent,  Thomas  H.  Wiley,  William  M.  Inge,  and 
Harry  I.  Thornton. 

To  show  that  the  least  taint  of  Abolition  was  fatal  to  any  candi 
date  for  the  Presidency  at  the  time  of  the  Address,  a  part  of  the 
defense  of  Gen.  Harrison  is  here  quoted  for  its  historical  signifi 
cance: 

In  a  Convention  of  Abolitionists,  which  assembled  recently  at  Arcadia,  in  the 
western  part  of  the  State  of  New  York,  a  resolution  was  adopted  that,  in  the 
opinion  of  the  Abolitionists  who  composed  the  Convention,  Gen.  Harrison  ought 
not  to  receive  the  vote  of  any  freeman  for  the  office  of  President,  because  he  voted 
against  the  Missouri  restriction,  and  holds  opinions  against  abolitionism,  which 
he  expressed  in  his  Vincennes  speech. 

We  have  received  from  a  source  we  can  rely  on,  a  statement  of  some  of  the 
abolition  newspapers,  which  bitterly  oppose  the  election  of  Gen.  Harrison.  They 
are  as  follows:  The  "  Ohio  Philanthropist,"  the  "Pittsburg  Witness,"  the  "Penn 
sylvania  Freeman,"  the  "Connecticut  Charter  Oak,"  the  Utica  "Friend  of  Man," 
the  "Michigan  Freeman,"  the  "New  Hampshire  Advocate  of  Freedom,"  the 
"Vermont  Voice  of  Freedom,"  the  "Massachusetts  Abolitionist,"  and  "  Boston 
Liberator."  For  this  statement,  we  are  indebted  to  the  address  of  the  Whig  Cen 
tral  Committee  of  Kentucky. 

Now,  when  it  is  considered  that  this  phalanx  of  abolition  newspapers  is  aided 
in  their  opposition  to  Gen.  Harrison  by  the  whole  Van  Buren  party,  the  idea  that 
he  will  get  the  vote  of  these  fanatics  is  not  a  little  ridic  ulous. 

Just  here  a  reflection  may  be  indulged  as  to  the  instability  of 
human  character  and  human  calculations.  In  1840,  Mr.  Van 
Buren  was  regarded  by  his  friends  as  a  "  Northern  man  with 
Southern  principles,"  and  without  the  least  sympathy  with  the  abo 
litionists.  Matters  so  worked,  particularly  his  failure  to  receive  the 
nomination  for  President  in  1844,  that  in  1848  Mr.  Van  Pmren 
was  actually  nominated  by  a  convention  of  the  Abolition  party, 
as  their  candidate  for  the  Presidency,  with  an  Electoral  ticket  in 
his  support,  in  all  the  non-slaveholding  States,  and  failed  to  receive 
a  single  electoral  vote  in  any  State !  And  it  is  also  remarkable, 
as  showing  the  organization  and  efforts  of  that  party,  that  their 
candidate,  twelve  years  afterward,  received  a  majority  of  votes  in 
every  non-slaveholding  State  of  the  Union,  which  secured  the 
election  of  Mr.  Lincoln,  and  that  not  a  single  Electoral  ticket  was 
formed  for  his  support  in  a  single  slaveholding  State — such  was 
the  sectional  aspect  of  the  canvass.  This  antagonism  terminated 
in  the  secession  of  the  Southern  States,  and  in  the  disastrous  war 
of  1861-5. 


Reministences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  379 

There  is  one  passage  in  the  Address  of  the  Whig  Committee, 
in  1840,  probably  from  the  pen  of  Judge  Hopkins,  which  is  here 
reproduced  as  an  act  of  justice  to  a  distinguished  citizen  of  the 
country,  who,  afterward,  succeeding  to  the  Presidential  office  on 
the  death  of  Gen.  Harrison  in  1841,  became  a  subject  of  hostility 
ind  persecution  by  the  Whigs  in  Congress,  with  few  exceptions, 
md  by  the  party  press  throughout  the  Union,  and  by  Whig  lead 
ers  on  the  stump,  because  he  had  the  firmness  to  adhere  to  his 
former  settled  convictions  against  the  constitutionality  of  a  Bank 
of  the  United  States,  and  to  veto  several  bills  for  the  charter  of 
such  an  institution,  and  other  Fiscal  Agencies  of  a  similar  char 
acter.  The  address  says : 

The  name  of  John  Tyler,  of  Virginia,  has  been  placed  upon  the  Whig  ticket 
for  the  Vice-Presidency,  a  man  identified  with  the  defense  of  every  Southern  in 
terest.  His  spotless  private  character,  his  Republican  principles,  his  consistent 
political  life,  and  eminent  abilities,  challenge  the  admiration  of  friends  and  foes, 
md  have  hitherto  silenced  the  reckless  malignity  of  party  opposition.  If  we 
lave  not  dwelt  at  length  upon  his  public  services,  it  is  because  they  are  not 
lenied. 

The  Electoral  Ticket  nominated  by  the  Whig  Convention  in 
1840,  consisted  of— 

Hon.  JOHN  GAYLE,  of  Mobile; 

Col.  NICHOLAS  DAVIS,  of  Limestone; 

Hon.  ARTHUR  F.  HOPKINS,  of  Madison ; 

Col.  THOMAS  WILLIAMS,  JR.,  of  Tuskaloosa; 

Hon.  HARRY  I.  THORNTON,  of  Greene; 

HENRY  W.  HILLIARD,  Esq.,  of  Montgomery,  and 

JAMES  ABERCROMBIE,  Esq.,  of  Russell  county. 

These  gentlemen  entered  into  the  canvass  with  zeal  and  ability, 
addressing  the  people  at  mass  meetings,  and  on  other  occasions,  in 
different  parts  of  the  State;  but  the  Democratic  majority  was  too 
decided  to  be  overcome,  especially  as  the  supporters  of  Mr.  Van 
Buren  were  not  less  active  in  the  campaign,  and  never  shrank 
from  an  opportunity  to  contest,  face  to  face,  every  inch  of  ground 
occupied  by  their  opponents. 

Judge  Hopkins  was  originally  a  Federalist  of  the  Alexander 
Hamilton  school,  and  the  lofty  tone  of  sentiment  which  formerly 
marked  that  class  of  politicians,  he  cherished  to  the  last,  although  he 
may  have  modified  some  of  his  views  in  relation  to  national  power 
and  State  sovereignty.  He  was  too  honest  and  too  independent 
in  his  character  ever  to  yield  an  opinion  for  the  sake  of  expedi 
ency.  He  made  no  sacrifices  of  principle  to  obtain  personal  pop 
ularity.  It  is  doing  him  no  injustice  to  say,  that  he  attached  very 
little  importance  to  the  decision  of  the  masses,  who  for  want  of 


380  Heminiscentes  of  Public  Men  iri  Alabama. 

proper  information  were  frequently  imposed  upon  and  deceived? 
by  artful,  selfish  party  leaders,  which  he  believed  to  be  unavoida 
ble  in  a  wild  Democracy. 

From  Tuskaloosa  Judge  Hopkins  removed  to  Moble,  where  for 
several  years  he  was  President  of  the  Mobile  and  Ohio  Railroad 
Company.  Losing  his  wife,  he  afterward  married  a  lady  of  Bal 
timore,  who  took  an  active  part  in  the  management  of  the  Con 
federate  Hospitals  at  Richmond,  and  by  her  intelligence,  her  sym 
pathising  spirit,  her  generous  contribution  of  mea'ns,  and  her 
personal  attention  to  the  sick  and  wounded,  she  gaineo?  an  enviable 
reputation  with  the  Southern  people.  In  all  these  efforts  and 
sacrifices  she  was  nobly  sustained  by  her  patriotic  husband,  who, 
though  well  stricken  in  years,  was  ever  doing  what  circumstances 
permitted  to  alleviate  suffering,  and  to  aid  the  cause  of  his  native 
South.  The  anxieties  and  results  of  the  war,  no  doubt,  under 
mined  the  vigorous  health  of  the  Judge,  whose  large  and  manly 
frame  sunk  under  the  combined  effects  of  disease  thus  produced, 
and  the  age  of  about  seventy  years,  when  he  died  in  1866. 

To  strike  from  the  history  of  Alabama  the  name  of  ARTHUR  F. 
HOPKINS,  would  be  like  erasing  a  star  from  the  national  flag.  His 
political  principles  formed  the  only  barrier  to  his  advancement  to 
the  Executive  chair,  and  to  the  Senate  of  the  United  States,  at 
his  pleasure,  and  now  that  he  has  passed  away,  there  can  be  no 
recollections  but  those  which  do  honor  to  his  memory,  irrespective 
of  party  divisions.  His  fame  is  imperishable. 

JUDICIAL  ELECTIONS. 

The  two  Houses  met  in  convention  and  proceeded  to  the  elec 
tion  of  Chancellor  of  the  Southern  Division,  the  Hon.  Anderson 
Crenshaw,  the  incumbent,  and  Gen.  George  W.  Crabb  being  in 
nomination.  The  former  was  reflected  by  a  vote  of  66  to  46. 

For  Solicitor  of  the  First  Circuit,  the  vote  stood,  for  William 
M.  Brooks,  the  incumbent,  73;  and  for  B.  L.  Defreese,  41.  The 
former  was  reflected. 

For  Solicitor  of  the  Fourth  Circuit,  the  contest  was  more  ani 
mated,  from  the  number  and  character  of  the  candidates.  The 
three  ballotings  were  as  follows: 

For  Edward  A.  O'Neal 24  24  24 

For  Richard  W.  Walker 62  62  64 

For  John  B.  Sale 25  29  39 

For  Green  P.  Rice 17  13  withdrawn. 

Mr.  Walker  having  received  a  majority  of  all  the  votes  cast, 
was  declared  duly  elected. 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  381 

For  Solicitor  of  the  Seventh  Circuit,  the  competition  was  be 
tween  S.  W.  Pettus  and  Henry  L.  Ward.  The  former  was 
elected  by  a  vote  of  76  to  50. 

For  Solicitor  of  the  Sixth  Circuit,  John  Edmund  Jones  received 
62  votes,  which  elected  him  over  Percy  Walker,  who  received 
57  votes. 

For  Solicitor  of  the  Fifth  Circuit,  the  candidates  were  William 
O.  Winston,  who  received  65  votes,  and  William  Acklin,  who  re 
ceived  64  votes — the  former  being  elected  by  one  vote  majority. 

As  several  of  the  candidates  held  public  stations,  and  others  sub 
sequently  became  prominent,  it  is  deemed  necessary  to  give  per 
sonal  sketches  of  some  of  them  at  this  juncture  of  circumstances. 
Owing  to  the  greater  length  of  the  notice  of  Chancellor  Crenshaw. 
by  including  a  public  document,  it  will  be  reserved  for  the  close 
of  this  chapter. 

RICHARD  W.  WALKER  was  a  young  man,  and  was  just  entering 
upon  a  successful  and  brilliant  career.  He  was  a  son  of  the  Hon. 
John  W.  Walker,  who  was  just  entering  upon  a  successful  and 
brilliant  career.  He  was  a  son  of  the  Hon.  John  W.  Walker, 
who  was  President  of  the  Convention  which  formed  the  State 
Constitution,  in  1819,  and  was  elected  a  Senator  in  Congress,  Oc 
tober  28,  1819.  He  served  until  1822,  when  he  resigned.  His 
son  Richard  has  since  acted  an  enviable  part  in  life,  as  his  record 
will  show. 

In  1851,  Mr.  R.  W.  Walker  was  elected  to  the  Legislature, 
from  Lauderdale  county,  as  a  Union  Whig,  and  was  appointed 
Chairman  of  the  Judiciary  Committee  in  the  House.  In  1855,  he 
was  allied  with  the  Democratic  party  in  opposition  to  the  Know- 
Nothing  or  American  party,  and  was  again  returned  to  the  House, 
of  which  he  was  elected  Speaker,  and  made  a  good  presiding 
officer.  Soon  thereafter,  he  was  elected  to  a  seat  on  the  Bench  of 
the  Supreme  Court,  an  office  which  he  held  until  1863,  when  he 
was  elected  a  Senator  in  the  Confederate  Congress,  to  succeed  the 
Hon.  C.  C.  Clay,  jr.  He  at  once  repaired  to  Richmond,  and  gave 
diligent  attention  to  his  public  duties  until  the  Southern  cause  was 
lost,  in  1865.  Since  then,  he  has  been  engaged  in  the  practice  of 
his  profession  in  Hunts ville. 

Judge  Walker's  record  is,  of  itself,  higher  praise  than  any  I 
could  bestow  on  his  great  abilities  and  attainments.  In  social  life, 
he  is  pleasant  and  communicative,  without  being  loquacious.  He 
has  a  tall  and  graceful  person,  which  is  carried  with  ease  and  with 
out  ostentation.  He  is  a  brother  of  Percy  Walker,  Esq.,  hereto 
fore  noticed  to  some  extent  in  this  work,  and  also  a  brother  of 
Gen.  L.  P.  Walker,  the  first  Secretary  of  War  under  President 
Pavis'  administration.  Their  elder  brother  is  John  J.  Walker2 


382  ^Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

Esq.,  who  practiced  law  a  while  at  Huntsville,  but  afterward  en 
gaged  in  the  factorage  and  commission  business  in  Mobile,  where, 
by  appointment  of  President  Taylor,  he  was  Collector  of  the  Port  I 
four  years,  until  displaced  by  President  Pierce.     He  married  an  \ 
accomplished  daughter  of  Judge  Hopkins. 

GEN.  EDWARD  A.  O'NEAL  was  elected  Solicitor  at  the  called 
session  in  1841,  and  held  the  office  one  term,  after  which  he  ap-| 
pears  no  more  in  an  official  character  before  the  public,  but  has  j 
gained  distinction  at  the  bar,  and  as  a  public  speaker.  He  ad-  j 
heres  to  the  Democratic  party,  of  which  he  is  a  prominent  'mem-  1 
ber,  and  withal  a  gentleman  of  high  social  position. 

JOHN  B.  SALE  was  raised  in  Lawrence  county,  a  son  of  Rev.  J 
Alexander  Sale,  who  resided  in  the  neighborhood  of  Courtland. 
He  was  educated  at  the  LaGrange  College,  under  the  Presidency  - 
of  Bishop  Robert  Payne.     Previous  to  1844,  he  had  filled  the  I 
office  of  Judge  of  the  County  Court  of  Lawrence  county.     A I 
young  man  of  talents,  and  full  of  aspiration,  Mr.  Sale,  not  long 
after  his  defeat  for  Solicitor,  left  Alabama,  and  settled  in  Aber- 
deeii,  Mississippi.     From  thence  he  removed  to  Memphis,  Ten 
nessee,  where  he  is  now  pursuing  his  profession  as  a  lawyer. 

GEN.  E.  W.  PETTUS  is  a  North- Alabamian,  connected  with  a 
large  family  of  his  name,  one  of  whom  was,  a  few  years  ago,  Gov-  • 
ernor  of  Mississippi.     After  holding  the  office  of  Solicitor  for  a 
time,  he  resigned,  in  order  to  include  in  the  practice  of  his  pro 
fession,  all  classes  of  controversy  which  might  arise  in  the  Courts,  ' 
from  which  he  was  partially  excluded  while  representing  the  State. 
His  course  was  onward,  and  he  was  elected  a  Judge  of  the  Circuit  ' 
Court,  giving  the  people  a  just  administration. 

When  the  difficulties  were  pending,  and  secession  was  contem-  ^ 
plated,  Judge  Pettus  was  appointed  a  commissioner  to  communi 
cate  with  the  State  of  Mississippi  as  to  the  proper  measure,  and  | 
for  the  formation  of  a  Southern  Confederacy.  After  the  war  com-  1 
menced,  he  entered  the  army  with  the  courage  and  resolution  of  | 
his  strong  character,  offering  his  life  and  his  fortune  to  his  native  J 
South.  He  was  advanced  in  command  to  the  rank  of  Brigadier- 1 
General,  which  he  held  at  the  surrender  of  our  armies.  I  ami 
not  informed  in  what  capacity  he  entered  the  service ;  but  from  1 
the  published  accounts,  as  the  war  progressed,  he  fought  gallantly,  1 
and  won  proud  distinction  in  the  field,  which  has  secured  him  an  ] 
enviable  standing  with  his  fellow-citizens. 

The  person  of  Gen.  Pettus  is  tall,  large,  and  commanding.     As  j 
a  speaker  on  the  hustings,  his  voice  and  manner,  as  well  as  matter, 
are  engaging  and  impressive.     He  is  still  in  the  prime  of  life. 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  383 

and  resides  in  Selma,  with  great  personal  influence  which,  on  all 
proper  occasions,  is  exerted  for  the  promotion  of  peace  and  con 
cord  among  his  fellow-citizens,  and  for  the  prosperity  of  the  State. 

PERCY  WALKEK,  who  was  defeated  in  this  election,  deserves  a 
more  particular  notice  than  that  heretofore  bestowed,  and  I  pre 
fer  to  give  it  in  this  connection.  His  defeat  was  not  the  result 
of  any  incompetency  or  unfaithfulness  in  the  discharge  of  his 
duties  as  Solicitor  for  the  four  years  preceding;  for  it  is  very 
questionable  whether  his  equal  in  that  particular  department  of 
the  public  service,  has  ever  appeared  in  the  State.  The  energy 
and  skill  with  which  he  brought  offenders  to  the  bar  of  justice, 
and  there  vindicated  the  majesty  of  the  law,  was  justly  regarded 
by  the  citizens  of  Mobile  as  effectual  in  producing  a  great  reform, 
and  his  defeat  was  considered  a  calamity.  But  there  was  a  combi 
nation  of  political  influences  against  him,  brought  about  by  the 
.state  of  parties  then  existing,  which,  in  the  hands  of  a  dextrous 
and  persevering  opponent,  popular,  and  just  out  of  a  term  in  the 
Senate  where  he  had  made  a  good  deal  of  character,  produced  the 
result  just  noted 

Mr.  Walker  is  justly  regarded  as  one  of  the  leading  men  in  the 
State.  Without  seeking  popularity,  he  is  still  popular.  Though 
generally  considered  as  cold  and  taciturn,  he  is  social  and  generous 
in  his  nature,  but  entirely  without  disguise,  dissimulation,  or  dem- 
agogism,  in  his  professions,  or  in  his  deportment  as  a  gentleman 
and  politician.  He  has  followed  his  convictions  without  regard  to 
policy,  which  frequently  separated  him  from  friends  with  whom 
he  would  gladly  cooperate.  He  has  a  penetrating,  logical  mind, 
and  in  his  public  addresses  is  bold,  earnest,  and  sometimes  defi 
ant.  He  has  succeeded  at  the  bar,  and  stands  high  in  his  profes 
sion,  especially  as  an  advocate,  in  which  he  seems  peculiarly 
gifted.  In  early  life,  he  married  Miss  Ella  Lipscomb,  the  accom 
plished  daughter  of  Judge  Lipscomb,  who  has  adorned  his  path 
through  life  by  her  intelligence  and  womanly  dignity. 

Talent  seems  to  be  inherent  in  the  family,  as  the  four  brothers, 
Percy,  Richard  W.,  Leroy  Pope,  and  John  J.  Walker,  all  sons  of 
the  Hon.  John  W.  Walker,  are  conclusive  testimony.  Perhaps 
no  other  family  reared  in  the  State  has  been  so  brilliantly  illus 
trated. 

WILLIAM  ACKLIN,  of  Huntsville,  has  been  Solicitor  several 
times,  which  is  evidence  that  he  made  a  good  prosecuting  officer, 
although  he  never  became  distinguished  in  his  profession.  He 
aspired  to  the  Jndgeship  of  the  Circuit  Court  unsuccessfully.  In 
1853,  he  was  elected  to  the  Senate  from  Madison  for  a  term  of 
four  years,  and  in  1855,  his  friends  were  very  anxious  to  place 


384  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

him  in  the  chair  of  that  end  of  the  Capitol,  but  without  success. 
For  years  he  has  been  in  private  life,  engaged  in  his  profession. 
He  is  brother  to  Joseph  A.  S.  Acklin?  Esq.,  for  some  time  United 
States  Attorney  for  the  Northern  District  of  Alabama,  and  who 
married  a  wealthy  and  accomplished  lady,  Mrs.  Franklin,  of  Nash 
ville,  and  died  some  years  ago;  and  also  brother  of  John  R.  Ack- 
lin,  Esq.,  for  some  years  Sheriff,  and  a  prominent  man  in  Madison 
county. 

[NoTjE. — The  above  notice  of  Mr.  William  Acklin  was  written  in  1871.  He 
died  in  1872.] 

HON.  ANDERSON  CRENSHAW  was  a  native  of  South  Carolina, 
and  completed  his  education  in  Columbia  College,  probably  in  the 
graduating  class  of  1806.  He  is  said  to  have  been  very  diligent 
and  successful  in  his  studies.  In  early  life  he  emigrated  to  Ala 
bama,  and  engaged  in  the  practice  of  the  law.  The  best  evidence 
of  his  character  and  success,  is  the  number  of  high  Judicial  offices 
he  held  in  the  State:  , 

1.  A  Judge  of  the  Circuit  Court. 

2.  Judge  of  the  Supreme  Court,  composed  of  Circuit  Judges, 
previous  to  1832. 

3.  Chancellor  of  the  Southern  Division,  from  the  organization 
of  a  separate  Court  of  Chancery  in  1838,  until  his  death  in  1847. 

He  was  a  Whig  in  politics,  but  so  moderate  in  his  views  and 
feelings,  and  so  devoted  to  the  duties  of  the  high  places  he  occu 
pied,  that  the  question  of  party  politics  was  never  brought  to  bear 
upon  him,  and  so  he  was  retained  in  office  under  elections  of  the 
Legislature,  when  large  Democratic  majorities  existed.  His  vir 
tues  as  a  man,  and  his  abilities  and  integrity  as  a  Judge,  gained 
the  public  confidence,  from  the  beginning  of  his  long  administra 
tion  of  justice,  which  he  retained  to  the  last.  Nothing  more  need 
be  added  to  such  a  pregnant  record  of  success.  Yet  there  was  a 
period  in  his  history  of  sore  trial,  when  he  and  two  of  his  Asso 
ciates  on  the  Bench  of  the  Supreme  Court — Saffold  and  White — 
were  impeached  before  the  Legislature,  as  shown  by  a  pamphlet 
of  thirty-six  pages,  entitled  "  Responses  of  Judges  Saffold,  White, 
and  Crenshaw,  to  certain  charges  preferred  against  them  by  Wil 
liam  Kelley,  Esq.,  before  the  General  Assembly  of  the  State  of 
Alabama,"  printed  at  Tuskaloosa,  by  Dugald  McFarland,  1829. 

As  showing  some  curious  facts,  an  extract  from  the  opinion  de 
livered  by  Judge  Saffold,  at  June  term,  1828,  of  the  Supreme 
Court,  in  the  case  of  Robert  Thompson  vs.  L.  H.  Jones,  is  here 
submitted : 

It  appears  that  the  plaintiffs  held  a  bond  on  A.  D.  Dandridge,  D.  Wade,  and  R. 
JI.  Dandridge,  whereby,  on  the  8th  day  of  January,  1819,  they  promised,  on  or 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  385 

before  the  1st  day  of  January  next  thereafter,  to  pay  the  plaintiff,  or  order, 
$4,440  for  value  received,  with  20  per  cent,  per  month  interest  on  the  above  amount 
thereafter  until  paid.  Credits  appeared  on  the  note  to  the  amount  of  $1,800,  ex 
pressed  to  be  in  part  payment  of  the  interest  due  thereon,  dated  subsequent  to  the 
maturity  of  the  note.  There  was  also  an  indorsement  on  the  bond,  by  which  the 
defendant  acknowledged  that  he  had,  on  the  14th  of  March,  1822,  (which  is  the 
date  of  the  note  here  sued  on)  purchased  of  the  plaintiff  the  said  instrument,  and 
had  exonerated  him  from  all  responsibility  respecting  the  payment  of  the  same,  or 
any  part  thereof.  This  bond  was  the  consideration  of  the  note  sued  on,  and  of 
two  others,  all  of  the  same  amount,  making  together  the  sum  of  $6,800,  payable 
by  three  installments,  with  interest  from  the  date,  one  of  which  having  been  given 
for  each  installment.  Each  of  said  notes  was  also  signed  by  two  other  persons 
(the  Eldridges)  as  securities  of  the  defendant,  and  by  his  procurement.  The  de 
fendant  appears  to  have  been  influenced  to  enter  into  this  contract,  from  motives 
of  friendship  to  the  original  debtors,  and  his  apprehension  of  their  great  injury  or 
ruin  from  the  rapid  increase  of  debt,  as  the  rate  of  interest  stipulated,  amounted 
to  more  than  $10,000  per  annum,  on  the  $4,440,  and  nt  the  time  this  defendant 
contracted,  this  rate  of  interest  had  been  running  more  than  two  years.  The 
plaintiff,  however,  in  conversation  with  the  obligors,  both  before  and  after  the  matu 
rity  of  their  bond,  said  he  would  not  exact  the  full  rate  of  stipulated  interest — 
that  he  would  only  require  5  per  cent,  per  month. 

From  the  "  Responses"  of  the  Judges  it  would  seem  that  the 
impeaching  memorial  of  Mr.  Kelley  was  prompted  by  his  loss  of 
fees,  from  the  ruling  of  the  Court  against  the  usurious  contracts 
which  had  been  placed  in  his  hands  for  collection.  The  Judges 
passed  through  the  ordeal  triumphantly,  and  each  received  from 
the  Legislature  new  tokens  of  confidence. 


CHAPTER  XXIII. 

Legislature  q/"1844  Continued — Senators  and  Representatives  SketcJied. 

Several  members  of  the  Senate  having  taken  their  seats  at  this 
session  for  the  first  time,  and  others  not  having  been  included  in 
the  personal  notices  heretofore  made,  places  are  here  assigned 
them  in  these  "Reminiscences." 

EDWARD  S.  DARGAN,  of  Mobile,  by  birth  a  North  Carolinan, 
came  to  Alabama  when  a  young  man,  first  settling  at  old  Wash 
ington,  then  the  county-site  of  Autauga.  Here  he  was  elected  a 
Justice  of  the  Peace,  and  filled  that  office  for  some  years,  in  the 
meantime,  practicing  law ;  and  here,  in  this  quiet  village,  on  the 
west  bank  of  the  Alabama,  while  depending  wholly  upon  himself 
for  advancement,  were  no  doubt  acquired  those  habits  of  thought 
25 


386  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

and  investigation  which  have  since  distinguished  him  as  a  profound 
lawyer.  He  afterward  removed  to  Montgomery,  where  he  re 
mained  a  number  of  years  in  the  successful  practice  of  his  profes 
sion.  Thence  he  changed  his  residence  to  Mobile,  his  present 
home. 

In  1845,  he  was  the  nominee  of  the  Democratic  party  for  Con 
gress,  in  the  Mobile  District,  and  was  elected  over  his  Whig  com 
petitor,  William  D.  Dunn,  Esq.  While  in  Congress,  he  made  an 
able  speech,  and  offered  important  amendments  on  the  Oregon 
question,  which  largely  attracted  public  notice.  He  justly  ranked 
among  the  sensible  members  of  the  House,  and  great  deference 
was  paid  to  his  arguments  and  opinions.  A  vacancy  occurring  on 
the  bench  of  the  Supreme  Court,  by  the  death  of  Judge  Gold- 
thwaite,  Mr.  Dargan  was  elected  by  the  Legislature  at  the  session 
of  1847,  to  fill  the  place;  and  on  the  resignation  of  Judge  Collier 
in  1849,  he  became  Chief  Justice.  After  remaining  on  the  bench 
of  the  Supreme  Court  several  years,  he  resigned,  and  resumed 
his  professional  labors.  JETe  was  elected  a  delegate  from  Mo 
bile  to  the  Convention  or  1861,  and  voted  for  the  ordinance 
of  secession.  At  the  first  election  by  the  people  of  Repre 
sentatives  in  the  Confederate  Congress,  he  was  returned  from  the 
Mobile  District,  and  served  through  the  term,  giving  the  full 
measure  of  his  great  powers  to  the  cause  of  the  South.  He  de 
clined  a  reelection,  and  has  since  been  in  private  life,  successfully 
engaged  in  legal  practice. 

In  person,  Judge  Dargan  has  a  dull  and  unattractive  look,  as  if 
he  was  always  drowsy,  and  dissatisfied  with  things  about  him. 
His  conversation  is  sluggish,  and  he  appears  to  be  in  a  reverie 
most  of  his  time,  when  he  is  without  a  law-book  in  his  hand,  and 
when  not  engaged  in  Court.  There,  he  wakes  up,  and  when  he 
takes  his  stand  at  the  advocate's  desk  in  the  Supreme  Court,  to 
make  an  argument,  a  transformation  comes  over  him,  and  the  purest 
logic  and  the  boldest  grasp  of  thought  come  to  his  aid  as  if  by 
intuition.  There  his  great  attainments  as  a  jurist  fully  appear, 
and  his  face  is  luminous  with  intellectual  life  until  he  closes  his 
argument,  and  then  he  looks  sleepy  again. 

ARCHIBALD  GILCHRIST,  of  Lowndes,  succeeded  Dr.  Berney  in 
the  Senate,  and  took  his  seat  at  the  session  of  1844,  and  served  in 
1845,  and  then  retired  to  private  life,  not  long  after  which  he 
died. 

Mr.  Gilchrist  was  from  North  Carolina,  where  he  studied  law. 
After  he  came  to  Alabama  he  practiced  his  profession,  and  sus 
tained  a  good  rank  at  the  bar.  He  was  a  Whig  in  politics,  quiet 
and  reserved,  but  very  attentive  to  public  business.  Occasionally 
he  Chared  in  discussion^  and  displayed  ability,  with  a  clear  under- 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  387 

standing  of  State  policy,  and  the  best  interests  of  the  people.  He 
was  strongly  opposed  to  a  law  passed  a  few  years  previously  for 
the  redemption  of  real  estate  which  had  been  sold  by  legal  pro 
cess,  after  the  Tennessee  plan,  and  through  his  efforts  and  influ 
ence  a  bill  for  its  repeal  passed  the  Senate ;  but  was  defeated  in 
the  House,  He  was  a  gentleman  of  strong  convictions  and  fixed 
purpose  in  the  prosecution  of  his  objects,  in  his  private,  profes 
sional  and  legislative  capacity,  and  was  much  respected  for  his 
virtues, 

SAMPSON  W.  HARRIS,  of  Coosa,  was  a  native  of  Georgia,  and 
a  graduate  of  the  University  of  that  State.  He  was  a  son  of  the 
Hon.  Stephen  W.  Harris,  a  Judge  of  the  Superior  Court  from 
1813  to  1816,  whose  death  in  1822  was  considered  a  great  loss  to 
the  State. 

In  September,  1831,  the  first  Internal  Improvement  Conven- 
vention  ever  held  in  Georgia,  assembled  at  Eatonton,  where  Mr. 
S.  W.  Harris  resided,  of  which  lie  was  appointed  one  of  the  three 
Secretaries.  Wylie  W.  Mason,  Esq.,  afterward  a  Chancellor  in 
Alabama,  was  a  member  of  that  Convention. 

About  the  year  1838,  Mr.  Harris  settled  in  Wetumpka,  in  the 
practice  of  the  law,  and  at  once  took  high  position.  A  Democrat, 
he  soon  attracted  popular  notice,  first  in  a  State  Convention  held 
at  Tuskaloosa,  where  he  made  a  speech  which  placed  him  at  once 
on  the  road  to  preferment.  In  1841,  as  noticed  in  another  place 
in  this  volume,  he  was  elected  Solicitor  of  the  Eighth  Circuit,  the 
duties  of  which  office  he  discharged  with  such  ability,  and  faith- 
ness,  that  the  partiality  of  friends,  more  than  any  desire  on  his 
part,  piesented  him  as  a  candidate  for  Judge  of  the  Circuit  Court, 
in  which  election  he  was  defeated.  In  1844,  he  succeeded  Mr. 
Yancey  in  the  Senate,  for  the  District  of  Coosa  and  Autauga,  and 
again  in  1845.  The  session  of  the  latter  year  terminated  his  con 
nection  with  the  State  Legislature,  and  his  rapidly  developed 
powers  sought  a  wider  field,  where  he  might  win  laurels  more 
suited,  it  may  be,  to  his  taste  and  ambition. 

In  1847,  Mr.  Harris  was  nominated  as  the  Democratic  candidate 
for  Congress,  in  the  Third  District,  and  was  elected,  if  I  mistake 
not,  without  much  show  of  opposition.  In  1849,  he  defeated 
Judge  John  S.  Hunter,  who  was  an  antagonist  of  no  ordinary 
strength.  In  1851,  his  opponent  was  Judge  William  S  Mudd,  who 
with  the  issue  pending  that  year,  was  the  most  popular  man  that 
could  be  placed  in  competition  with  him,  and  he  was  defeated  by 
Mr.  Harris.  In  1853,  his  opponent  was  Judge  Moore,  of  Lowndes, 
who  shared  the  like  fate.  In  1855,  by  a  new  arrangement  of  the 
district,  he  was  thrown  upon  several  counties  of  territory  new  to 
him,  and  he  had  to  confront  a  new  political  organization,  the  Know- 


388  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

Nothing  or  American  party,  headed  by  Col.  William  B.  Martin, 
of  Benton.  That  was  a  year  of  much  political  excitement  and  ac 
tivity,  and  for  sometime,  during  the  Spring  and  early  Summer, 
the  "future  of  parties  and  aspirants  was  veiled  in  uncertainty. 
Mr.  Harris  was  timid  and  easily  alarmed,  and  that  was  the  time 
for  the  exhibition  of  his  great  powers  before  the  people.  I  re 
member  the  day  that  he  and  his  competitor,  Col.  Martin,  opened 
the  canvass,  at  Nixburg,  in  Coosa  county.  By  consent,  among  sev 
eral  of  his  friends,  Mr.  Harris  was  to  be  alarmed  to  a  degree  that 
would  arouse  him.  This  was  not  hard  to  do,  when  he  came  to 
look  over  the  large  concourse  of  people  in  attendance,  many  of 
them  from  adjoining  counties,  and  the  debate  opened  under  the 
firm  belief  of  Mr.  Harris  that  it  would  give  direction  to  the  can 
vass  and  the  result,  which  I  have  no  doubt  was  the  case.  His 
speech,  on  that  occasion,  astonished  even  his  most  sanguine  friends, 
in  the  force  and  pow<5r  of  his  arguments ;  and  yet  the  softness  and 
elegance  of  his  manner  as  a  public  speaker,  was  fully  preserved. 
The  people  turned  out  en  masse,  and  would  follow  him  from  one 
appointment  to  another  to  hear  this  wonderful  orator.  He  de 
feated  his  opponent  by  a  majority  of  800  votes.  This  was  his  last 
canvass,  and  it  is  quite  probable  that,  by  its  extraordinary  labors, 
his  health  was  impaired,  so  that  he  did  not  long  survive.  He 
served  the  people  ten  years  in  Congress,  and  died  at  the  city  of 
"Washington,  during  the  Winter  of  18 56-' 7,  an  humble  Christian, 
leaning  on  the  merits  of  his  Redeemer. 

The  foregoing  sketch  of  Mr.  Harris'  public  life  and  positions 
vindicates,  in  unmistakeable  terms,  the  character  of  the  man,  and 
his  high  grade  of  talents.  Well  educated,  with  the  advantages'  of 
much  reading  and  study,  which  accorded  with  his  taste  and  habits, 
he  was  fitted  for  any  position  in  the  State.  In  person,  he  was  tall 
and  spare,  with  a  fine  head  and  face,  while  his  manners  were 
graceful  and  captivating,  his  voice  soft  and  musical,  and  his  con 
versational  powers  of  a  high  order.  All  these  advantages  were  at 
his  command  in  social  life,  and  with  men  of  every  station;  and 
then,  when  he  came  upon  the  hustings,  and  with  the  conviction 
that  what  he  would  say  was  to  have  its  influence  in  the  success  or 
failure  of  the  principles  he  had  adopted,  as  the  best  for  the  ad 
ministration  of  the  Government,  he  was  instructive  and  eloquent. 

In  Congress,  Mr.  Harris  spoke  a  few  times,  and  at  every  effort 
advanced  further  to  the  front  rank  of  speakers  in  that  body.  But 
with  all  his  vast  powers  and  attainments,  he  was  indolent,  and  this 
indulgence,  or  rather  injustice  to  himself,  eclipsed  greatly  the  rising 
splendor  of  his  political  star.  He  did  not  take  the  commanding 
position  in  the  councils  of  the  nation  that  was  his  due,  nor  in  any 
public  situation  that  he  held,  and  therefore  he  was  never  known 
or  appreciated  as  he  should  have  been.  Let  him  be  aroused  to  a 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  389 

proper  sense  of  the  importance  of  an  occasion,  and  he  was  a  full 
match  in  all  that  constitutes  an  able,  eloquent  speaker,  with  any 
man  of  his  day  in  the  State.  He  died  in  the  meridian  of  life. 

At  an  early  age,  Mr.  Harris  married  Miss  Thomas,  an  accom 
plished  lady,  of  Athens,  Georgia.  One  of  his  sons,  Sampson  W. 
Harris,  jr.,  commanded  the  6th  Georgia  Regiment  in  the  late  war, 
as  the  successor  of  Gen.  A.  H.  Colquitt,  promoted.  He  now  re 
sides  at  West-Point,  Chambers  county,  engaged  in  the  practice  of 
the  law.  Another  son,  Dr.  Hugh  Nisbet  Harris,  married  a  daugh 
ter  of  the  Hon.  B.  C.  Yaneey,  and  resides  at  Athens. 

SIDNEY  C.  POSEY,  of  Lander  dale,  served  in  the  Senate  at  the 
session  of  1837,  to  supply  the  place  of  Mr.  McVay,  who,  as  Pres 
ident  of  the  Senate,  succeeded  to  the  Executive  on  the  resigna 
tion  of  Gov.  Clay,  at  the  called  session,  June,  1837,  when  he  was 
elected  a  Senator  in  Congress.  The  next  year,  Mr.  Posey  with 
drew,  that  Mr.  McVay  might  resume  his  seat  in  the  Senate,  which 
he  had  so  long  and  worthily  filled.  But  in  1844,  the  latter,  from 
the  infirmities  of  age,  had  retired  altogether  from  public  life,  and 
Mr.  Posey  again  returned  to  the  Senate.  It  was  a  beautiful 
instance  of  liberality,  amounting  almost  to  the  affection  of  father* 
and  son,  the  junior  giving  way  cheerfully  to  the  venerable  senior, 
whose  services  had  been  demanded  and  faithfully  rendered  for  so 
noted  a  period. 

Before  his  entrance  into  the  Senate,  Mr.  Posey  had  been 
elected  Judge  of  the  County  Court  of  Lauderdale  county,  rela 
tive  to  which  event  in  his  early  life  an  incident  is  worthy  of  pre 
servation  for  the  moral  it  conveys. 

Mr.  Posey  had  just  come  to  the  bar,  a  young  man  without  pat 
rimony  or  patronage.  An  election  was  to  be  made  by  the  Legis- 
ture  of  County  Court  Judge,  an  office  which  he  thought  he  could 
fill,  and  desiring  it,  he  set  out  for  Tuskaloosa  to  try  his  fortunes 
in  seeking  it.  But  the  members  of  his  county  were  committed  to 
others  who  had  assisted  in  their  election,  and  he  had  little  to  hope 
from  that  quarter.  He  arrived  at  Tuskaloosa  on  Saturday  even 
ing,  and  on  Sunday  morning,  as  was  his  habit,  he  went  to  the 
Methodist  Church,  where  he  knew  nobody,  except  that  he  had 
seen,  and  been  introduced  to,  Judge  Collier,  in  the  Fall  riding  of 
the  Circuit  Court.  He  advanced  pretty  well  forward  in  the  aisle 
of  the  Church,  and  had  taken  his  seat,  soon  after  which  the  Judge 
entered,  and  took  his  accustomed  seat  near  by,  and,  as  soon  as  the 
congregation  was  dismissed,  approached  him  in  a  friendly  way, 
making  inquiries  after  his  health,  and  introduced  him  to  some  six 
or  eight  gentlemen  who  were  members  of  the  Legislature.  He 
began  to  feel  relieved  of  the  discouragements  under  which  he 
had  labored  for  several  days,  and  concluded  that  he  was  yet  sonic- 


390  ItemvMscences  of  PMic  Men  in  Alabama. 

thing,  and  had  some  prospects.  He  was  invited,  and  went  to  din 
ner  with  the  Judge,  and  several  prominent  members  of  the  Leg 
islature,  whose  acquaintance  he  formed  on  the  occasion.  This 
opened  the  way  to  an  extension  of  intercourse,  and  he  was  elected 
to  the  office.  The  recognition  by  Judge  Collier  had  given  him 
standing  and  weight  among  gentlemen  to  whom  he  was  previously 
a  stranger,  and  the  office  itself  proved  a  good  starting  point  in  his 
profession,  which  led  to  success. 

What  a  scene  is  here  presented,  and  what  remarkable  influences 
sometimes  grow  out  of  a  few  kind  words !  A  Judge  residing  at  the 
Seat  of  Government,  goes  to  a  distant  county  in  the  State  to 
administer  law  and  justice.  A  young  member  of  the  bar,  modest 
and  sensitive,  is  introduced  to  him  on  the  Circuit,  and  is  gratified 
at  the  honor.  It  was  a  mere  courtesy  for  the  time  being,  and  no 
particular  value  was  attached  to  it  by  either  party,  for  such  intro 
ductions  were  common.  But  in  the  lapse  of  years,  that  Circuit 
Judge  becomes  Chief  Justice  of  the  Supreme  Court,  and  then 
Governor  of  the  State,  leaving  a  bright  record  of  ability,  virtue, 
and  fidelity,  in  all  the  relations  of  life;  and  better  than  all,  a 
Christian  example,  which  will  long  exert  a  sweet  influence  on  the 
public  mind.  His  young  professional  brother,  whose  fortunes 
were  dated  in  the  sanctuary,  whither  he  had  repaired  to  worship 
his  Maker  on  the  Sabbath,  has  since  received  promotion,  honors, 
and  prosperity,  as  the  result  of  that  kindly  interview,  prompted 
by  a  generous,  loving  spirit,  which  never  failed  to  make  others 
happy.  What  a  precious  example,  and  how  soothing  the  memory, 
now  that  the  death  of  both  parties  has  consecrated  it  as  a  lesson 
to  survivors!  Men  of  experience  and  position  should  be  encour 
aged  by  it  to  bestow  a  few  gentle  words,  if  nothing  more,  to 
strengthen  young  men,  whose  souls  often  languish  in  the  begin 
ning  of  life  for  the  want  of  friendly  recognition. 

Serving  through  the  session  of  1845,  Judge  Posey  was,  in  1847, 
elected  by  the  Legislature  Judge  of  the  Circuit'  Court,  a  position 
which  he  filled  with  legal  ability.  At  the  end  of  the  term  he 
was  defeated  before  the  people,  to  whom  the  election  of  Circuit 
Judges  had  been  transferred. 

Judge  Posey  was  a  member  of  the  National  Democratic  Con 
vention  in  1860,  and  participated  in  the  nomination  of  Judge 
Douglas  for  the  Presidency,  for  whom  he  voted.  In  1861,  he 
was  a  delegate  from  Lauderdale,  in  the  Convention  which  passed 
the  Ordinance  of  Secession,  against  which  measure  he  opposed  his 
counsels  and  his  vote  without  avail.  Also,  the  same  year,  he 
was  elected  to  the  House,  and,  as  Chairman  of  the  Committee  on 
Ways  and  Means,  he  rendered  signal  service,  by  his  experience 
and  patriotism,  in  providing  the  means  necessary  for  the  public 
defense;  always  true  to  his  State,  and  going  to  the  full  extent  of 


iieniiniscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama..  391 

maintaining  her  organization.  After  the  surrender,  and  in  the 
Provisional  Government,  he  was  appointed  a  Judge  of  the  Circuit 
Court,  which  office  he  held  until  the  election,  when  he  was 
defeated  by  Judge  William  B.  Wood,  of  Florence,  a  gentleman 
who,  to  a  long  established  personal  influence,  added  a  good  mili 
tary  name  in  the  Confederate  service.  This  terminated  the  public 
life  of  Judge  Posey,  and  in  a  year  or  two  thereafter  he  died. 

For  about  forty  years  he  was  connected  with  public  employ 
ments  in  the  State,  and  maintained  throughout  an  unblemished 
character,  both  as  a  man  and  as  a  Christian.  In  person,  he  was 
tall,  something  over  six  feet.  His  manner  was  quiet,  thoughtful, 
and  dignified,  rather  reserved,  especially  in  his  public  intercourse; 
but  in  the  private  circle  of  his  friends,  he  was  communicative  and 
humorous.  In  public  speaking,  he  was  deliberate  and  advisory, 
rather  in  a  conversational  tone — never  rash  in  his  opinions  or  in 
action — but  firm  in  adhering  to  his  principles.  He  succeeded  in 
accumulating  a  good  property  a  few  miles  from  Florence,  where 
he  dispensed  an  unaifected,  substantial  hospitality  to  his  friends,  as 
the  writer  can  testify. 

There  is  another  feature  in  Judge  Posey's  character  which  it 
would  be  unjust  to  omit  here.  When  a  young  man  he  embraced 
the  Christian  religion,  and  as  far  back  as  1829  took  out  license  as 
a  Methodist  minister,  which  relation  was  cherished  through  life, 
adorning  his  path,  and  his  positions  of  honor  and  trust,  upon  the 
Bench,  in  the  public  councils,  and  in  all  the  relations  of  life.  Such 
a  man,  as  legislator,  as  Judge,  as  Christian  minister,  was  Sidney  C. 
Posey. 

CALVIN  C.  SELLERS,  of  Wilcox,  was  for  several  years  Clerk 
of  the  Circuit  Court  of  that  county,  and  possessed  of  fine  clerical 
and  business  habits.  He  studied  hard,  and  after  his  admission  he 
took  a  high  rank  at  the  bar.  In  1844,  he  was  elected  to  the  Sen 
ate  from  the  district  comprised  of  Wilcox  and  Marengo  counties, 
and  served  again  through  the  session  of  1845.  In  the  Legislature 
he  was  prompt  and  intelligent,  and  shared  in  the  debates  with 
credit  to  himself;  and  socially,  he  was  pleasant  and  affable.  At 
these  two  sessions  he  made  a  good  reputation  as  a  legislator,  and 
evinced  considerable  knowledge  of  Government. 

In  1849,  Mr.  Sellers  was  the  nominee  of  the  Democratic  party 
for  Congress,  in  the  Mobile  District,  and,  after  an  animated  con 
test,  was  defeated  by  Judge  Alston  of  Marengo,  the  Whig  nom 
inee.  This  ended  his  public  life,  and  in  a  few  years  thereafter  he 
died. 

Mr.  Sellers  was  tall,  probably  not  less  than  six  feet  four  inches, 
and  had  rather  a  majestic  appearance.  His  voice  was^strong,  and 
under  good  command,  and  he  spoke  with  ease  to  himself  and 


392  Reminiscences  of  PMic  Men  in  Alabama. 

pleasure  to  his  listeners.  He  had  a  laudable  ambition  for  prefer 
ment,  and,  while  he  exercised  the  privilege  of  expressing  his 
opinions  freely,  he  was  quite  prompt  in  resenting  any  liberty  which 
an  opponent  might  take  with  his  character.  He  was  a  strong  man, 
both  intellectually  and  physically,  but  with  a  temper  somewhat 
exacting  and  dictatorial.  If  this  be  a  defect  at  all,  it  is  frequently 
seen  in  men  who  are  distinguished  for  energy  and  success.  Were 
Mr.  Sellers  living,  perhaps  he  would  have  no  objection  to  be  ranked 
in  such  company,  and  there,  with  all  his  good  qualities,  it  is  no  in 
justice  to  leave  him. 

MEMBERS   OF   THE   HOUSE. 

A  number  of  gentlemen,  serving  in  1844,  have  been  noticed  as 
of  other  sessions,  and  only  some  who  then  appeared  for  the  first 
time,  and  others  heretofore  omitted,  will  be  specially  introduced 
in  this  chapter. 

FRANKLIN  W.  BOWDON,  of  Talladega,  was  educated  at  the 
University  of  Alabama,  and  selected  the  law  as  his  profession. 
In  1844,  and  again  in  1845,  he  was  elected  to  the  House,  and  by 
the  force  of  his  talents  and  his  skill  in  debate,  he  at  once  became 
prominent.  At  the  session  of  1845,  he  was  the  champion  of  "Re 
moval,"  and,  in  framing  the  bill  for  that  purpose,  he  used  such 
phraseology  as  to  combine  the  question  of  "Biennial  Sessions," 
with  that  of  "  Removal,"  in  such  a  compact  form,  the  one  absorb 
ing  the  other,  so  that  no  vote  of  the  House  could  be  taken  on 
either  as  a  separate  proposition,  under  the  ruling  of  the  Chair,  but 
both  had  to  stand  or  fall  together.  This  stroke  of  generalship 
gained  the  day  for  the  friends  of  "Removal."  The  efforts  and 
success  of  Mr.  Bowdon  on  this  question  rendered  him  exceedingly 
popular  in  East-Alabama,  and  his  reward  was  not  long  deferred. 

By  the  death  of  Gen.  McConnell,  at  Washington  City,  in  1846, 
a  vacancy  occurred  in  the  Seventh  Congressional  District,  to  sup 
ply  which  a  special  election  was  ordered,  when  Mr.  Bowdon  and 
Mr.  Thomas  A.  Walker,  both  Democrats,  took  the  field  in  oppo 
sition — the  former  prevailing.  In  1847,  Mr.  Bowdon  was  reflected 
over  Gen.  J.  T.  Bradford,  his  Whig  competitor,  and  in  1849,  he 
defeated  Samuel  F.  Rice,  Esq.,  who  had  recently  forsaken  his 
Democratic  friends;  or  rather,  who  canvassed  the  district  as  a 
Taylor  Democrat. 

While  in  Congress,  Mr.  Bowdon  did  not  shrink  from  the  discus 
sions  usual  upon  the  floor.  He  was  too  self-reliant,  and  had  too 
much  force  to  feel  or  exhibit  the  least  degree  of  timidity.  He 
rushed  at  once  into  the  melee,  and  gave  blow  for  blow  with  the 
grace  of  a  veteran  gladiator.  The  bill  to  establish  the  Territorial 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  393 

Government  of  Oregon,  introduced  at  the  session  of  1846-'7,  con 
tained  this  provision : 

That  in  any  Territory  which  may  be  secured  to  the  United  States  from  Mexico, 
slavery  and  involuntary  servitude  shall  forever  be  prohibited. 

While  this  bill  was  under  consideration,  January  16,  1847,  Mr. 
Bowdon  delivered  a  speech  most  elaborately  prepared,  and  sup 
ported  by  authorities,  in  opposition  to  this  feature — the  Wilmot 
proviso  renewed. 

Mr.  Bowdon  retired  from  Congress  in  1851,  with  a  decided  rep 
utation  for  abilities;  but  in  the  meantime  his  habits  had  become 
irregular,  and  disqualified  him  from  the  proper  discharge  of  repre 
sentative  duties.  Here  is  a  warning  to  the  young  men  of  Ala 
bama,  and  they  should  heed  its  teachings.  Seldom  has  such  a 
prodigy  appeared  upon  the  stage  of  action  as  Franklin  W.  Bow 
don,  in  physical  and  mental  endowments,  coupled  with  the  gifts  of 
oratory.  When  in  1845  he  was  the  bold  and  victorious  leader  of 
"  Removal,"  he  measured  strength  with  such  men  as  Samuel  W. 
Inge  and  Joseph  W.  Taylor,  the  young  giants  in  opposition.  Be 
fore  the  people  he  was  invincible,  and  everywhere  they  crowded 
to  hear  him  speak.  In  Congress  he  was  a  star,  and  shone  brightly 
for  a  few  short  years,  and  returned  a  wreck.  He  removed  to 
Texas,  and  in  1856  was  on  the  Electoral  Ticket  for  Buchanan  and 
Breckinridge,  and  in  a  short  time  he  died. 

While  rising  in  his  profession,  and  just  as  his  public  life  com 
menced,  Mr.  Bowdon  married  a  daughter  of  the  Rev.  Thomas 
Chilton,  an  accomplished  and  elegant  lady  who  graced  society  at 
the  Federal  Capitol — a  fine  specimen  of  the  Southern  woman  in 
person  and  in  mind.  Higher  praise  cannot  be  awarded. 

DANIEL  CHANDLER,  of  Mobile,  was  a  native  of  Georgia,  and 

fraduated  with  the  first  honors  of  the  University  of  that  State. 
u  1831,  he  was  elected  by  the  Legislature  Solicitor-General  of 
the  Northern  Circuit,  which  was  presided  over  by  the  Hon.  Wil 
liam  H.  Crawford  as  Judge  of  the  Superior  Court,  who  was  Sec 
retary  of  the  Treasury  from  1817  to  1825,  during  the  administra 
tion  of  President  Monroe. 

It  was  a  striking  picture  to  contemplate.  The  grand  old  man 
who  had  been  President  of  the  Senate,  Minister  to  France  in 
the  reign  of  Napoleon;  who  had  for  a  while  been  in  charge  of  the 
War  Department,  then  conducting  the  national  finances  with  con 
summate  ability;  then,  of  three  candidates  returned  in  1825  to 
the  House  of  Representatives,  from  whom  a  President  was  chosen ; 
this  great  intellectual  Colossus  and  physical  giant,  comparatively 
in  ruins  from  an  attack  of  paralysis  in  1822,  yet  holding  the  scales 
of  justice  with  an  even  hand,  and  a  logical  mind — sitting  on  the 


394  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.. 

bench,  exercising  high  Judicial  authority,  and  the  young  prosecut 
ing  officer,  gifted  with  a  superior  intellect,  which  was  adorned  by 
careful  literary  cultivation — both  officers  of  the  law,  charged  with 
their  respective  duties — one  as  the  setting  sun,  reflecting  back  his 
golden  light,  and  the  other  a  rising  star,  to  shine  beautifully  in  the 
horizon  when  ascended  to  its  zenith — these  two  extremes,  age  and 
youth,  the  one  dwelling  on  the  triumphs  of  the  past,  and  the 
other  cheered  by  the  hopes  of  the  future — such  a  combination  was 
morally  sublime,  and  rarely  witnessed  in  the  affairs  of  life.  Yet 
it  was  so,  and  it  is  of  Daniel  Chandler  that  I  am  now  to  give  a 
passing  account,  after  his  term  of  office  expired. 

In  1835,  Mr.  Chandler  delivered  an  Address  on  Female  Edu 
cation,  before  the  Demosthenian  and  Phi  Kappa  Societies  of  the 
University  of  Georgia,  the  character  of  which,  as  a  literary  per 
formance,  may  be  inferred  from  the  following: 

PHI  KAPPA  HALL,  August  7,  1835. 

On  motion  of  the  Hon.  JOHN  MCPHERSON  BERRIEN,  Resolved,  That  in  consider- 
tion  of  the  splendid  manner  in  which  Mr.  DANIEL  CHANDLER  has  discharged  the 
appointment  as  Orator,  from  the  Phi  Kappa  Society,  to  deliver  an  oration  on  the 
day  of  Commencement — a  committee  be  deputed  to  wait  on  him  and  request  a  copy 
of  his  eloquent  Address  for  publication. 

Resolved,  That  5,000  copies  of  the  Address  be  published  at  the  expense  of  the 
Society. 

Mr.  B.  C.  Yancey  was  one  the  committee  who  applied  for  the 
address,  to  whom  a  copy  was  furnished  by  Mr.  Chandler. 

The  address  when  published  formed  a  pamphlet  of  twenty-four 
pages.  It  was  widely  circulated,  and  through  its  inspiration  the 
first  "Female  College"  sprung  into  existence;  for  in  the  year  1836 
the  Legislature  of  Georgia  incorporated  the  "  Wesleyan  Female 
College/7  at  Macon,  which  is  the  pioneer  of  all  institutions  of  its 
class — the  acknowledged  fruit  of  Mr.  Chandler's  discourse. 

In  the  meantime,  Mr.  Chandler  had  made  up  his  mind  to 
change  his  residence  to  Mobile,  Alabama,  as  a  better  field  for  the 
exercise  of  his  professional  talents.  Before  his  departure  from 
Georgia,  the  bar  of  the  Northern  Circuit  tendered  him  the  com 
pliment  of  a  public  dinner,  which  he  accepted.  In  the  course  of 
a  few  years,  John  A.  Campbell,  Esq.,  his  brother-in-law,  removed 
from  Montgomery  to  Mobile,  where  the  two  relatives  formed  a 
partnership  in  the  practice  of  the  law,  which  continued  until 
1853,  when  Mr.  Campbell  was  appointed  an  Associate  Justice  of 
the  Supreme  Court  of  the  United  States. 

At  the  session  of  1844,  Mr.  Chandler  immediately  took  rank 
with  the  active  business  members,  and  the  best  speakers  in  the 
House.  His  personal  appearance  was  truly  fine.  A  face  more 
amiable  in  its  expression  never  adorned  any  deliberative  body. 
He  was  rather  of  a  nervous  temperament,  and  easily  excited  in 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  395 

debate.  His  language  was  that  of  a  finished  scholar,  and  his  elo 
cution  very  pleasant  to  the  ear.  While  his  talents  and  his  virtues 
gained  him  universal  respect,  he  seemed  to  lack  a  concentration 
of  purpose,  and  boldness  of  character,  to  propel  him  in  the  battle 
of  life,  where  fame  can  only  be  won  by  a  series  of  conflicts  and 
triumphs.  The  Legislature  afforded  that  arena,  but  Mr.  Chan 
dler  was  too  unselfish,  too  modest,  to  improve  the  occasion  by 
scheming  his  own  advancement.  He  had  no  tact  for  political 
ingenuity,  to  use  a  mild  term  to  express  a  large  meaning,  well 
understood  in  public  life.  He  introduced  a  number  of  bills  and 
resolutions,  and  oifered  amendments  in  the  progress  of  measures, 
which  showed  that  he  well  understood  the  best  policy  of  the 
State,  and  the  true  interests  of  the  people.  His  legislative  record 
was  much  to  his  credit,  though  it  was  not  equal  to  public  expecta 
tion.  He  appeared  to  be  satisfied  with  the  experience  of  one 
session,  and  was  not  again  a  candidate.  In  politics,  he  acted  with 
the  Democratic  party. 

His  success  at  the  bar  as  an  advocate  was  decided.  He  always 
had  large  crowds  when  it  was  known  that  he  was  to  address  the 
jury  in  some  case  where  his  powers  of  eloquence,  and  the  beau 
ties  of  his  imagination,  could  be  fully  displayed.  His  moral 
teachings  in  his  professional  capacity,  like  those  of  LoM  Erskine, 
were  always  intended  for  the  good  of  his  race;  and,  animated  by 
a  Christian  sympathy,  his  zeal  found  ready  appreciation.  But  it 
was  not  at  the  bar  or  in  the  Legislature  that  Mr.  Chandler  was 
most  effective  in  doing  good.  It  was  in  his  social  relations,  and 
as  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  that  his  influence  was 
most  beneficially  exercised.  His  qualities  as  a  man  and  a  Chris 
tian  transcended  everything  else  in  his  character.  And  it  was 
well  that  he  had  this  support,  as  troubles  multiplied  in  his  path. 
Misfortunes  resulting  from  the  war  fell  heavily  upon  him,  and 
left  their  sad  impress  upon  his  mental  and  physical  condition. 
Death  terminated  his  sufferings  in  1866.  His  tomb  should  be  a 
hallowed  spot. 

Tread  lightly  o'er  his  ashes,  ye  men  of  genius, 
For  he  was  your  kinsman ; 
Weed  clean  his  grave,  ye  men  of  goodness, 
For  he  was  your  brother. 

WILLIAMSON  R.  "W.  CORE,  of  Jackson,  began  his  long  career 
of  public  service  at  this  session,  as  a  member  of  the  House.  He 
had  been  engaged  many  years  in  the  business  of  peddling  clocks, 
by  which  he  made  a  handsome  property;  and  turning  his  atten 
tion  to  political  life,  he  was  elected  from  Jackson  in  1844,  and 
again  in  1845. 

His  first  enterprise  in  legislation  was  a  bill  which  he  introduced 
to  amend  the  law  exempting  certain  articles  of  housekeeping  from 


396  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

sale  under  execution,  for  the  benefit  of  each  family.  To  the  table 
furniture  specified  in  the  existing  law,  he  proposed  to  add  a  half 
dozen  plates,  a  half  dozen  cups  and  saucers,  and  a  coffee  pot,  or 
articles  of  a  similar  description.  He  made  his  debut  on  the  floor 
in  favor  of  his  bill.  It  was  evident  to  all  that  he  was  courting 
public  favor  by  this  crockery  adventure,  but  no  one  supposed  that 
he  would  be  hardy  enough  to  make  it  the  stepping  stone  to  Con 
gress — Si  man  then  ridiculous  enough  in  his  manner  and  ideas  to 
provoke  merriment  among  his  fellow-members.  Of  course-  the 
bill  passed,  because  no  one  had  any  objection  to  securing  the 
little  pittance  for  the  use  of  a  family  in  reduced  circumstances. 
In  the  course  of  the  narrative,  it  will  be  seen  how  the  rattling  of 
this  crockery  by  Mr.  Cobb  acted  as  a  charm  in  killing  off  all  suc 
cessful  competition  to  him  afterward. 

At  the  session  of  1845,  it  became  necessary  for  the  Legislature 
to  ratify  or  reject  the  amendments  to  the  Constitution  providing 
for  biennial  sessions  of  the  General  Assembly,  and  for  the  re 
moval  of  the  Seat  of  Government.  On  this  question  he  made 
a  speech  which  savoured  of  his  love  for  the  people,  and  voted  for 
the  ratification  of  both  measures.  Others  did  the  same  in  suffi 
cient  number  to  make  it  prevail. 

After  his  nomination  by  the  Democratic  party  for  Governor  in 
1847,  the  Hon.  Reuben  Chapman  resigned  his  seat  in  Congress, 
and  to  the  surprise  of  everybody  Mr.  Cobb  took  the  field  as  a 
candidate  to  fill  the  vacancy.  He  was  elected  over  William  Ack- 
lin,  Esq.,  his  competitor.  In  1849,  Mr.  Cobb  was  opposed  by 
Jeremiah  Clemens,  Esq.,  whom  he  defeated,  and  in  1853,  Clement 
C.  Clay,  Jr.,  Esq.,  entered  the  list  against  him  with  no  better  suc 
cess.  After  this,  Mr.  Cobb  had  an  easy  time,  as  it  was  generally 
agreed  that  there  was  "no  vacancy"  in  his  Congressional  District, 
if  victory  at  the  ballot-box  was  a  criterion.  For  twelve  years  in 
succession  he  went  to  Washington  City  as  a  Representative  in 
Congress.  In  January,  1861,  when  he  was  officially  notified  that 
Alabama  had  seceded,  he  took  his  leave  of  the  House. 

In  1863,  Mr.  Cobb  was  elected  to  the  Confederate  Congress, 
but  did  not  take  his  seat,  on  purpose  it  was  thought.  His  conduct 
subjected  him  to  severe  criticism  by  Southern  men.  He  lost  his 
life  not  long  after  the  surrender,  by  the  accidental  discharge  of  a 
pistol  in  his  own  hands. 

Mr.  Cobb  was  a  tall,  long-armed  man,  of  some  intelligence  and 
more  shrewdness,  and  well  versed  in  the  school  of  the  demagogue. 
This  was  his  principal  stock  in  political  trade,  and  it  paid  him  well. 
He  never  let  an  opportunity  pass  to  secure  a  vote,  and  the  mail- 
bags  and  post-office  were  his  channels  of  communication,  aided  by 
the  franking  privilege.  The  Patent-office  was  brought  under  con 
tribution,  and  more  seeds  were  scattered  through  his  District  than 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  397 

any  other,  addressed  frequently  to  the  mothers  of  some  four  or  six 
voting  sons.  Public  documents,  wrapping  paper,  red  tape,  and 
sealing  wax  made  up  a  large  item  in  his  operations.  By  this 
means  he  fed  the  people,  and  was  at  all  times  quite  attentive 
to  their  interests.  Every  section  in  his  District  that  wanted  a  mail- 
route,  and  any  neighborhood  that  Deeded  a  post-office,  was  sure  to 
be  served  by  the  influence  of  Mr.  Cobb.  In  his  speeches  before 
the  people,  he  was  apt  to  play  upon  their  prejudices  of  poverty, 
and  always  presented  himself  as  the  especial  friend  of  the  poor 
man,  and  for  this  reason,  he  alleged,  he  was  opposed  by  the 
rich,  tfcc.,  &c. 

It  is  but  an  act  of  justice  to  say,  that  with  all  his  demagogism, 
he  was  vigilant  and  true  in  guarding  and  promoting  the  interests 
of  his  District  and  section,  and  in  the  general  his  votes  in  Con 
gress  accorded  with  those  of  the  other  members  from  the  State. 
He  practiced  one  courtesy  that  made  him  many  friends  in  the  State, 
and  contrasted  him  very  favorabiy  with  some  of  his  colleagues. 
He  would  look  after  the  interests  of  gentlemen  visiting  Washing 
ton  on  business  from  Alabama,  call  upon  them,  show  them  round, 
accompany  them  to  the  departments,  and  introduce  them.  This 
was  a  marked  service,  and  justly  made  Mr.  Cobb  many  warm 
friends  outside  his  District.  Take  him  altogether,  Mr.  Cobb  was 
a  remarkable  and  successful  man. 

DR.  EDWARD  H.  COOK,  of  Lowndes,  a  Whig,  was  elected  for 
the  first  time  in  1844.  His  intelligence,  and  the  ideas  he  gained 
at  this  session  of  the  modes  of  proceeding  in  the  House,  qualified 
him  to  take  a  more  active  part  in  the  public  business  at  the  next 
session.  He  declined  any  further  election  to  the  Legislature,  and 
in  1847,  he  was  elected  Judge  of  the  County  Court  of  Lowndes, 
the  duties  of  which  he  performed  with  such  competency,  that 
when  the  Probate  Court  was  established,  he  was  elected  Judge  by 
the  people,  and  continued  in  office  while  he  lived.  He  has  been 
dead  many  years. 

Dr.  Cook  was  truly  a  gentleman  of  the  olden  school,  quiet, 
respectful,  and  agreeable  in  his  intercourse  with  society.  His 
service  in  the  Legislature  brought  about  him  many  friends  of  the 
Democratic  party,  as  shown  by  their  votes  for  him  as  Judge  of  the 
County  Cour^  in  opposition  to  a  decided  Democrat.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  Methodist  Protestant  Church. 

ISAAC  CROOM,  of  Greene,  was  a  native  of  North  Carolina,  and 
graduated  at  the  LTniversity  of  that  State  in  1815,  as  one  of  a  class 
of  eighteen  graduates,  among  whom  were  John  H.  Bryan,  after 
ward  a  member  of  Congress,  Francis  L.  Hawks,  a  distinguished 
lawyer,  divine,  and  historian,  Willie  P.  Mangum,  a  Senator  in 


398  E&miniscences  of  PiiJblic  Men  in  Alabama. 

Congress,  and  President  of  the  Senate,  and  Richard  D.  Spaight, 
Governor  in  1834r-'5. 

Mr.  Groom  belonged  to  a  wealthy  and  influential  family  con 
nexion  in  North  Carolina,  which  had  furnished  many  talented  sons, 
among  whom  was  Hardy  B.  Groom,  Esq.,  who,  with  his  wife  and 
daughters,  perished  on  the  wrecls  of  the  steamer  "Home,"  off  Cape 
Hatteras,  in  1837,  on  the  voyage  from  New  York  to  Charleston. 

Col.  Groom  was  a  planter  of  large  means,  and  it  was  natural  that 
he  should  desire  a  better  opening  than  his  native  State  afforded. 
He  selected  the  rich  soils  of  Greene  county,  Alabama,  for  his  fu 
ture  agricultural  operations,  and  removed  there  with  his  property 
about  the  year  1830.  Of  well  cultivated  mind,  he  furnished  many 
valuable  communications  to  the  press,  bearing  on  his  favorite  pur 
suit,  which  had  a  good  effect  on  the  planting  interests  of  the  State. 
He  was  for  many  years  President  of  the  State  Agricultural  So 
ciety,  and  took  a  leading  part  in  getting  up  the  State  Fairs,  .which 
have  since  proved  of  great  public  utility. 

While  serving  in  the  House  at  the  session  of  1844,  he  made  a 
very  able  speech  in  support  of  the  bill  providing  for  the  mainten 
ance  of  the  public  faith,  and  the  payment  of  the  indebtedness  of 
the  State  to  the  last  dollar.  He  shamed  the  idea  of  repudiation 
as  a  reproach  and  dishonor  to  any  people.  His  manner  was  im 
pressive,  and  his  arguments  unanswerable.  It  was  generally  be 
lieved  that  his  speech  on  the  question  had  a  marked  influence  in 
producing  that  unanimity  in  the  House  with  which  the  public 
credit  was  sustained,  and  the  doctrine  of  repudiation  branded  with 
scorn. 

Col.  Groom  was  a  Whig  in  politics,  but  was  so  liberal  and  cour 
teous  toward  those  who  differed  from  him  in  opinion,  that  he  had 
many  friends  in  the  Democratic  party.  He  was  President  of  the 
State  Historical  Society,  which  was  organized  a  few  years  before 
the  war.  In  all  the  positions  which  he  held,  he  acted  a  wise  and 
faithful  part,  and  long  will  the  people  of  Alabama,  especially  in 
the  rich  planting  section  of  Greene,  Marengo,  Perry,  Surnter,  and 
Dallas,  remember  his  valuable  services  with  gratitude.  He  was  a 
gentleman  of  dignified  deportment,  yet  affable  at  all  times,  and 
carried  with  him  the  evidence  in  his  personal  address,  that  he  had 
been  accustomed  to  the  best  society  all  his  life,  as  to  ^Jie  "manner 
born."  He  died  suddenly,  a  year  or  two  after  the  close  of  the 
war,  aged  about  seventy  years. 

HARKELL  HOBDY,  of  Pike,  was  a  planter  of  extensive  wealth 
and  a  good  financier.  He  was  for  many  years  a  leading  man  in 
the  county,  and  seldom  failed  of  an  election  before  the  people. 
He  served  the  people  in  the  House  and  Senate,  with  sound  prac 
tical  ability,  and  close  attention  to  business.  An  old  settler  in  the 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  399 

State,  acquainted  with  its  prominent  public  men,  a  Democrat,  un 
varying  in  his  adherence  to  its  principles  and  organization,  he  had 
the  confidence  in  council  of  the  leading  men  of  the  party.  He 
had  no  other  ambition  than  to  serve  the  people  faithfully,  and  to 
keep  the  ship  of  State  on  the  right  track.  He  was  in  no  wise 
selfish  as  a  politician  or  public  man;  but  would  talk  a  good  deal  of 
his  possessions,  and  give,  as  a  reason  for  wanting  the  Legislature 
to  adjourn,  that  he  wished  to  visit  his  plantations  in  Arkansas,  and 
perhaps  in  other  States.  This  may  have  been  a  weakness  with 
him,  and  if  so  it  was  certainly  innocent,  and  hurt  nobody.  Mr. 
Hobdy  was  an  excellent  citizen,  and  died  a  few  years  ago. 

SAMUEL  W.  INGE,  of  Sumter,  was  a  son  of  Major  Francis  Inge, 
of  Greene  county.  After  his  admission  to  the  bar,  lie  settled  in 
Livingston,  to  pursue  his  profession,  and  was  elected  to  the  House 
in  1844  and  in  1845.  He  was  a  ready,  fluent,  and  agreeable 
speaker,  bold  and  impetuous  in  his  manner,  and  always  equal  to 
the  occasion.  In  debate,  he  was  a  formidable  antagonist  to  en 
counter.  Very  few  young  men  possessed  his  tact  and  resources. 
On  the  question  of  "Removal,"  at  the  session  of  1845,  he  was  a 
leading  supporter  of  the  claims  of  Tuskaloosa  to  remain  as  the 
Seat  of  Goverment,  and  his  speech  on  that  occasion  was  a  masterly 
effort.  But  the  two  propositions  to  be  ratified  were  so  united  in  a 
bill  artfully  drawn  for  the  purpose  by  Mr.  Bowdon,  of  Talladega, 
that  "Biennial  Sessions"  and  "Removal"  had  to  receive  a  com 
mon  fate. 

Such  was  the  reputation  that  Mr.  Inge  acquired  as  a  legislator 
at  the  two  sessions,  that  in  1847  he  was  nominated  by  a  Demo 
cratic  Convention,  as  a  candidate  for  Congress  in  the  Tuskaloosa 
District,  over  Mr.  Payne,  who  had  represented  it  several  terms. 
Mr.  Inge  bad  lor  his  competitor  a  strong  man,  William  M.  Mur 
phy,  Esq.,  his  first  cousin,  and  these  two  gentlemen,  well  matched 
in  ability,  and  in  popular  eloquence,  canvassed  the  District  with 
marked  zeal  and  courtesy,  never  forbearing  in  argument  when  it 
would  prove  effective,  and  never  forgetting  the  amenities  of  hon 
orable  competition.  A  week  or  two  before  the  election,  they  met 
at  Northport,  in  Tuskaloosa  county,  for  discussion,  and  the  Hon. 
William  R.  King,  happening  to  be  on  a  visit  to  his  relatives  in 
the  town  of  Tuskaloosa,  was  present  in  the  large  collection  of  peo 
ple  to  hear  the  candidates  speak.  Although  the  Bank  of  the 
United  States  had  been  dead  since  1841,  and  the  question  of  its 
re-charter  was  settled  by  th.e  veto  of  President  Tyler  in  that  year, 
it  was  a  favorite  ghost  which  Mr.  Inge  carried  with  him  to  frighten 
the  people,  and  at  Northport  he  exhibited  the  apparition  of  the 
monster  in  its  most  hideous  form,  and  denounced  the  Whig  party 
as  Federalists  in  principle,  for  attempting  to  exercise  power  by  the 


400  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

creation  of  a  Bank  for  which  there  was  no  warrant  in  the  Consti 
tution.  Though  sitting  with  great  composure  and  dignity,  as  was 
his  habit,  Col.  King  manifested  some  little  embarrassment  in  his 
countenance,  and  his  fine,  healthy  complexion  assumed  rather  a 
crimson  tinge,  as  his  friend,  Mr.  Inge,  struck  blow  after  blow,  with 
sledge-hammer  force,  on  the  supporters  of  that  rotten,  Federal 
institution.  Other  topics  were  touched  upon  with  due  force,  and 
then  Mr.  Murphy  rose  in  reply. 

He  answered  all  the  objections  of  his  opponent,  and  with  a 
complimentary  allusion  to  Col.  King,  he  felt  gratified  that  he  had 
so  distinguished  a  hearer,  and  he  might  add,  so  distinguished  a 
witness,  one  so  influential  in  the  Senate  of  the  United  States,  and 
one  so  potent  with  the  Democratic  party,  who,  in  early  life,  had 
represented  another  State  in  Congress,  about  the  time  the  United 
States  Bank  was  re-chartered  in  1816,  and  knew  the  condition  of 
the  country  which  called  for  such  an  institution,  and  the  patriotism 
and  honor  of  the  men  who  voted  for  its  establishment.  Here 
Col.  King's  face  turned  a  still  deeper  red,  and  his  shoulders  fairly 
twitched.  Mr.  Murphy  perceiving  his  confusion,  attributed  it  to 
his  modesty  under  the  compliment  he  had  bestowed  upon  him, 
and  forbore  further  personal  allusion. 

After  the  discussion  was  over,  and  Mr.  Murphy  was  returning 
to  the  city  with  a  number  of  his  political  friends,  one  of  them  re 
marked  to  him,  that  if  he  had  gone  only  one  step  farther,  and 
stated  that  Col.  King  voted  for  the  Bank  charter  in  1816,  as  a 
Representative  in  Congress  from  North  Carolina,  he  would  have 
estopped  Mr.  Inge  in  his  charge  of  Federalism  against  the  Whigs 
who  were  in  favor  of  a  Bank.  Mr.  Murphy  asked  if  such  was  the 
fact?  On  being  assured  that  it  was,  and  that  the  Journal  of  the 
House  would  show  it,  he  expressed  his  sincere  regret  that  he  had 
not  known  it  in  time,  for  he  would  certainly  have  referred  to  it  in 
terms  that  would  not  have  oifended  Col.  King,  whilst  it  would 
have -silenced  that  everlasting  howl  of  "Sam.  Inge"  against  the 
integrity  of  those  who  favored  a  Bank.  But  the  occasion  had 
passed,  and  the  advantage  within  his  grasp  was  wholly  lost,  as  the 
last  speech  in  the  canvass  had  been  made.  Either  from  the  pres 
sure  of  the  Bank  question,  or  some  other  influence,  Mr.  Murphy 
was  defeated,  and  Mr.  Inge,  the  young  Democratic  champion,  was 
covered  with  Congressional  honors. 

In  1849,  Mr.  Inge  was  a  candidate  for  reelection,  and  succeeded 
over  his  able  Whig  competitor,  Joseph  G.  Baldwin,  Esq.  After 
this  term  expired,  he  seems  to  have  been  content  with  his  experi 
ence  at  the  Federal  Capitol,  as  he  declined  further  service  in  Con 
gress.  While  there,  he  shared  freely  and  boldly  in  the  exciting 
discussions  which  took  place,  and  was  always  among  the  foremost 
in  defending  the  rights  of  the  South  from  Northern  aggression. 


Ifaminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  401 

On  another  subject,  he  had  a  personal-  difficulty  with  the  Hon. 
Edward  Starjy,  a  .Representative  from  North  Carolina,  which 
resulted  in  a  hostile  meeting  at  Bladensburg,  or  its  vicinity,  where 
shots  were  exchanged  without  serious  injury  to  either. 

Resuming  his  practice  at  the  bar,  Mr.  Inge  was  next  appointed 
by  President  Pierce,  United  States  Attorney  for  the  District  of 
California,  which  caused  his  removal  to  the  Pacific  coast,  where 
he  remained  until  1866,  during  which  year  the  writer  met  him  at 
Montgomery,  as  he  was  preparing  to  return  to  California.  In  a 
year  or  two  thereafter,  Mr.  Inge  died  suddenly,  a  man  of  note,  of 
personal  courage,  and  of  inexhaustible  resources  as  a  politician. 
lie  was  inclined  to  be  stubborn  in  his  purposes,  and  considered 
himself  fully  competent  to  manage  his  own  affairs  without  advice, 
rather  overbearing  in  the  assertion  of  his  rights,  and  his  claims  to 
•preferment.  There  was  some  austerity  in  his  manner  as  though 
.the  world  had  not  exactly  pleased  him. 

ROBERT  JEMISOX,  Jr.,  of  Tuskaloosa,  was  born  and  educated 
in  Georgia,  and  Avas  long  a  school-mate  of  Dixon  H.  Lewis,  at 
Mount  Zion  Academy,  Hancock  county,  under  the  direction  of  Dr. 
Nathan  S.  S.  Beiiian.  His  lather,  William  Jemison,  was  a  very 
large  land  owner,  including  the  rich  settlement  in  the  vicinity  of 
Tarversville,  Twiggs  county,  and  removed  to  Alabama  about  the 
year  1820,  settling  in  the  neighborhood  of  Tuskaloosa.  Here 
commenced  the  prosperous  course  of  Robert  Jemison,  who  always 
added,  and  perhaps  still  adds,  "junior"  to  his  name,  to  contradis 
tinguish  it  from  an  uncle,  for  whom  he  was  named. 

Mr.  Jemison  had  served  in  the  Senate  prior  to  1837.  The  po 
litical  excitement  of  1840,  brought  him  out  on  the  Whig  ticket, 
and  he  was  elected  to  the  House,  and  was  ree'lecced  to  that  body 
in  1841,  1844,  1845,  1847,  and  1849.  In  1851,  lie  was  returned 
to  the  Senate,  of  which  he  continued  a  member  for  twelve  years. 
In  1861,  he  was  a  delegate  in  the  Convention,  and  voted  against 
the  Ordinance  of  Secession,  using  all  the  arguments  in  his  power 
to  show  its  impolicy.  After  the  State  had  taken  position,  he  de 
voted  his  great  powers  and  energies  to  the  defense  of  her  rights 
and  her  sovereignty.  In  1863,  upon  the  assembling  of  a  new 
Legislature,  he  was  unanimously  elected  President  of  the  Senate, 
a  position  he  did  not  desire,  but  one  which  he  filled  with  dignity 
and  ability.  A  few  days  thereafter,  a  still  higher  compliment 
was  paid  him  by  his  election  to  the  Senate  of  the  Confederate 
States,  to  supply  the  vacancy  caused  by  the  death  of  Mr.  Yancey, 
a  place  which  he  held  at  the  time  of  the  surrender. 

At  no  period  in  the  legislative  history  of  Alabama  has  any  man 
been  more  intimately  connected  with  the  important  interests  of 
the  State  than  Mr.  Jemison.     His  mind  was  strong  and  capacious 
26 


402  Reminiscences  of  Public-  Men  in  Alabama. 

in  its  grasp,  safe  in  its  conclusions,  and  always  centered  in  the 
public  welfare.  Though  a  decided  partisan  in  his  attachments  to 
principle,  lie  was  ever  open  to  conviction,  and  ever  ready  to  do 
right.  His  character  in  this  respect  was  so  fully  established,  that 
the  Democratic  Speaker  (L.  P.  Walker,  Esq.)  appointed  him  Chair 
man  of  the  Committee  on  Ways  and  Means  at  the  session  of 
1847,  when  the  whole  revenue  system  of  the  State  had  to  be 
reorganized,  to  sustain  the  public  credit,  and  to  defray  the  ex 
penses  of  the  Government,  after  the  Banks  had  been  put  in 
liquidation.  It  is  not  saying  too  much  when  it  is  claimed  for  Mr. 
Jemison  that  a  better  appointment  could  not  have  been  made. 
He  applied  himself  vigorously  and  successfully  to  the  task,  and 
gave  form  and  substance  to  those  various  measures  which  have 
since  proved  so  beneficial  to  the  State  and  the  people.  While  in 
the  House,  he  continued  to  act  as  the  head  of  the  Committee, 
and  on  his  transfer  to  the  Senate,  he  was  made  Chairman  of  the 
Committee  on  Finance  and  Taxation.  A  complete  revenue  sys 
tem  came  from  his  hands,  which  has  upheld  the  honor  of  the 
State,  and  satisfied  public  expectation.  In  the  department  of 
finance  and  political  economy,  Mr.  Jemison  has  no  superior  as  a 
statesman. 

It  was  through  his  influence  that  the  Asylum  for  the  insane  was 
established  near  Tuskaloosa,  and  that  large  sums  of  money  were 
granted  to  rear  up  the  institution  in  a  style  which  reflects  honor 
upon  the  State.  Mr.  Jemison  also  projected  and  carried  through 
the  charter  of  the  North-East  and  South- West  Railroad,  which 
has  resulted  in  the  Alabama  and  Chattanooga  Road  as  its  succes 
sor.  Indeed,  there  are  few,  if  any,  measures  looking  to  develop 
ment  and  progress,  which  Mr.  Jemison  has  not  aided  in  carrying 
forward.  His  ample  legislative  record  is  full  of  practical  wisdom, 
without  the  glare  or  frivolity  of  mere  abstractions.  Take  up  the 
Journals  of  the  House  or  the  Senate  for  the  many  sessions  in 
which  he  served,  and  it  will  be  observed  that  more  salutary 
amendments  to  bills  and  resolutions  were  offered,  and  more  judi 
cious  matter  introduced  by  him,  in  various  shapes  and  modifica 
tions,  than  by  any  other  member  of  the  Legislature.  He  has  a 
large,  \vorking  brain  to  devise  and  comprehend  systems  of  policy, 
and  the  skill  to  carry  them  into  execution. 

Having  said  this  much  respecting  the  public  life  of  Mr.  Jemi 
son,  it  only  remains  to  add  that  he  has  been  a  large  planter  from 
his  youth,  and  has  been  connected  with  many  valuable  enterprises 
in  milling  and  manufactures,  and  has  in  other  respects  used  his 
large  fortune  for  the  good  of  the  community,  always  setting  an 
example  of  liberality  and  perseverance  in  his  plan  of  operations. 
Whenever  he  builds  a  mansion,  or  makes  improvements  of  any 
kind,  it  is  always  on  a  plan  of  his  own,  princely  in  the  concep- 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  403 

t 

tion,  and  with  taste  in  the  surroundings.  He  at  present  resides 
in  the  city  of  Tuskaloosa,  where,  and  in  the  vicinity,  he  has  passed 
fifty  years,  or  thereabout.  The  war,  no  doubt,  has  greatly  dimin 
ished  his  wealth,  and  cut  off  the  means  to  which  he  had  been 
accustomed  in  carrying  on  his  several  plantations,  aitd  his  manu 
facturing  establishments;  but  it  is  hoped  enough  remains  to  make 
the  evening  of  his  life  comfortable,  as  the  meridian  has  been  hon 
orably  devoted  to  the  public  service.  In  this  respect,  no  citizen 
of  Alabama  is  in  advance  of  Mr.  Jemison,  nor  is  there  any  who 
excels  him  in  the  attributes  of  a  solid,  noble  character. 

[NOTE. — The  foregoing  sketch  was  written  in  the  Spring.  Mr.  Jemison  died 
•October  16,  1871.] 

DR.  PLEASANT  W.  KITTRELL  was  raised  in  North  Carolina,  and 
graduated  in  the  State  University,  in  the  class  of  1822.  It  is  pre 
sumed  that  he  received  his  medical  education  in  Philadelphia, 
from  his  skill  and  success  in  the  practice,  as  there  was  no  other 
institution  in  the  country,  about  that  time,  which  offered  such  thor 
ough  instruction  to  medical  students.  At  what  time  he  removed 
to  Alabama^  I  am  not  informed ;  but  he  was  well  established  in  his 
profession,  and  in  the  confidence  of  the  people  many  years  before 
he  was  elected  to  the  House  in  1844.  He  possessed  wit,  repartee 
and  fine  conversational  powers,  which  rendered  him  a  favorite 
with  both  sexes.  He  was  also  a  good  speaker,  and  never  turned 
aside  from  a  tilt  with  any  gentleman  in  discussion.  His  industry, 
intelligence  and  sound  judgment  made  him,  in  legislation,  what  is 
usually  termed,  in  such  cases,  a  valuable  member. 

Dr.  Kittrell  was  a  Whig,  "without  discount,"  of  the  old  North 
Carolina  stripe.  He  was  reflected  in  1845  and  again  in  1847— 
the  latter  year  being  the  first 'session  held  at  Montgomery,  where 
he  took  a  leading  part  in  the  proceedings  and  debates  of  the 
House,  and  was  listened  to  with  attention.  His  reports  from  com 
mittee  were  well  framed,  and  showed  an  intimate  knowledge  of  the 
subjects  referred.  He  was  favored  with  a  comely  person,  dressed 
in  good  taste,  and  had  the  cultivated  manners  of  a  gentleman. 

The  session  of  1847  was  his  last,  as  he  declined  any  further 
public  employment  in  Alabama,  and  soon  thereafter  removed  to 
Texas.  The  writer  met  Dr.  Kittrell  at  Charleston,  in  1860.  He 
had  made  it  convenient  to  be  present  at  the  National  Convention 
to  meet  with  many  old  friends,  and  to  visit  his  former  home  in 
North  Carolina.  If  I  mistake  not,  he  has  been  called  by  the 
people  among  whom  he  settled  in  Texas,  to  positions  of  honor  and 
trust.  No  gentleman  was  more  courteous,  or  more  generally 
respected,  and  such  representatives  of  the  old  North  State  do 
honor  to  the  land  of  their  birth  and  education.  He  was  a  mem 
ber  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 


404  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

COLUMBUS  W.  LEE,  of  Perry,  was  probably  a  Georgian,  although 
of  tliis  I  am  not  certain.  My  first  acquaintance  with  him  was  in 
1837,  when  he  was  a  member  of  the  House,  in  which  he  had 
served  previously,  and  was  prominent  in  the  State  Right's  party 
which,  for  several  years,  held  the  balance  of  power  in  the  Legis 
lature.  He  drifted  into  the  Democratic  party,  in  connection  with 
many  gentlemen  of  his  creed,  upon  the  Sub-Treasury  policy  of  Mr. 
Van  Buren.  He  was  in  private  life  a  while,  and  perhaps  on  one 
or  two  occasions  defeated,  until  1844,  when  he  was  elected,  and 
served  through  the  session. 

In  1852,  Mr.  Lee  was  on  the  Democratic  Electoral  Ticket,  and 
helped  to  cast  the  vote  of  the  State  for  Pierce  and  King.  In 
1860,  he  was  upon  the  Douglas  Electoral  Ticket,  and  canvassed 
for  that  gentleman.  His  convictions  led  him  to  oppose  the  policy 
of  secession  in  1861,  although  he  went  with  his  State  in  her  sub 
sequent  eiforts  for  defense.  In  1865,  he  was  a  delegate  from 
Perry  county  to  the  Convention  which  framed  the  Constitution 
of  that  year,  and  soon  thereafter  canvassed  for  Congress  in  oppo 
sition  to  Joseph  W.  Taylor,  Esq.,  and  Avas  beaten. 

While  in  the  Legislature,  Mr.  Lee  exhibited  traits  of  character 
which  marked  him  as  an  original  speaker,  and  master  6f  thought 
and  sarcasm.  His  comparisons  Avere  usually  drawn  from  nature 
in  her  grotesque  moods;  and  with  his  fine,  large  person,  and 
beaming  face,  and  strong  voice,  and  a  supply  of  language  which 
seemed  to  express  more,  and  to  do  more  execution  when  he  brand 
ished  his  tomahawk  in  debate,  than  any  man  I  ever  heard  speak; 
he  could  crush  his  antagonist  at  a  blow,  or  hold  him  on  the  rack 
of  torture  until  his  nerves  quivered  with  agony,  as  if  for  amuse 
ment.  An  instance  of  this  scathing  process  will  be  related. 

A  bill  touching  the  interests  of  the  State  University  was  before 
the  House,  when  a  young  member,  serving  his  first  session,  rose 
with  considerable  pretension  and  pomp,  and  began  to  administer 
a  lecture  to  the  more  experienced  class,  on  their  duties  generally 
as  legislators,  and  signified  that  they  were  wholly  incompetent  to 
"  make  laws  for  the  government  of  the  University — an  honored  in 
stitution  of  which  they  were  ignorant,  as  few  of  them  had  ever 
pursued  a  course  of  studies  there,  to  qualify  them  for  a  proper  dis 
charge  of  their  public  duties.  He  (the  speaker  on  the  floor)  had 
the  honor  of  being  a  graduate  of  the  University,  and  he  felt  it  his 
duty  to  throw  light  on  a  question  little  understood  by  men  who  had 
never  been  through  college.  He  then  proceeded  to  deliver  his 
views  with  scholastic  fastidiousness,  and  finished  what  he  consid 
ered  the  ablest  effort  which  the  session  had  called  forth. 

Mr.  Lee  instantly  took  the  floor  in  reply,  and  commenced  by 
saying,  that  the  House  and  the  country  ought  to  be  under  great 
obligations  to  the  gentleman  who  had  just  taken  his  seat,  for  the 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  m  Alabama.  405 

information  that  he  was  a  graduate  of  the  University ;  for  he  was 
sure  they  never  would  have  found  it  out  any  other  way.  He  had 
observed  the  gentleman  as  a  member,  that  he  addressed  the  House 
with  much  precision  of  language  and  manner;  but  still  it  had 
never  occurred  to  him  that  he  was  a  graduate  of  a  University.  He 
had  noticed  the  gentleman's  fine  cloak,  Avhich  he  wore  in  the 
"Middle  Temple'7  style;  his  high-heeled  boots;  his  fine  whiskers, 
so  fashionably  designed  and  carefully  cultivated;  and  his  kid 
gloves,  worn  and  handled  so  gracefully;  but  still,  it  never  had  oc 
curred  to  him  that  he  was  a  graduate  of  a  University.  And  in 
that  vein  Mr.  Lee  went  on  until  he  had  covered  the  young  man 
all  over  with  ridicule,  and  brought  the  House  to  a  general  roar  of 
laughter  at  the  expense  of  his  victim.  Such  were  his  faculties  in 
this  direction,  spontaneous  and  overwhelming  when  provoked, 
that  Mr.  Lee  was  a  man  to  be  equally  admired  and  feared.  He 
was  by  no  means  captious,  or  easily  offended,  and  had  no  malice 
whatever  in  his  composition.  The  power  flashed  from  him  appa 
rently  without  an  effort,  and  was  the  more  destructive  to  his  antag 
onist,  because  it  seemed  so  natural. 

Mr.  Lee  made  himself  familiar  with  most  public  questions,  and 
was  a  giant  in  debate.  His  appearance  on  the  floor,  in  the  majesty 
and  expression  of  his  features,  reminded  one  of  the  Earl  of  Chat 
ham,  in  the  House  of  Peers,  who,  grand  as  he  might  show  himself 
in  debate,  always  seemed  to  hold  back  his  strength,  and  to  reserve 
better  thoughts  than  he  had  uttered. 

Through  energy  and  good  management,  Mr.  Lee  had  succeeded 
in  acquiring  a  large  property  in  the  neighborhood  of  Union  Town. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  Baptist  Church,  and  died  in  1868. 

WILLIAM  S.  PATTON,  of  Sumter,  was  a  Brigadier-General  of 
militia,  a  Democrat  of  some  position  and  influence,  and  withal  a 
gentleman  in  his  deportment  and  character.  He  removed  to  Mis 
sissippi  not  long  after  the  session  of  1844,  through  which  he  served 
in  the  House,  became  a  member  of  the  Legislature  of  that  State, 
and  Speaker  of  the  House  of  Representatives.  I  have  lost  sight 
of  him  for  several  years.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church. 

PHILIP  PHILLIPS,  of  Mobile,  was  a  native  of  South  Carolina, 
and  was  a  member  of  the  Convention  in  that  State  which  passed 
the  Ordinance  of  Nullification  in  December,  1832,  though,  as  the 
record  is  not  before  me,  I  am  unable  to  say  whether  he  voted  for 
or  against  that  measure.  He  married  Miss  Levy,  a  very  beautiful 
and  accomplished  lady  of  Charleston,  and  removed  to  Alabama, 
settling  in  Mobile,  to  practice  law. 

The  first  time  I  ever  saw  Mr.  Phillips  was  in  1838,  when  he 


406  Reminiscences  of  Pu&lto  Men  in  AJalamt. 

was  President  of  a  State  Democratic  Convention  at  the  Capitol. 
His  personal  appearance  was  commanding  and  dignified.  In  1844, 
he  was  elected  to  the  House,  and  placed  on  important  Committees, 
reports  from  which,  through  him,  have  been  noticed  in  a  preced 
ing  chapter.  He  was  a  strong  debater,  and  very  attentive  to 
the  public  business,  by  which  he  gained  a  high  reputation  among 
his  fellow-members.  Though  always  affable  and  courteous  as  a 
gentleman,  he  seemed  to  care  very  little  for  social  enjoyments 
when  they  in  the  least  interfered  with  his  legislative  or  profes 
sional  duties. 

In  1851,  he  was  again  elected,  and  took  his  seat  in  the  House 
amid  the  agitation  and  confusion  which  arose  from  the  mingled 
topics  of  Union,  Compromise,  State  Rights,  and  fire-eating,  into 
which  different  parties  were  arranged,  all  presenting  a  medley 
of  political  questions  which  were  brought  into  the  House,  of 
rather  an  embarrassing  character.  Mr.  Phillips,  who  seemed  to 
comprehend  the  situation,  was  cautious  and  prudent.  His  speeches 
on  some  of  the  important  questions  sprung  early  in  the  session, 
placed  him  at  the  head  of  the  Democratic  party,  and  this  position 
he  occupied  with  increased  influence  throughout  the  session. 

He  was  made  Chairman  of  the  Committee  on  Internal  Im 
provement,  and  in  discharging  the  duties  of  that  place,  he  evinced 
a  very  accurate  knowledge  of  the  wants  and  interests  of  the  State 
in  the  line  of  development,  in  bringing  her  resources  into  action, 
and  thus  increasing,  not  only  her  commercial  facilities,  but  her 
revenue  from  the  augmented  value  of  taxable  property.  His 
report  on  this  subject  was  a  masterly  paper,  of  which  a  large 
number  of  copies  were  ordered  to  be  printed  for  circulation  among 
the  people.  This  document  attracted  much  notice,  even  beyond 
the  limits  of  the  State,  for  the  ability  it  displayed. 

At  a  Democratic  Convention,  in  the  Winter  of  1851,  which 
resulted  in  the  reorganization  of  the  party  on  a  platform  resolu 
tion  offered  and  advocated  by  Mr.  Phillips,  he  was  appointed  a 
delegate  from  the  State  at  large  to  the  National  Convention  at 
Baltimore,  and  participated  in  the  nomination  of  Mr.  Pierce  for 
the  Presidency.  In  1853,  he  was  the  nominee  of  the  Democratic 
party  for  Congress  in  the  Mobile  District,  and  was  elected  over 
the  Hon.  E.  Lockwood,  his  Whig  competitor.  In  Congress,  Mr. 
Phillips  made  a  strong  and  favorable  impression  by  his  talents  in 
debate,  and  by  the  superior  intelligence  which  he  brought  to  bear 
on  all  questions  of  National  policy.  He  was  recognized  as  among 
the  leaders  of  the  House. 

Before  the  expiration  of  his  term  in  Congress,  Mr.  Phillips  was 
mentioned  by  papers  in  various  localities  in  the  United  States,  as 
a  gentleman  well  qualified  to  take  charge  of  the  Navy  Depart 
ment,  and  there  is  no  doubt,  had  he  been  selected,  he  would  have 


J&emmiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  40? 

made  an  efficient  Secretary.  Indeed,  no  safer  counsellor  could 
have  been  invited  into  the  Cabinet.  He  left  Congress  with  a 
National  reputation,  of  which  any  man  may  be  proud.  Since  that 
time  he  has  been  engaged  in  the  practice  of  the  higher  courts, 
particularly  at  Washington. 

When  New  Orleans  was  captured  by  the  Federal  gun-boats, 
under  the  command  of  Admiral  Farragut,  in  1862,  Col.  Phillips, 
with  his  family,  was  residing  in  New  Orleans.  For  some  cause, 
Mrs.  Phillips  incurred  the  displeasure  of  Gen.  Butler,  the  military 
commandant  of  the  city,  who  banished  her  to  Ship  Island,  where 
she  was  detained  several  months  in  captivity.  In  the  meantime, 
her  proud  Southern  spirit  never  quailed,  and  she  remained  firm  to 
the  last  in  the  opinions  she  had  expressed,  and  in  the  look  of 
scorn  she  had  cast  on  the  invaders  of  her  home,  for  which  her 
punishment  had  been  decreed  by  an  officer  who  seemed  to  delight 
in  torturing  ladies,  who  happened  to  avert  their  gaze  from  disa 
greeable  uniforms,  and  to  give  the  widest  room  on  the  pavements. 

The  newspapers  at  the  time  were  filled  with  the  particulars, 
and  with  comments  on  the  harsh  proceedings  against  Mrs.  Phil 
lips.  She  became  quite  a  heroine,  and  to  this  day  is  remembered 
with  admiration  by  all  generous  minds,  as  one  of  the  first  victims 
which  rendered  a  certain  (administration  in  New  Orleans  immortal 
for — eccentricity. 

Col.  Phillips  has  acted  a  conspicuous  part  in  political  and  pro 
fessional  life,  throughout  which*  his  honor  has  been  untarnished, 
and  his  usefulness  acknowledged.  The  respect  and  plaudits  of 
the  people  of  Alabama  accompany  him  in  his  retirement. 

NATHANIEL  J.  SCOTT,  of  Macon,  entered  the  House  as  a  mem 
ber  first  in  1841.  He  was  again  elected  in  1844,  and  served  with 
commendable  zeal  and  fidelity  the  large  and  wealthy  county  of 
his  residence.  In  1847,  he  was  elected  to  the  Senate,  and  served 
during  that  session,  after  which  he  retired,  and  gave  his  attention 
more  closely  to  the  business  of  planting,  by  which  lie  accumulated 
a  large  property.  He  devoted  much  of  his  time  and  energy  to 
the  establishment  and  building  up  of  the  East- Alabama  Male 
College,  at  Auburn,  under  the  patronage  of  the  Methodist  Epis 
copal  Church,  and  was  for  many  years  a  Trustee. 

Mr.  Scott  came  from  Georgia,  and  possessed  the  indomitable 
perseverance  for  which  the  men  of  that  State  are  remarkable. 
His  will  and  his  resolution  admitted  no  failure  in  his  plans  and 
efforts.  Sometimes  he  appeared  to  lack  that  prudence  and  cul 
ture  so  necessary  in  a  public  man.  He  was,  however,  the  uniform 
supporter  of  sound  measures  of  legislation,  and  was  the  friend  and 
patron  of  temperance  for  a  season.  This  excited  opposition  to 
him  in  some  quarters,  and  with  a  popularity  waning,  he  relaxed 


408  Reminiscences  oj  PubUo  Men  in  Alabama. 

his  temperate  habits,  and  indulged  in  the  social  element,  perhaps 
to  obtain  favor  with  the  enemies  of  his  past  exemplary  course. 
The  penalty  of  such  indulgence  visited  him  ere  long,  and  he  died 
a  few  years  ago  in  the  meridian  of  life. 

JOSEPH  SEAWELL,  of  Mobile,  was  born  and  educated  in  North 
Carolina.  He  was  a  son  of  the  Hon.  Henry  Seawell,  who  was 
appointed  by  President  Monroe  a  commissioner  under  the  treaty 
of  Ghent  with  Great  Britain,  to  award  for  the  slaves  taken  during 
the  war  of  1812;  and  was  also  appointed,  in  1811,  Judge  of  the 
Superior  Court,  which  office  he  held  at  the  time  of  his  death  in 
1835. 

About  the  year  of  his  father's  death,  Mr.  Seawell  settled  in 
Mobile  as  a  lawyer.  He  was  elected  to  the  House  in  1844,  on 
the  Democratic  ticket.  In  1845,  he  was  returned  to  the  Senate, 
and  served  through  that  session.  In  1847,  he  was  elected  by  the 
Legislature,  Judge  of  the  County  Court  of  Mobile,  which  was 
regarded  as  one  of  the  most  lucrative  offices  in  the  State.  When 
the  election  was  given  to  the  people  in  1850,  he  was  left  out,  and 
has  since  remained  in  private  life. 

Mr.  Seawell  was  a  gentleman  of  fine  social  qualities,  and  ex 
celled  in  humor  and  anecdote.  His  company  was  much  sought, 
for  the  entertainment  it  afforded.  As  a  legislator,  he  was  atten 
tive  to  the  proceedings  of  the  House,  and  occasionally  mingled  in 
the  debates  with  fair  success.  His  youthful  mind  had  been  daz 
zled  by  such  advocates  and  jurists  as  John  Stanly,  William  Gaston, 
Francis  L.  Hawks,  George  E.  Badger,  and  Louis  D.  Henry,  of 
the  North  Carolina  bar ;  and  the  comparatively  dry  practice  of  the 
Alabama  Courts — its  system  of  special  pleadings,  and  its  subdued 
style  of  oratory — seemed  to  have  no  great  attraction  for  him.  At 
least  such  was  the  reasonable  inference  from  his  moody  contem 
plations  of  the  past,  and  the  passive  interest  with  which  he 
regarded  men  and  things  around  him.  As  a  gentleman,  as  a  law 
yer,  and  as  a  legislator,  Mr.  Seawell  was  held  in  high  estimation 
by  those  acquainted  with  him. 

THOMAS  WILLIAMS,  JR.,  of  Montgomery,  was  born  in  Williams- 
burg  District,  South  Carolina,  in  the  year  1789,  and  was  admitted 
to  the  bar  at  Charleston  in  1811.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Leg 
islature  from  1820  to  1834,  and  was  strenuously  opposed  to  the 
doctrine  of  Nullification.  In  the  fall  of  1835,  he  removed  to 
Alabama,  and  settled  in  Mobile  as  a  lawyer,  where  he  remained  a 
few  years,  and  in  1841  he  changed  his  residence  to  Montgomery, 
from  whence  he  was  elected  to  the  House,  as  a  Whig,  in  1844. 

To  those  who  are  acquainted  with  the  eminent  abilities  of  Col. 
Williams,  it  is  unnecessary  to  say  that  he  at  once  occupied  the  very 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  409 

highest  rank  as  a  debater  and  business  man,  in  the  Legislature. 
His  great  experience  in  a  similar  body  in  his  native  State,  where 
he  was  among  the  foremost  even  there,  gave  him  a  maturity  and 
ease  in  the  proceedings  which  no  other  member  possessed,  and 
which  justly  secured  him  great  influence. 

In  1840,  Col.  Williams\vas  on  the  Whig  Electoral  Ticket  for 
the  support  of  Gen.  Harrison  and  Mr.  Tyler,  and  made  a  number 
of  speeches  in  the  canvass.  His  long  intimacy  with  politicians  of 
the  highest  stamp,  and  his  controversies  with  them  in  South  Caro 
lina,  made  him  perfectly  at  home  on  the  hustings.  Of  course,  the 
ticket  failed  of  success,  against  the  large  permanent  Democratic 
majority  in  Alabama. 

But  it  was  in  the  character  of  an  advocate,  that  Col.  Williams 
appeared  to  most  advantage,  and,  in  this,  he  probably  had  no  su 
perior  in  the  State.  In  1840,  he  assisted  the  Attorney-General  in 
the  prosecution  of  Washington  Moody,  Esq.,  a  member  of  the 
bar,  for  killing  John  Cantly,  late  a  merchant  in  Tuskaloosa,  and 
a  Bank  Director.  The  trial  was  had  at  the  March  term,  1840,  of 
the  Circuit  Court  of  Tuskaloosa  county — the  Hon.  Peter  Martin, 
Judge,  presiding.  The  counsel  for  the  defense  were  Messrs. 
Harvey  W.  Ellis,  William  Cochran,  and  Joshua  L.  Martin.  For 
the  State,  Mr.  Attorney-General  Lindsay,  and  Col.  Williams. 

Another  case  of  homicide  was  tried  in  Tuskaloosa,  in  which 
Col.  Williams  appeared  to  great  advantage  for  the  defense.  In 
1839,  Thomas  Jemison,  a  mere  youth,  while  in  a  state  of  inebria 
tion,  killed  an  Irishman  named  Dailey,  the  keeper  of  a  drinking 
saloon.  Young  Jemison  belonged  to  a  wealthy  family,  of  great 
influence,  who,  to  avoid  the  consequences  of  a  trial  when  public 
opinion  was  so  strongly  against  him,  sent  him  to  Europe,  where 
he  remained  several  years.  In  the  meantime,  the  relatives  of 
Mr.  Jemison  had  generously  provided  for  the  widow  and  child  of 
Mr.  Dailey,  and  in  1846  the  excitement  had  subsided,  when  the 
exile  returned  to  stand  his  trial.  On  this  occasion,  Col.  Williams 
was  the  leading  counsel,  who  displayed  great  tact  and  ability  in  the 
management  of  the  defense.  The  closing  part  of  his  speech  was 
truly  eloquent.  He  acquitted  his  client,  and  thus  removed  the 
painful  suspense  of  the  community  which  had  existed  for  seven 
years. 

From  the  "Bench  and  Bar  of  South  Carolina,"  by  John  Belton 
O'Neall,  LL.D.,  President  of  the  Law  Court  of  Appeals  and  the 
Court  of  Errors,  published  in  1859,  a  few  extracts  are  submitted: 

I  first  saw  Col.  Williams  at  Union  Court-House,  at  an  adjourned  term  of  the 
Court,  held  by  Judge  Johnson,  in  August,  1818;  and  there  I  first  had  the  pleasure 
of  hearing  one  of  his  forensic  efforts.  He  then  seemed  to  be  worthy  of  the  posi 
tion  he  had  long  held  in  our  Courts  as  one  of  our  ablest  jury  lawyers. 


410  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alat>ama. 

After  mentioning  several  incidents  in  the  legislative  and  pro 
fessional  career  of  Col.  Williams,  and  noticing  some  of  his  able 
arguments  in  the  Court  of  Appeals,  (2  Hill,  p.  132,)  the  author 
concludes: 

Colonel  Williams,  in  a  Court-House  and  before  a  jury,  was  one  of  the  most 
plausible,  forcible,  and  successful  advocates  whom  I  have  ever  heard.  lie  never 
pretended  to  be  a  learned  lawyer.  I  recollect  his  saying  to  me,  relative  to  the 
case  of  Howard  vs.  Williams,  1st  Bailey,  575:  "  I  always  understood  the  law  better 
when  ruled  in  my  own  cases." 

When  I  speak  of  him  as  a  jury -lawyer,  I  do  not  mean  to  detract  from  him  in 
other  respects.  I  have  heard  him  make  many,  very  many  fine  arguments  in  the 
Circuit  Court  of  Equity,  and  in  the  Court  of  Appeals. 

Colonel  Williams,  when  I  last  saw  him,  was  a  fine  specimen  of  a  Carolina  gen 
tleman,  fully  six  feet  high,  of  athletic  frame  and  proportion,  complexion  and  hair 
dark,  with  a  remarkably  intelligent  face,  manners  courtly  and  polished.  Time,  I 
know,  has,  ere  this,  blanched  his  raven  locks,  dimmed  the  lustre  of  his  eyes,  and 
shaken  that  frame  which  was  once  unyielding.  Still  I  know,  that,  although  he  may 
soon  see  three-score-and-ten,  he,  like  my  venerable  friend,  Governor  Johnson,  said 
of  himself,  he  has  "a  young  heart,"  and  one  which  beats  true  to  wife,  children, 
friends,  and  country.  [Vol.  II,  p.  459.] 

Col.  Williams  has  been  dead  several  years. 


CHAPTER  XXIV. 

Governor  Martin's  Election — Session  of  1845 — Judicial  and 
Legislative  SketcJies. 

The  year  1845  was  noted  for  the  political  excitement  which 
attended  the  canvass  for  a  successor  to  Gov.  Fitzpatrick,  whose 
term  of  office  expired  in  December  of  this  year.  Col.  Nathaniel 
Terry  had  many  friends  who  urged  his  claims  to  the  honor.  A 
Convention  of  the  Democratic  party  was  called  to  meet  at  the 
Capitol  in  May,  to  make  a  nomination.  From  some  cause,  there 
was  not  a  general  interest  in  holding  public  meetings  in  the  con 
test,  and  but  a  thin  convention,  in  numbers,  appeared  on  the  day. 
The  boat  from  Mobile,  with  the  delegates  from  that  and  other 
river  counties,  was  detained,  and  in  view  of  their  fliin  attendance, 
it  was  proposed  to  adjourn  until  the  next  day. 

The  friends  of  Col.  Terry  thought  a  nomination  of  their  favor 
ite  more  certain  with  the  material  present,  and  so  voted  down 
every  proposition  for  delay,  and  proceeded  to  nominate  him  as 
the  candidate  for  Governor,  and  adjourned  the  same  day.  Sev- 


keminwcences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  4ll 

eral  members  of  some  prominence  protested  against  the  action  as 
hasty,  and  unjust  to  the  delegates  on  the  way,  who  had  been  kept 
back  by  accidental  detention  on  the  river,  and  read  their  protest 
aloud  in  the  Convention,  which  paper  was  afterward  printed  and 
scattered  abroad. 

The  Whig  editors  and  leaders,  defeated  the  year  before  in  the 
Presidential  election,  thought  they  saw  signs  of  party  trouble,  and 
were  not  slow  in  fomenting  it.  Dissatisfaction  showed  itself  in 
many  localities,  and  succeeded  in  bringing  upon  the  turf,  as  the 
competitor  of  the  nominee,  Chancellor  Joshua  L.  Martin,  a  life 
long  Democrat,  who  had  been  intimately  connected  with  its  organ 
ization  from  the  existence  of  the  State — a  North-Alabamian  by 
long  residence,  where  he  had  been  Judge  of  the  Circuit  Court 
and  Representative  in  Congress,  and  since  then  had  been  upon 
the  Chancery  bench  in  Middle- Alabama,  and  who,  withal,  had  a 
large  and  influential  family  relationship  in  several  important 
localities  of  the  State.  In  facing  him,  Col.  Terry  had  to  contend 
with  many  difficulties.  And  then  he  and  his  friends  made  a  great 
mistake  in  the  temper  of  the  people,  and  in  relying  too  much 
upon  the  conclusive  strength  of  a  Democratic  nomination. 

Before  the  day  of  election  arrived,  the  excitement  in  the  Dern- 
cratic  party  was  at  fever  heat,  from  the  friction  of  dissension 
and  division.  After  the  certainty  of  opposition  was  manifest  in 
the  party,  the  Whigs  said  but  little,  taking  the  ground  that  it  was 
a  family  quarrel  with  which  they  had  nothing  to  do;  but  at  voting 
time,  the  largest  portion  of  the  Whig  party,  of  course,  voted  for 
Chancellor  Martin  as  against  the  nominee,  to  promote  discord  in 
the  Democratic  ranks,  and  thereby,  if  possible,  to  weaken  their 
organization  which  had  hitherto  been  compact  and  invincible.  The 
result  was,  that  Col.  Terry  was  beaten  by  about  5,000  majority, 
the  first  Democratic  defeat  that  had  ever  taken  place  in  a  State 
contest,  and,  in  consequence,  many  long  faces  were  to  be  seen  in 
most  quarters  where  the  usage  of  the  party,  and  its  regular  nom 
inee,  was  always  accepted  as  a  matter  of  course,  until  this  fatal 
departure  from  the  old  political  landmarks. 

The  writer  remembers  the  effect  when  news  of  the  final  result 
arrived  at  Tuskaloosa,  the  Saturday  night  after  the  election.  The 
mails  were  in  from  the  East  and  North-east,  including  the  district 
of  Gen.  McConnell,  who  had  himself  bolted  the  nomination  of 
Mr.  Rice,  and  opposed  him  as  an  independent  candidate  for  Con 
gress,  increasing  thereby  not  a  little  the  political  demoralization 
that  was  extant.  By  the  time  the  mail  was  assorted  for  delivery, 
a  large  concourse  of  Terry-men  had  assembled  on  the  pavement 
about  the  Post-office,  and  when  the  door  was  thrown  open,  and 
the  news  proclaimed  which  settled  the  election  beyond  all  doubt, 
I  very  much  question  whether  a  cannon  charged  with  grape,  and 


Remmisccnces  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

fired  along  the  pavement,  could  have  cleared  it  much  sooner.  It 
was  quite  dark,  cloudy,  and  a  storm  approaching,  and  the  defeated 
Democrats  concluded  to  take  shelter  at  home.  The  writer  knows 
one  of  that  party  who,  upon  that  occasion,  traveled  a  mile  in  the 
dark,  without  any  political  light  to  direct  him,  and  went  to  sleep, 
to  dream  of  the  uncertainty  of  elections,  and  the  instability  of 
party  organization,  once  in  a  while. 

This  year,  elections  were  also  held  for  Congress,  and  resulted 
in  the  choice  of  the  Hon.  Reuben  Chapman,  in  the  Hunts ville 
District,  without  opposition.  Gen.  George  S.  Houston,  in  the  Flor 
ence  District,  was  reflected  in  like  manner.  In  the  Tuskaloosa 
District,  there  was  an  animated  contest  between  Mr.  Payne  and 
John  Erwin,  Esq.,  in  which  the  former  was  successful  by  a  large 
majority.  In  the  Mobile  District,  Judge  Dargaii  and  Col.  Dunn 
were  the  representatives  of  their  parties  in  the  contest,  and  the 
former  was  elected.  Having  returned  from  his  foreign  mission, 
Mr.  H.  W.  Hilliard  was  presented  by  the  Whig  party  as  its  can 
didate  in  the  Montgomery  District,  and  Mr.  John  Cochran  entered 
the  list  on  the  side  of  the  Democratic  party.  The  canvass  was 
conducted  with  ability,  amid  a  good  deal  of  enthusiasm,  and  some 
excitement;  but  Mr.  Hilliard  received  the  commission  at  the 
hands  of  the  people.  In  the  "Bloody  Seventh/'  as  it  wTas  called, 
the  friends  of  Mr.  Rice  out-managed  those  of  Gen.  McConnell  in 
a  district  convention,  and  so  he  was  nominated.  Gen.  McConnell 
contended  from  the  start,  that  he  was  already  in  position  as  the 
nominee  of  a  previous  convention,  ratified  by  the  people,  and  that 
he  was  not  going  to  be  put  off  in  any  such  way.  So  he  declared 
himself  an  independent  candidate,  and  the  contest  was  vigorous  on 
both  sides;  but  the  General  was  victorious,  leading  the  nominee 
in  the  District  by  hundreds,  if  not  thousands. 

The  events,  speeches,  anecdotes,  repartee,  and  retorts  of  this 
canvass  would  fill  a  volume,  illustrating  the  character  of  the  con 
testants  in  that  species  of  warfare,  their  ready  wit  and  inexhausti 
ble  resources  on  the  stump.  The  times  then  seemed  to  be  propi 
tious  for  such  weapons  of  attack  and  defense.  One  instance  only 
will  be  related.  It  can  hurt  nobody,  inasmuch  as  Judge  Rice  was 
signally  vindicated  from  the  charge,  by  a  vote  of  the  Legislature. 
He  had  hinted  in  a  speech  that  Gen.  McConnell  would  indulge 
too  freely  in  a  social  glass ;  in  fact,  that  the  habit  had  been  so  long 
continued,  that  he  was  out  of  his  element  when  sober,  and  suffer 
ing,  as  he  would  say,  with  "water  brnsh"  The  people  had  come 
to  regard  him  as  social  and  convivial,  and  so  he  indulged  and 
treated.  The  objection  was  repeated  in  one  of  the  counties,  to 
which  Gen.  McConnell,  quick  as  lightning,  replied  : 

Fellow-citizens,  I  know  you  have  a  poor  chance  for  a  Representative  in  Con 
gress;  for  you  have  to  take  Felix  McConnell,  the  walking  demijohn,  or  my  oppo- 


Reminiscences  of  Public-  Men  in  Alabama.  413 

nent,  (naming  him,)  the  Bank  swindler.  So  choose  between  my  opponent  and 
myself.  Both  remind  me  of  a  man  I  know  in  Linkhorn,  Tennessee,  who  never  had 
any  character  until  he  stole  a  side  of  sole-leather,  and  he  always  had  a  very  bad 
character  after  that. 

In  such  assaults  as  these,  in  which  he  always  included  himself, 
he  made  his  antagonist  feel  the  blow,  and  he  got  the  benefit  of  it. 

In  the  Wetumpka  District,  Mr.  Yancey  was  elected  over  Mr. 
Daniel  E.  Watrous,  his  Whig  opponent.  All  of  these  gentlemen 
have  been  previously  noticed  in  this  work. 

While  the  Democratic  party  was  considered  defeated  in  'the  Gu 
bernatorial  contest,  the  Legislature  elected  at  the  same  time  was 
true  to  the  old  party  landmarks.  The  masses  had  been  prevailed 
upon  to  bolt  the  nomination,  and  here  and  there  a  leader  of  his 
county  had  also  bolted;  but,  as  a  general  thing,  the  captains  of 
fifties  and  hundreds  stood  firm  to  the  organization;  and  when  the 
Legislature  met,  it  was  found  that  the  effective  strength  of  the 
party  was  not  impaired,  but  rather  intensified.  Gov.  Martin,  him 
self,  avoAved  his  adherence  to  the  life-principles  of  the  Demo 
cratic  faith,  not  only  in  his  interviews  with  the  members  as  they 
arrived,  but  he  put  it  into  his  inaugural  address,  to  the  disappoint 
ment  of  the  Whigs.  But  the  old  leaders  of  the  Democratic  party, 
who  were  smarting  under  the  defeat  of  the  party  organization,  were 
slow  to  become  reconciled,  politically,  to  the  Governor  elect;  and 
while  they  determined  to  make  no  war  upon  his  administration, 
stood  aloof  from  a  recognition  of  him  as  the  exponent  and  leader 
of  their  party. 

Two  important  questions  were  voted  upon  by  the  people  this 
year,  to-wit:  An  amendment  to  the  Constitution  of  the  State,  pro 
posing  to  have  Biennial  Sessions  of  the  Legislature,  and  to  strike 
from  the  Constitution  the  section  under  which  the  Seat  of  Govern 
ment  was  located  at  Tuskaloosa.  These  two  questions  were  sub 
mitted  separately;  and  in  order  to  secure  the  most  correct  returns, 
the  Secretary  of  State  issued  blank  forms  to  be  used  throughout 
the  State.  In  this  way,  the  returns  were  made  with  remarkable 
correctness,  and  the  result  will  appear  in  this  chapter. 

The  two  Houses  assembled  at  the  Capitol,  on  the  first  day  of 
December,  1845,  and  the  attendance  was  large.  In  the  Senate, 
30  out  of  33  members,  and  in  the  House  86  of  100,  answered  to 
their  names.  In  the  Senate,  John  A.  Winston,  of  Sumter,  was 
elected  President  over  Benjamin  Hudson,  of  Franklin — the  vote 
being  15  to  13.  Pleasant  Hill,  of  Bibb,  was  elected  Secretary, 
without  opposition,  and  Wilson  M.  Kidd  wTas  elected  Assistant 
Secretary,  after  about  25  ballots;  A.  K.  Thomas,  Door-Keeper. 

The  leading  men  of  the  Senate  may  be  seen  by  glancing  at  the 
principal  Committees,  the  Chairmen  being: 


414  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

On  the  Judiciary,  Mr.  McClung,  of  Madison ; 

On  Federal  Relations,  Mr.  Joseph  Seawell,  of  Mobile; 

On  Education,  Mr.  John  Gill  Shorter,  of  Barbour; 

On  the  State  Bank  and  Branches,  Mr.  Walker,  of  Lawrence; 

On  Military  Affairs,  Gen.  Huey,  of  Talladega; 

On  Internal  Navigation,  Mr.  Wilson,  of  Jackson; 

On,  16th  Section  Fund,  Mr.  Posey,  of  Lauderdale. 

In  the.  House,  Andrew  B.  Moore  of  Perry,  George  W.  Gayle 
of  Dallas,  and  Green  P.  Ilice  of  Morgan,  were  placed  in  nomina 
tion  for  Speaker,  when  the  vote  stood,  respectively,  53, 15,  and  17, 
in  the  order  of  their  names.  Mr.  Moore  was  elected  Speaker  of 
the  House,  a  position  which  he  had  held  two  sessions  previously. 
Joseph  Phelan  was  reflected  Clerk;  A.  B.  Clitherall,  Assistant 
Clerk;  W.  C.  Bibb,  Engrossing  Clerk;  and  James  H.  Owen, 
Door- Keeper. 

The  important  Committees  were  placed  in  charge  of  the  follow 
ing  gentlemen,  each  as  Chairman: 

On  the  Judiciary,  Mr.  Bowdon,  of  Talladega; 

On  Ways  and  Means,  Mr.  Gayle,  of  Dallas; 

On  Federal  Relations,  Mr.  Hubbard,  of  Lawrence; 

On  the  State  Bank  and  Branches,  Mr.  Clay,  of  Madison; 

On  Education,  Mr.  Norman,  of  Franklin ; 

On  Internal  Improvement,  Mr.  Porter,  of  Tuskaloosa; 

On  Propositions  and  Grievances,  Mr.  Jackson,  of  Autauga; 

On  16th  Section  Fund,  Mr.  Watts,  of  Butler; 

On  Accounts  and  Claims,  Mr.  Kittrell,  of  Greene. 

Gov.  Fitzpatrick's  annual  message  was  delivered  on  Tuesday, 
by  Col.  Garrett,  Secretary  of  State.  It  was  short,  pointed,  and 
business-like,  much  after  the  style  of  Patrick  Henry,  when  he 
was.  Governor  of  Virginia.  As  an  act  of  justice  to  the  memory 
of  an  illustrious  personage,  as  well  as  the  retiring  Governor  him 
self,  the  closing  part  of  his  message  is  here  given : 

Since  the  adjournment  of  the  last  Legislature,  the  public  sympathy  has  been 
most  painfully  excited  by  the  death  of  Gen.  Andrew  Jackson.  That  event, 
though  not  unexpected,  has  nevertheless  exerted  an  influence  over  the  feelings  of 
the  great  mass  of  the  people  which  is  never  exhibited  except  for  the  loss  of  a 
great  public  benefactor,  whose  services,  too  diffusive  to  be  appropriated  by  any 
class  of  his  fellow-citizens,  are,  at  his  death,  acknowledged  by  all.  With  the  sin 
gle  exception  of  the  Father  of  his  Country,  no  public  man,  at  his  death,  has  re 
ceived  so  general  and  unequivocal  a  verdict  of  heartfelt  gratitude  from  his  coun 
trymen,  and  with  but  trifling  exceptions,  the  acrimony  of  party  violence  has  been 
silenced,  while  men  of  all  parties  have  paid  their  tribute  of  grateful  sorrow  over 
the  grave  of  the  patriot,  hero,  and  statesman.  I  feel  that  I  should  be  remiss  to 
the  public  sentiment  of  the  State,  were  I  not  to  urge  upon  the  General  Assembly, 
as  the  organ  of  the  wishes  and  feelings  of  the  people,  the  propriety  of  taking 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  415 

such  notice  of  the  death  of  this  great  man  as  is  consistent  with  the  veneration 
and  regard  which  we  so  justly  cherish,  not  merely  for  the  general  services  which 
he  has  rendered  the  whole  country,  but  for  the  hardships  and  dangers  which  he 
encountered  in  wresting  the  territory  of  our  now  flourishing  State  from  the  pos 
session  of  a  savage  enemy.  During  his  recent  political  career,  while  no  State  in 
the  Union  has  been  more  devoted  to  the  policy  of  his  administration,  the  people 
of  Alabama  have  rallied  to  his  support  with  an  enthusiasm  and  fidelity  not  more 
the  result  of  political  conviction  than  of  popular  gratitude.  I,  therefore,  think  we 
cannot  acquit  ourselves  to  our  constituents  without  publicly  entering  and  per 
petuating  on  the  Legislative  Archives  of  the  State,  the  deep  sense  the  people  of  Ala 
bama  entertain  for  his  services,  and  the  sincere  regret  they  have  felt  for  his  death. 

The  period  is  near  at  hand  when  my  official  relations  to  the  State  will  cease  to 
exist,  and  this  is  the  last  annual  communication  which  I  shall  have  the  honor  of 
making  to  the  General  Assembly.  1  have  been  twice  elected  by  rny  fellow-citizens 
to  the  high  and  responsible  trust  of  the  Chief  Executive  office  of  the  State.  At 
the  time  when  I  entered  upon  the  discharge  of  the  duties  of  my  office,  the  State 
Banks  were  a  subject  of  deeply  absorbing  interest  to  the  public  mind.  A  proper 
disposition  of  our  blinking  system,  which  had  been,  a  short  time  previous,  so  en 
grafted  in  the  confidence  of  the  people,  together  with  the  numerous  duties  which 
usually  attach  to  the  Kxecutive  office,  1  am  frank  to  say,  combined  to  render  the 
station  that  had  just  been  entrusted  to  me  by  the  people,  both  perplexing  and  em 
barrassing.  Time  and  subsequent  events  have  satisfied  me  of  the  correctness  of 
the  leading  measures  which  I  have  urged  upon  the  Legislature  for  their  adoption, 
in  reference  to  our  banking  institutions.  Its  practical  operations  have  so  conclu 
sively  demonstrated  the  utter  fallacy  of  the  whole  system,  that  1  can  but  feel  as 
sured  that  the  entire  action  of  the  General  Assembly  on  this  subject  merits,  at 
this  day,  the  cordial  approbation  of  a  large  majority  of  the  people. 

I  am  not  so  vain  as  to  flatter  myself  that  I  have  been  entirely  exempt  from 
error  in  the  discharge  of  my  official  duties;  but  I  have  the  proud  consolation  to 
know  that,  although  error  may  have  been  the  result  of  my  action  in  many  in 
stances,  it  has  always  been  my  intention  and  purpose  to  promote  the  interest  of 
the  State,  and  the  happiness  of  my  fellow-citizens. 

In  dissolving  our  official  relations,  I  can,  with  pleasure,  recur  to  the  uniformly 
kind  and  friendly  intercourse  which  has,  at  all  times,  existed  between  us;  and  I 
acknowledge,  with  feelings  of  lively  sensibility,  the  many  acts  of  courtesy  and  re 
spect  which  I  have  received  at  all  times  from  the  members  of  the  General  Assem 
bly.  In  that  separation,  therefore,  which  is  soon  to  take  place,  permit  me,  here, 
to  tender  to  each  member,  individually,  my  high  regard;  and,  through  you,  to  the 
people  o+'  the  State,  my  grateful  acknowledgements  for  the  confidence  which  they 
have  reposed  in  me. 

That  the  spirit  of  peace  and  harmony  may  pervade  your  deliberations,  and  that 
these  may  be  conducive  to  the  interest  of  the  State,  and  the  happiness  and  pros 
perity  of  our  common  constituents,  is  my  most  ardent  desire. 

The  message  was  laid  on  the  table,  and  on  motion  of  Mr.  Rice, 
5,000  copies  were  ordered  to  be  printed. 

This  was  an  important  session  in  many  respects.  Two  engross 
ing  subjects  engaged  the  attention  of  the  Legislature.  The  first 
was  the  ratification  of  the  amendment  to  the  Constitution  which  in 
volved  the  removal  of  the  Seat  of  Government  from  Tuskaloosa; 
the  second  was,  the  Banks  and  the  currency,  involving  the  public 
credit. 

On  the  second  day  of  the  session,  the  Secretary  of  State,  in 
pursuance  of  the  law,  laid  before  the  House  the  returns  made  to 
his  office,  of  the  election  on  the  two  propositions,  which,  upon  thft 
motion  of  Mr.  F.  W.  Bowdon,  of  Talladega,  was  referred  to  a 
select  committee  of  nine. 


416  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

On  the  10th  of  December,  under  the  direction  of  a  Committee 
of  Arrangements,  Gov.  Martin  Avast  inaugurated,  and  a  few  days 
thereafter,  Ex-Gov.  Fitzpatrick  left  the  Seat  of  Government  for 
his  home  in  Autauga  county. 

REMOVAL. 

9 

Mr.  Bowdon  brought  in  his  report  from  the  select  committee, 
on  the  votes  cast  upon  the  amendments  to  the  Constitution,  show 
ing  in  the  order  of  the  counties  the  official  vote  in  each,  on  the 
respective  questions  submitted  to  the  people,  to-wit:  Biennial 
sessions,  and  to  authorize  the  removal  of  the  Seat  of  Government. 
It  would  be  tedious  and  uninteresting,  to  carry  the  reader  through 
the  details  of  this  measure,  ending  in  the  ratification  of  the  amend 
ments  in  each  House  by  the  requisite  majority. 

The  following  are  the  respective  votes: 

Yeas.  Nays. 

Biennial  Sessions • 55,819  5,167 

Eemoval  of  Seat  of  Government 33,798         27,320 

Total  number  of  votes  cast  for  Representatives  in  the  Legisla 
ture,  62,558. 

Mr.  Speaker  Moore  was  called  upon  in  the  progress  of  this  con 
test  to  make  a  decision  for  which  he  was  much  blamed  at  the  time 
by  those  opposed  to  the  ratification  of  the  amendments.  The 
facts  may  be  briefly  stated  thus : 

Two  distinct  propositions  had  been  submitted  to  the  people  by 
the  Legislature  of  1844,  on  which  a  separate  vote  was  taken.  It 
required  a  majority  of  two-thirds  of  each  branch  of  the  General 
Assembly  to  ratify,  so  as  to  incorporate  the  amendments  in  the 
Constitution.  The  members  opposed  to  removal  believed  that 
they  had  a  right  to  vote  for  each  measure  separately,  on  its  merits, 
and  moved  a  substitute  to  the  report  of  the  select  committee  to 
secure  that  privilege,  which,  on  the  motion  of  Mr.  Gayle,  was  laid 
on  the  table — yeas  48,  nays  46. 

From  the  Journal  of  the  House,  p.  186,  the  following  extract  is 
taken : 

Mr.  Inge  called  for  a  division  of  the  question : 

The  subject  matter  before  the  House,  contained  a  preamble  setting  forth  the 
amendments  submitted  to  the  people  last  year  in  regard  to  Biennial  Sessions,  and 
the  Removal  of  the  Seat  of  Government,  and  concluded  with  the  following  reso 
lution  : 

Resolved  by  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives  of  the  State  of  Alabama  in 
General  Assembly  convened,  two-thirds  of  each  House  concurring,  That  the  aforesaid 
amendment  to  the  Constitution,  proposed  as  aforesaid,  and  accepted  by  the  people 
as  aforesaid,  be  ratified ;  and  that  the  same,  from  and  after  the  passage  of  this 
resolution,  be  and  form  a  part  of  the  Constitution  of  the  State  of  Alabama. 

Mr.  Speaker  decided  that  inasmuch  as  the  enacting  resolution  contained  but 
one  proposition,  it  could  not  be  divided. 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  417 

Mr.  Inge  appealed  from  the  decision  of  the  Chair,  and  on  the  question,  Shall 
the  decision  of  the  Chair  be  sustained?  the  vote  stood  thus :  Yeas  52,  nays  44. 

The  joint  resolution  was  then  ordered  to  a  third  reading,  by  a 
vote  of  58  to  41. 

On  the  final  passage  of  the  joint  resolution,  which  required  67 
votes  in  the  affirmative,  there  were  some  defeats,  much  skirmish 
ing,  reconsideration  of  votes,  motions  to  postpone,  motions  to  ad 
journ,  and  a  variety  of  incidental  action  which  would  occupy  too 
much  space  to  be  noticed  in  detail  here.  It  all  ended,  however, 
in  the  ultimate  ratification  of  the  amendment  by  two-thirds  in 
both  Houses,  and  on  the  28th  of  January,  1846,  the  two  Houses 
convened  in  the  Representative  Chamber  to  select  a  place  as  the 
future  seat  of  Government,  when  sixteen  ballots  were  had  on  the 
several  nominations : 

1st  ballot.  5th  ballot.  10th  ballot.  16th  ballot. 

For  Tuskaloosa 39  38  41                39 

For  Wetumpka 28  33  33                  9 

For  Mobile 6  8  7                  3 

For  Montgomery 33  27  36                68 

For  Statesville 2 

ForSelma 986  11 

For  Marion 4  4  5 

For  Huntsville 6 

The  Journal  of  the  House  says :  "  The  city  of  Montgomery  hav 
ing  received  a  majority  of  the  whole  number  of  votes  given,  Mr. 
Speaker  declared  said  city  of  Montgomery  duly  and  constitution 
ally  elected  the  Seat  of  Government  of  the  State  of  Alabama, 
according  to  law." 

As  the  decision  of  Mr.  Speaker  Moore,  previously  referred  to, 
was  the  topic  of  much  conversation,  it  is  only  an  act  of  justice  to 
say,  that  the  opinion  of  parliamentary  men  with  whom  I  con 
versed,  was,  that  the  decision  was  correct. 

MESSAGE  OF  GOV.  MARTIN. 

In  the  proper  order  of  time,  I  omitted  to  state,  that  on  the  16th 
of  December,  a  communication  from  the  Governor  was  transmitted 
to  the  Legislature  by  Mr.  George  Mason,  his  private  Secretary, 
which  document  is  given  entire,  as  indicating  the  policy  of  his 
administration : 

EXECUTIVE  DEPARTMENT,      ~) 
TUSKALOOSA,  December  10,  1845.  / 
Gentlemen  of  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives: 

In  entering  upon  the  discharge  of  my  official  duties,  I  feel  called  upon  by  recent 
events  to  communicate  to  you  my  views  upon  the  various  subjects  connected  with 

27 


418  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

the  affairs  of  our  State  Bank  and  Branches ;  and  with  the  indebtedness  of  the 
State — subjects  which  have  for  some  time  past  occupied  the  attention  of  our  con 
stituents,  and  which  have  recently  become  so  important  in  their  view  as  to  engross 
all  others.  To  these  subjects  I  shall  confine  myself  in  this  communication. 

From  the  reports  of  the  several  legislative  committees  whose  duty  it  has  been, 
from  time  to  time,  to  inquire  into  the  condition  of  our  State  Bank  and  Branches, 
it  appears,  that  for  the  last  seven  years,  these  institutions  have  suifered  one  un 
broken  series  of  losses ;  resulting  in  the  disastrous  condition  in  which  they  were 
found  at  the  last  session  of  the  General  Assembly.  The  causes  which  have  brought 
about  these  continuous  and  heavy  losses,  are  readily  discovered  by  a  recurrence  to 
the  history  of  their  management;  the  whole  tenor  of  which  proves,  beyond  doubt, 
that  less  regard  has  been  had  to  the  interests  of  the  Banks  than  the  convenience 
and  accommodation  of  their  debtors. 

By  the  report  made  to  the  Legislature  at  the  session  of  eighteen  hundred  and 
thirty-seven  and  eight,  it  is  shown  that  the  indebtedness  of  [to]  the  State  Bank  and 
Branches  amounted  at  that  time  to  more  than  twenty  millions  of  dollars ;  of  which 
but  little  more  than  one  hundred  thousand  dollars  were  considered  bad;  and  but 
little  more  than  five  hundred  thousand  dollars  doubtful.  The  first  act  of  the  Legis 
lature,  changing  the  usual  course  of  business  in  those  Banks,  was  passed  a  short 
time  before,  at  the  called  session  in  June,  eighteen  hundred  and  thirty-seven.  This 
act  extended  the  time  of  payment  of  the  debts  then  due;  dividing  them  into  three 
annual  installments ;  the  first,  of  twenty-five  per  cent. ;  the  other  two  of  thirty- 
seven  and  a  half  per  cent.  each.  And  it  authorized  further  loans,  payable  in  like 
installments. 

At  the  session  of  eighteen  hundred  and  forty  and  forty-one,  a  report  was  made 
to  the  Legislature,  by  which  it  appears,  that  under  the  influence  of  the  act  re 
ferred  to,  commonly  known  as  the  relief  or  extension  law  of  eighteen  hundred 
and  thirty-seven,  the  bad  debt  had  increased  to  more  than  three  and  one  half 
millions  of  dollars ;  while  the  doubtful  debt  had  swelled  to  an  amount  exceeding 
one  million  and  a  half  of  dollars.  And  in  this  report  is  introduced  a  new  item 
denominated  "unknown  debt,"  amounting  then  to  more  than  one  million  and  a 
quarter  of  dollars.  Thus  is  shown  a  deterioration  of  the  debts  due  to  the  Banks, 
by  which  losses  have  been  incurred,  to  be  estimated  at  not  less  than  one  million 
and  a  quarter  of  dollars  annually,  during  the  three  years  immediately  preceding 
this  report. 

At  the  session  of  the  Legislaturu  of  eighteen  hundred  and  thirty-nine  and  forty, 
another  act  was  passed,  (approved  the  third  of  February,  eighteeen  hundred  and 
forty,)  by  which  it  was  required  that,  "not  more  than  twenty  per  cent."  of  the 
several  debts  due  the  Banks  should  be  demanded,  per  annum.  Under  the  opera 
tion  of  this  act,  connected  with  that  above  referred  to,  as  shown  by  a  report  of  a 
committee,  at  the  last  session  of  the  General  Assembly,  the  good  debts  were  re 
duced  to  six  million,  nine  hundred  and  ninety-three  thousand,  nine  hundred  and 
sixty-five  dollars,  and  thirty-six  cents — ($6,993,965.36.)  The  doubtful  debt  to 
four  hundred  and  eighty-four  thousand,  one  hundred  and  thirty-two  dollars  and 
forty-six  cents — ($484,132.46.)  While  the  bad  debt  had  reached  the  enormous 
sum  of  six  millions,  two  hundred  and  ninety-two  thousand,  five  hundred  and 
ninety-nine  dollars  and  seventy  cents — (6,292,599.70.)  Each  of  the  laws  here 
referred  to  required  that  the  President  and  Directors  of  the  several  Banks  should 
demand  further  security,  if  by  them  deemed  necessary,  as  a  condition  precedent 
to  the  extension.  How  far  this  provision  was  regarded,  may  be  judged  of  by  the 
results. 

This  cursory  glance  at  the  history  of  the  legislation,  and  management  of  our 
Banks,  must  clearly  show  that  the  extension  laws,  and  the  manner  of  their  execu 
tion,  were  the  principal  causes  of  the  immense  losses  sustained  by  these  institu 
tions.  A  more  minute  examination  would  but  fortify  this  conclusion.  As  how 
ever,  it  is  important  to  know  the  causes  of  the  evils,  simply  with  a  view  to  avoid 
them  in  future,  I  shall  not  pursue  this  inquiry  further.  We  find  our  Banks  at  the 
last  session  of  the  Legislature  in  the  situation  mentioned.  We  have  no  reason  to 
believe  that  they  are  in  a  better  condition  now.  The  mischief  is  done,  and  it  is 
the  part  of  wisdom  to  make  the  best  that  we  can  of  our  present  condition.  To  do 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  419 

this,  we  should  adopt  such  measures  as  may  promise  to  collect  the  largest  amount 
of  the  entire  indebtedness  to  the  Banks  with  the  least  expense,  and  at  the  same 
time  bring  their  affairs  to  the  most  speedy  adjustment  and  conclusion,  compatible 
with  that  important  object. 

At  the  session  of  eighteen  hundred  and  forty-two  and  three  of  the  General  As 
sembly,  acts  were  passed  repealing  the  charters  of  the  four  Branch  Banks,  so  far 
as  to  deprive  them  of  banking  powers,  and  putting  them  in  liquidation.  On  tho 
first  day  of  January  last,  the  charter  of  the  State  Bank  expired  by  its  own  limita 
tion.  None  of  its  banking  powers  have  been  renewed,  but  by  an  act  of  the  last 
session  of  the  General  Assembly  it  was  put  in  liquidation.  By  the  same  act,  the 
officers  of  the  State  Bank  and  of  each  of  the  Branches  were  made  to  consist  of  a 
President  and  two  Directors,  a  Cashier,  and  two  clerks;  and  one  additional  clerk 
in  the  Branch  at  Mobile. 

The  impolicy  of  keeping  up  five  banking  establishments,  with  five  Presidents, 
ten  Directors,  five  Cashiers,  eleven  clerks,  and  other  agents,  attorneys  and  ser 
vants,  engaged  upon  salaries  and  pay — with  a  variety  of  other  sources  of  expense, 
which  might  be  mentioned — swelling  the  actual  expenditure  of  the  State  Bank  and 
all  its  Branches  to  a  sum  not  very  far  short  of  the  expense  of  our  State  Govern 
ment,  is  too  obvious  to  require  argument;  looking  alone  to  its  disregard  of  a  proper 
economy.  When  to  this  is  added  the  utter  inefficiency  of  the  system  for  the 
attainment  of  the  great  object  in  view — collecting  and  securing  the  debts,  and 
winding  up  the  concerns  of  the  Banks  in  the  most  speedy  possible  manner — a  re 
form  of  the  system  becomes  an  imperious  duty.  Without  a  change,  judging  tho 
future  by  the  past,  we  have  but  little  ground  to  hope  that  this  complicated  busi 
ness  will  be  brought  to  a  beneficial  and  satisfactory  close  in  any  reasonable  time. 

With  these  views,  and  others  which  will  suggest  themselves  to  you,  I  respect 
fully  recommend  to  your  consideration  the  propriety  of  dispensing  with  all  the 
officers  of  the  State  Bank,  and  of  each  of  the  Branches.  And  I  recommend  that 
provision  be  made  for  the  appointment  of  one  agent  to  remain  at  each  of  the 
Branches,  with  authority  to  receive  payment  from  the  debtors,  giving  proper  re 
ceipts  and  acquittances,  and  to  do  such  other  ministerial  acts  as  may  be  necessary 
and  expedient  for  him  to  do  in  furthering  collections,  but  with  no  other  powers. 
I  further  recommend  that  provision  be  made  for  the  appointment  of  three  Com 
missioners,  in  the  mode  now  prescribed  for  the  appointment  of  Directors,  with 
such  salaries  as  will  command  the  best  qualifications  for  the  purpose  to  bo 
found  anywhere  in  the  State,  who  shall  reside  at  the  State  Bank,  and  devote  their 
entire  time  and  attention  to  the  important  object  of  securing  and  collecting  the 
whole  Bank  debt,  with  full  power  and  authority  to  appoint  all  necessary  attorneys, 
clerks  and  agents;  to  transfer  the  books  and  papers  of  the  Branch  Banks  to  the 
State  Bank — except,  the  evidences  of  debt  running  to  maturity— to  dispose  of  the 
real  and  personal  property  of  the  State  Bank  and  Branches,  and  when  necesary 
and  proper,  looking  alone  to  the  interest  of  the  State,  to  compromise  and  com 
pound  debts  that  may  at  any  time  be  considered  doubtful  or  bad :  thus  concentrat 
ing  the  whole  business  at  the  State  Bank.  1  further  recommend  that  these  Com 
missioners  be  empowered  to  pay  the  interest,  as  it  may  become  due,  upon  the  State 
debt,  and  to  extinguish  the  debt  as  fast  as  they  may  be  able,  from  their  collections 
and  funds,  under  such  rules  and  regulations  as  you,  in  your  wisdom,  may  pre 
scribe,  giving  to  them  ample  powers  for  all  these  purposes,  at  the  same  time 
securing  the  State  against  its  abuse  by  proper  restrictions  and  sureties.  By  this 
system  it  is  obvious  that  after  the  payment  of  such  salaries  as  are  contemplated, 
and  every  other  expense  incident  to  it,  a  vast  amount  of  the  present  annual  ex 
penditure  would  be  saved.  None,  I  think,  can  doubt  its  superior  efficiency.  With 
suitable  Commissioners,  I  am  induced  to  believe  but  few  years  would  be  required 
to  bring  the  whole  of  the  affairs  of  our  Banks  to  a  final  close ;  at  least  to  enable 
our  citizens  to  understand  what  ought  to  be  known  to  all,  but  what  is  now  known 
to  none,  the  true  pecuniary  condition  of  the  State. 

By  an  act  passed  at  the  last  session  of  the  General  Assembly,  the  debtors  of  the 
State  Bank  and  Branches  were  required  to  pay,  by  the  first  of  June  last,  one-third 
part  of  their  respective  debts,  with  interest.  And  it  was  provided,  that,  upon  a 
compliance  with  these  terms,  the  remaining  two-thirds  should  stajjd  over  until  the 


420  Reminiscences  of  PMiG  Men  in  Alabama. 

first  of  June  next.  It  was  generally  understood  that  a  further  provision  would  be 
made  at  the  present  session,  in  favor  of  those  who  complied ;  extending  one-half 
of  the  balance  due  for«twelve  months  longer,  upon  the  payment  of  the  other  half, 
by  that  day,  with  interest,  The  reports  of  committees  touching  this  subject' 
clearly  indicated  this  to  be  the  policy  which  would  be  adopted.  Under  this  ex 
pectation,  it  is  believed,  many  of  the  Bank  debtors  complied  with  the  requisition 
of  the  law,  with  some  inconvenience  and  sacrifice.  I  respectfully  recommend  that 
this  expectation  be  met  by  the  enactment  of  a  law  for  that  purpose,  with  proper 
guards  and  provisions.  The  first  day  of  June  may  not  be  the  most  suitable  day 
for  the  required  payment.  It  may  be  proper  to  appoint  another  day  somewhat 
more  distant.  This,  however,  in  my  opinion,  should  be  the  limit.  No  other  ex 
tension  should  be  conceded ;  nor  should  this  apply  to  any  other  debtors  than  the 
class  here  specially  referred  to. 

It  will  be  seen  to  be  indispensable,  as  already  intimated,  that  some  steps  be 
taken  at  your  present  session,  to  provide  for  the  payment  of  the  interest  of  the 
State  debt  as  it  may  hereafter  become  due.  The  plighted  faith  of  the  State  re 
quires  it.  Having  no  other  known  available  effects  than  the  assets  of  our  Banks, 
it  will  be  necessary,  in  prescribing  for  collections,  to  keep  this  object  steadily  in 
view.  You  will  have  before  you  the  means  of  ascertaining  the  amount  collected, 
under  the  late  act  on  this  subject,  and  the  consequent  reduction  of  the  circulation 
of  the  State  Bank  and  Branches.  You  will  also  be  able,  from  the  documents  be 
fore  you,  to  form  an  estimate  of  the  amount  of  circulation  yet  remaining  out.  A 
very  large  portion  of  the  interest  to  be  provided  for  being  that  which  accrues  on 
our  foreign  debt  of  $9,215,255.55,  amounting  annually  to  the  sum  of  $471,907.80, 
is  payable  in  New  York,  New  Orleans,  and  in  England,  in  par  funds.  The  neces 
sity  of  requiring  collections  to  an  amount  which,  together  with  the  taxes,  will  ab 
sorb  the  circulation  of  the  State  Bank  and  Branches,  and  furnish  an  additional 
sum  in  sound  funds,  sufficient  to  pay  the  interest  thus  to  become  payable,  must  be 
clear  to  all.  For  it  will  hardly  be  contended  that  the  notes  of  those  Banks,  after 
being  returned  to  the  State,  either  in  payment  of  taxes,  or  in  payment  of  debts 
due  the  Banks,  can  legitimately  be  put  again  in  circulation;  the  powers  of  the 
Banks  which  issued  them  for  this  purpose  having  terminated.  If,  however,  there 
be  any  who  suppose  it  can  be  done  with  the  sanction  of  law,  the  destructive  policy 
of  throwing  our  Bank  notes  into  the  market  by  the  State,  to  be  sold  for  such  funds 
as  will,  from  time  to  time,  be  demanded  of  us,  would  utterly  forbid  it.  Instead  of 
relieving  the  country  of  the  depreciated  currency — one  of  the  great  purposes  of 
winding  up  the  Banks — such  a  policy  would  not  only  keep  up  the  supply,  but  in 
crease  its  depreciation.  The  losses  to  the  State  would  be  enormous.  The  fact  be 
ing  known,  through  the  country,  as  it  certainly  would  be,  that  the  State  relies 
upon  the  sale  of  the  State  Bank  notes  as  the  means  of  raising  money  to  pay  the 
interest  accruing  from  time  to  time,  we  would  find  ourselves  in  the  hands  of 
brokers  and  shavers,  compelled  to  submit  to  such  terms  as  their  cupidity  might 
dictate.  Very  few  rounds  of  the  circle — receiving  our  notes  at  par,  and  selling 
them  at  such  a  discount  as  would  be  demanded — would  result  in  the  exhaustion  of 
the  remaining  assets  of  our  Banks,  to  pay  the  interest  only,  leaving  the  principal 
debt,  in  all  its  magnitude,  bearing  heavily  upon  us,  swelling  with  still  further  in 
terest.  This  suicidal  policy,  I  trust,  will  not  be  adopted,  even  as  a  temporary 
measure.  It  involves  the  same  principles  which  have  too  long  prevailed  in  the 
management  of  our  Banks,  favoring  the  Bank  debtors  at  the  expense  of  the  tax 
payers  of  the  State. 

It  is  believed  that  the  amount,  now  in  suit  against  those  who  refused  to  accept 
the  provisions  of  the  act  of  the  last  session  of  the  General  Assembly,  in  re 
gard  to  Bank  debts,  added  to  one-half  of  the  debt  extended  in  virtue  of  that  act, 
and  the  sum  to  be  raised,  will  relieve  the  pressing  necessities  of  the  State.  The 
propriety  and  importance  of  prosecuting  these  suits,  and  enforcing  collections, 
when  all  the  circumstances  are  properly  considered,  must  be  obvious.  The  reason 
ableness  of  the  terms  proposed  by  the  act  is  perceived,  when  we  remember  that 
most  of  these  debts  were  contracted  more  than  seven  years  ago,  for  money  lent; 
and  for  which  indulgence  had  been  given  from  time  to  time,  to  that  period.  By 
that  act,  they  were  required  to  pay  one-third  only,  of  the  amount  due ;  a  sum 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  421 

which  was  imperatively  demanded  by  the  necessities  of  the  State,  to  meet  her  own 
liabilities.  Punctuality  on  the  part  of  our  debtors,  in  meeting  all  reasonable  de 
mands  upon  them,  is  now  all-important  to  the  State;  for  upon  this  may  depend 
the  preservation  of  our  faith  and  credit.  If  these  debtors  are  put  upon  an  equal 
footing  with  those  who  paid  as  required,  the  precedent  will  encourage  a  disregard 
of  our  demands;  and  punctuality  will  cease  to  be  a  virtue.  A  controlling  reason 
is  found  in  the  consideration,  that  less  than  the  proposed  collection  will  not  place 
beyond  contingency,  our  ability  to  meet  the  demands  of  the  State.  And  we  are 
bound  in  justice  to  the  great  body  of  our  constituents,  who  are  without  fault,  and 
who  have  received  no  benefit  from  the  Banks,  to  save  the  honor  of  the  State  from 
peril ;  even  if  it  requires  some  sacrifice  by  those  who  have  been  so  long  in  the  en 
joyment  of  Bank  accommodations. 

The  time  has  arrived  when  we  should  cease  to  dally  with  this  subject;  when, 
by  a  firm  adherence  to  the  enactments  of  the  Legislature,  and  a  faithful  execution 
of  them,  it  should  be  made  manifest  that  they  are  intended  to  effect  the  object  in 
dicated  by  their  provisions.  Bank  debtors  should  understand  that  the  laws  are 
intended  to  operate  equally  upon  all ;  not  to  spend  their  force  upon  one  portion, 
who  regard  them  ;  then  to  be  changed  and  modified  to  suit  the  convenience  of  other 
portions,  who  treat  them  with  neglect. 

There  is  an  obvious  propriety  in  extending  to  agents  entrusted  with  the  duty  of 
making  collections,  every  aid  in  our  power,  to  facilitate  their  efforts.  And  while 
no  one  can  be  less  inclined  to  do  unnecessary  injury,  either  in  feeling  or  interest, 
to  our  debtors,  than  I  am,  I  can  not  doubt,  that  in  ascertaining  the  course  proper 
to  be  pursued,  it  is  our  duty  to  consult  the  interest  of  the  State,  untrammeled  by 
any  unreasonable  apprehension  as  to  the  effect  which  it  may  have  upon  them.  The 
aid  of  our  citizens  should  be  invoked.  They  are  directly  interested  in  this  great 
subject,  being  responsible  for  any  deficiency,  in  the  form  of  taxes  to  discharge  our 
State  liability.  With  this  view,  I  submit  to  your  consideration  the  propriety  of 
publishing  in  such  form  and  manner  as  may  cause  it  to  reach  our  citizens  gen 
erally,  a  list  of  the  names  of  the  bad,  doubtful  and  unknown  debtors ;  with  the 
amount  due  from  them  respectively.  The  people  of  the  State  have  the  right,  at 
any  rate,  like  all  other  creditors,  to  know  who  their  debtors  are.  And  T  entertain 
no  doubt  that  our  collecting  agents  would  acquire  much  assistance  from  informa 
tion,  which  this  means  would  cause  to  be  communicated.  Those  debtors  could 
have  no  cause  to  complain.  They  are  in  default.  They  have  no  right  to  withhold 
from  the  State  any  of  their  effects.  And  if  any  are  withheld,  every  means  should 
be  essayed  to  discover  and  apply  them. 

In  connection  with  this  subject/I  submit  to  your  consideration  the  propriety  of 
causing  a  rigid  scrutiny  in  the  conduct  of  the  officers,  attorneys  and  agents,  under 
whose  management  the  astounding  losses  to  our  Banks  have  accrued,  holding 
them  to  strict  accountability.  Such  an  inquiry  seems  to  be  called  for,  as  well  for 
the  purpose  of  enforcing  justice  from  delinquents,  as  to  relieve  those  who  have 
been  faithful  from  unmerited  imputation.  For  our  constituents  justly  consider  it 
difficult  to  perceive  how  the  affairs  of  our  Banks  have  been  brought  to  their  pres 
ent  condition,  without  great  and  culpable  mismanagement  in  their  officers,  attor 
neys,  and  agents.  When  these  things  shall  have  been  done;  when  all  shall  have 
been  collected  that  can  be  collected ;  when  the  burden  shall  have  been  made  as 
light  as  it  can  be  made :  our  patriotic  citizens  will  not  shrink  from  it.  Though  it 
be  heavy  and  bear  hard  upon  them,  they  will  not  falter  under  it.  They  will  pay 
whatever  may  be  necessary  to  sustain  the  plighted  faith  and  honor  of  the  State. 
They  will  march  forward  with  their  treasure,  as  heretofore  they  have  done,  not 
only  with  that,  but  with  their  blood  also,  to  preserve  untarnished  our  fair  escutch 
eon.  On  our  course  now,  theirs  may  depend  hereafter.  I  hope,  therefore,  I  may 
not  be  considered  too  importunate,  when,  in  the  name  of  everything  dear  to  us,  I 
commend  this  subject  to  your  most  deliberate  consideration. 

J.  L.  MARTIN. 

The  message  was  laid  on  the  table,  and  5,000  copies  ordered  to 
be  printed. 

The  result  of  the  legislation  in  regard  to  the  Banks,  was  the 


422 


jRemniscenoes  of  Puttie  Men  in  Alabama. 


passage  of  a  bill,  entitled,  "An  act  to  settle  the  affairs  of  the 
Banks,  and  to  apply  the  assets  to  the  payment  of  the  State  bonds." 
This  law  constituted  Francis  S.  Lyon,  of  Demopolis;  Benjamin 
Fitzpatrick,  of  Autauga,  and  William  Cooper,  of  Florence,  Com 
missioners  to  take  charge  of  the  assets  of  the  Banks  for  the  pur 
pose  indicated  in  the  title.  Gov.  Fitzpatrick  declined  serving, 
and  Gov.  Martin  appointed  Gov.  Clay  in  his  place,  who  accepted, 
and  these  three  gentlemen  had  the  assets  in  hand  two  years,  until 
the  meeting  of  the  Legislature,  in  December,  1847. 

JUDICIAL   ELECTION. 

Several  elections  occurred  this  session  worthy  of  note.  That 
for  Judge  of  the  Third  Circuit  was  a  contest  which,  for  stubborn 
ness  and  the  number  of  ballots,  has  never  had  a  parallel  in  the 
State.  The  candidates  were  Lincoln  Clark,  George  D.  Short- 
ridge,  Ptolemy  T.  Harris,  John  W.  Womack,  and  Thomas  A. 
Walker,  Esquires.  The  following  are  the  ballots : 


Ballots. 

Clark. 

Shortridge. 

Harris. 

Womack. 

Walker. 

First     . 

17 

29 

38 

19 

23 

Second  

17 

25 

39 

22 

24 

Third  

16 

28 

37 

23 

23 

Fourth    

12 

29 

39 

23 

25 

Fifth          .      . 

11 

32 

37 

21 

23 

Sixth  

8 

34 

37 

21 

24 

Seventh 

8 

34 

37 

24 

22 

Eighth  

8 

34 

40 

22 

23 

Ninth                

8 

34 

35 

22 

27 

Tenth 

17 

28  . 

35 

19 

25 

Eleventh 

14 

32 

37 

21 

22 

Twelfth  

11 

34 

38 

20 

24 

Thirteenth 

12 

30 

37 

21 

94 

Fourteenth  

7 

°v 
31 

36 

19 

27 

Fifteenth                  .  . 

6 

35 

41 

23 

OQ 

Sixteenth 

5 

32 

42 

20 

25 

Seventeenth  
Eighteenth  

6 
5 

32 
35 

42 

40 

17 
15 

26 
26 

Nineteenth  

7 

41 

49 

* 

30 

Twentieth 

6 

42 

49 

27 

Twenty-first  

4 

44 

50 

24 

Twenty-second  
Twentv-third   .  .    . 

5 

7 

44 
47 

49 
53 

26 

18 

Twenty-fourth 

10 

59 

55 

* 

Twenty-fifth  
Twenty-sixth  

6 
5 

63 
62 

56 
57 

Twenty-seventh  

* 

65 

57 

*  Withdrawn, 


Reminiscences  of  PMic  Men  in  Ata})ama.  423 

After  the  tenth  ballot,  the  Convention  of  the  two  Houses  ad 
journed  until  the  next  day,  when  the  ballots  were  continued, 
resulting  in  the  election  of  Mr.  Shortridge. 

LINCOLN  CLARK  was  a  Northern  man  by  birth  and  education. 
After  his  removal  to  Alabama,  he  resided  a  number  of  years  in 
Pickens  county,  as  a  practicing  lawyer,  and  for  one  or  two  sessions 
represented  that  county  in  the  House.  He  then  removed  to  Tus- 
kaloosa,  and  was  for  many  years  associated  with  E.  Wolsey  Peck, 
Esq.,  under  the  firm  of  Peck  &  Clark,  who  had  an  extensive 
practice  at  home  and  in  the  neighboring  counties. 

In  1845,  Mr.  Clark  was  elected  to  the  House  from  Tuskaloosa 
county;  but  a  vacancy  occurring  on  the  Circuit  bench,  by  the 
death  of  Judge  Baylor,  he  reluctantly  consented  at  the  request  of 
his  friends,  to  accept  the  appointment  tendered  him  by  Gov.  Fitz- 
patrick,  and  therefore  resigned  his  seat  in  the  Legislature.  He 
held  the  courts  of  the  Circuit  for  the  Fall  riding,  but  his  election 
was  defeated  in  the  Legislature  at  the  ensuing  session,  and  thus 
he  lost  the  double  honor.  Judge  Clark  had  no  address,  no  man 
agement,  to  cope  with  adroit  men  in  the  hunt  for  office.  His  man 
ners  were  not  popular,  and  had  some  degree  of  sternness,  more 
repulsive  than  otherwise  upon  first  view.  It  required  a  close  ac 
quaintance  with  him  to  understand  and  appreciate  correctly  his 
true  qualities. 

While  a  candidate  for  Judge,  he  was  charged  with  having  sym 
pathized  in  the  opposition  to  Col.  Terry  for  Governor,  which  gave 
offense  to  many  Democrats  in  the  Legislature,  who,  for  this  reason 
alone,  voted  against  him.  His  strength  with  the  party  was  tried 
at  a  Nominating  Convention  for  Congress,  in  the  Tuskaloosa  Dis 
trict,  in  1847,  in  which  he  received  quite  a  flattering  support,  but 
his  friends  failed  to  obtain  the  nomination  for  him.  In  1848,  he 
removed  to  Iowa,  and  settled  at  Dubuque,  where  his  relations 
were  at  once  established  with  the  Democratic  party.  In  1852, 
he  was  an  Elector  on  the  Democratic  ticket,  and  voted  for  Pierce 
and  King.  In  1853,  he  was  elected  to  Congress  from  that  State; 
but  was  afterward  defeated  upon  the  new  political  questions, 
which  ultimately  destroyed  the  supremacy  of  the  Democratic 
party  in  the  North-West. 

Personally,  Mr.  Clark  was  a  good  man,  and  for  many  years 
was  an  elder  in  the  Presbyterian  Church  at  Tuskaloosa.  Some 
unfair  prejudices,  though  of  limited  extent,  were  indulged  against 
him  on  account  of  his  nativity;  but  he  had  taken  his  lot  in  the 
South,  and  there*  was  no  just  cause  for  suspicion  or  distrust.  He 
faithfully  discharged  all  duties  which  devolved  upon  him  in  social 
or  professional  life. 


424  &eminiscence$  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

Soon  after  the  death  of  Gen.  Andrew  Jackson,  in  June,  1845, 
Mr.  Clark  was  selected  by  the  citizens  and  societies  of  Tuska- 
loosa  to  deliver  a  eulogy  on  that  illustrious  citizen.  The  task 
was  well  performed,  as  may  be  seen  by  the  pamphlet  of  forty 
pages,  published  at  the  request  of  those  who  heard  it. 

The  eulogy  closes  in  the  following  manner: 

Illustrious  man !  thy  course  is  finished  but  to  be  begun !  It  is  true,  but  few 
can  wear  the  descending;  mantle,  but  all  may  drink  at  the  fountains  of  truth, 
which  thou  hast  defended,  and  guide  their  way  by  the  lights  which  thou  hast  hung 
out !  And  here  we  pause,  for  who  can  trace  the  Spirit' s  way,  in  its  chariot  of  fire, 
though  the  radiance  of  ten  thousand  luminaries  be  scattered  upon  its  track  in  its 
upward  progress — who  can  stretch  away  in  the  strongest  powers  of  his  inner 
being,  to  behold  the  opening  portal,  or  hear  the  voice  of  the  illimitable  harvest  of 
ransomed  minds,  as  like  the  voice  of  many  waters  it  goes  up  in  long,  and  loud, 
and  sweet  ascriptions  of  adoration  to  Him  who  redeemed  them  by  his  life  ? 

Though  this  may  be  too  much  for  our  grosser  powers,  and  our  unsublimated 
natures  here,  we  can  bring  our  service  of  thanksgiving,  devotion  and  faith,  as  we 
now  do,  and  lay  it  upon  the  altar  of  our  country  and  our  God. 

HON.  PTOLEMY  T.  HARRIS  was  a  native  of  Georgia,  and 
brother  of  Hon.  Stephen  W.  Harris,  who  was  a  Judge  of  the 
Superior  Court  of  that  State  from  1813  to  1816;  and  also  a 
brother  of  the  Hon.  Thomas  W.  Harris,  who  was  Judge  of  the 
Superior  Court  from  1819  to  1824,  and  from  1837  to  1841. 

Judge  P.  T.  Harris  settled  in  Alabama  at  an  early  period.  He 
was  on  the  bench  of  the  First  Circuit,  in  1832,  where  he  con 
tinued  until  1841,  when  he  resigned,  and  went  into  the  commis 
sion  and  factorage  business  in  Mobile,  in  the  result  of  which  he 
was  disappointed,  and  now  sought,  at  the  session  of  1845,  to  re 
sume  his  official  position.  He  had  been  a  strong  man  in  such 
contests  in  his  day,  as  manifested  from  the  constant  vote  he  re 
ceived  through  the  many  ballots,  a  statement  of  which  has  been 
given  for  the  Third  Circuit;  but  he  committed  the  mistake  of 
letting  go.  His  path  in  this  direction  was  hitherto  unmolested; 
but  he  now  found  it  contested  by  younger  men,  who  had  grown 
up  while  he  was  on  the  bench,  and  were  now  asserting  the  rights 
of  "Young  America."  However,  he  made  a  manly  fight,  as  the 
figures  show.  He  possessed  strong  points  of  character,  was  a  gen 
tleman  of  large,  tall,  commanding  person,  was  a  Whig,  and  in  other 
days,  had  his  full  share  of  influence.  He  afterward  removed  to 
Louisiana,  where  many  years  ago  he  died. 

During  the  session  of  1845,  the  election  of  Chancellor  for  the 
Northern  Division  also  took  place.  Three  gentlemen  were  placed 
in  nomination,  with  the  following  result : 

Alexander  Bowie 36  votes. 

David  G.  Ligon 65  votes. 

Thomas  Woodward 25  votes. 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  425 

Mr.  Ligon  having  a  majority  of  the  whole  number  of  votes 
cast,  was  declared  duly  elected  Chancellor. 

HON.  A.  BOWIE,  of  Talladega,  had  presided  on  the  Chancery 
bench  for  six  years,  and  now  retired  from  public  life,  except  in  his 
connection  with  the  State  University  as  one  of  its  Trustees.  He  was 
raised,  educated,  and  spent  the  earlier  part  of  his  active  profes 
sional  life  in  South  Carolina,  and  was  a  good  representative  of  the 
cultivated  gentleman  of  his  day,  and  of  his  native  State.  His 
legal  learning  was  profound,  and  his  integrity  and  probity  of 
character  above  question.  Few  gentlemen  that  I  have  known  in 
the  State  excelled  Judge  Bowie  in  conversational  powers,  and  in 
the  use  of  pure,  chaste  language.  He  was  a  consistent  member 
of  the  Baptist  Church,  and  maintained  the  bearing  of  a  Christian 
gentleman.  In  politics,  lie  was  allied  with  the  State  Rights  party 
of  South  Carolina.  His  useful  and  honorable  life  terminated  a 
few  years  ago,  at  a  ripe  old  age. 

THOMAS  WOODWARD  was  from  South  Carolina,  in  which  State 
he  was  educated,  and  extensively  figured  in  social  and  public  life, 
before  removing  to  Alabama.  He  was  a  gentleman  of  good  legal 
and  literary  culture,  and  had  adopted  the  extreme  notions  of 
the  political  majority  in  his  native  State,  which  found  a  practical 
solution  in  1861,  and  is  realizing  it  now,  in  common  with  all  the 
Southern  States.  Pie  was  a  good  writer,  and  contributed  many 
articles  to  the  press,  advocating  his  favorite  notions  of  govern 
ment.  A  series  of  these  appeared  in  one  of  the  Montgomery 
papers  about  the  year  of  1848  or  1850,  over  the  signature  of 
"  Pyon,"  which  attracted  a  good  deal  of  attention.  He  held  many 
opinions  about  government  which  were  not  popular  with  the 
masses  of  his  day,  which,  however,  he  seldom  made  public,  but 
communicated  in  private  intercourse  with  his  friends.  In  his 
social  relations  he  was  pleasant,  and  dignified  in  his  deportment. 
Mr.  Woodward  removed  West  several  years  ago. 

DAVID  G.  LIGON,  now  for  the  first  time  elected  to  the  bench, 
was  from  North-Alabama — originally,  if  I  mistake  not,  from  Vir 
ginia.  He  was  a  Whig,  influential  with  that  party;  and  then  he 
possessed  a  fine,  well-formed  and  well-developed  person,  with  an 
address  and  colloquial  powers  that  gave  him  position  and  strength 
with  the  masses.  He  had  once  or  twice  been  a  candidate  for 
Congress,  and  then  his  social  habits  had  well-nigh  ruined  him;  but ' 
he  saw  the  danger  in  time  to  stop  short.  He  embraced  the  faith 
of  the  Christian  or  Campbellite  Church,  of  which  he  became  an 
elder  and  proclaimer  of  the  gospel. 

In  1851,  Chancellor  Ligon  was  elected  an  Associate  Justice  of 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

the  Supreme  Court,  to  succeed  Judge  Silas  Parsons,  who  had  re 
signed.  Upon  a  reorganization  of  the  Court  in  1853,  he  declined 
a  reelection,  and  in  a  few  years  thereafter  he  died.  He  sustained 
himself  pretty  well  as  a  Chancellor,  but  it  was  doubted  by  many 
whether  his  legal  learning  and  early  training  had  been  equal  to 
the  task  and  responsibilities  of  a  Supreme  Court  Judge.  Be  this 
as  it  may,  his  declension  of  a  continuance  upon  the  bench,  after  a 
trial  of  two  years,  was  generally  appreciated  as  an  act  of  good 
taste.  But  Judge  Ligon,  in  the  legal  and  social  arena,  filled  a 
large  space,  and  his  colloquial  powers  were  second  to  those  of  no 
gentleman  in  the  State  in  his  day. 

DEATH   OF  GEN.  JACKSON. 

That  portion  of  Gov.  Fitzpatrick's  message  which  related  to 
the  death  of  the  renowned  character  at  the  Hermitage,  has  been 
given  in  preceding  pages,  which  was  referred  to  a  select  commit 
tee,  who,  on  the  24th  of  December,  made  a  report,  commemora 
tive  of  his  great  public  services,  both  on  the  field  of  battle,  and  as 
President  of  the  United  States,  with  appropriate  resolutions, 
which  were  unanimously  adopted. 

In  relation  to  Gen.  Jackson,  the  writer  ventures  to  notice  here 
a  visit,  which,  in  September,  1842,  he  had  the  pleasure  of  making 
to  the  Hermitage,  to  gratify  a  long  cherished  wish  to  see  and  con 
verse  with  this  great  man  and  patriot.  Being  on  a  visit  to  his 
parents,  in  Nashville,  and  provided  with  letters  from  Gov.  Clay, 
Col.  King,  and  the  Rev.  W.  A.  Scott,  of  Tuskaloosa,  (the  same 
clergyman  who  received  Gen.  Jackson  into  the  communion  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church,)  to  which  Gen.  Robert  Armstrong,  of  Nash 
ville,  the  bosom  friend  of  the  General,  and  a  friend  of  the  writer, 
who  records  this  reference  to  him  with  great  pleasure,  added  a 
special  letter  of  introduction.  The  company  left  the  city  after 
breakfast,  and  after  a  pleasant  ride  of  a  dozen  miles  on  the  turn 
pike,  arrived  in  good  time  at  the  Hermitage,  where  they  were  re 
ceived  with  the  cordiality  and  respect  usually  extended  to  visitors. 

The  letters  were  presented  and  read — first,  from  Gov.  Clay, 
then  Col.  King's  letter.  The  Nbrth-east  Boundary  question, 
which  had  produced  a  great  deal  of '  excitement,  had  just  been 
settled,  by  the  ratification  of  the  Ashburton-  Webster  Treaty.  Col. 
King  was  Senator,  and  voted  for  it.  Gen.  Jackson  was  opposed 
to  the  Treaty,  and  when  he  opened  his  letter,  he  paused  a  moment 
after  seeing  who  it  was  from,  and  made  this  characteristic  remark, 
"  I  am  sorry  Billy  King  voted  for  the  ratification  of  the  Ashburton 
Treaty,"  after  which  he  completed  the  reading,  and  folded  the 
letter.  Then  came  the  letter,  or  rather  the  letters,  from  Mr.  Scott; 
one  of  introduction  and  another  epistolary  and  social,  which  inter- 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  427 

tested  him  a  good  deal.  Last,  was  the  letter  of  Gen.  Armstrong, 
with  his  mail,  which  was  carried  out  by  me. 

This  last  letter  was  the  finishing  touch,  and  showed  its  influence 
upon  Gen.  Jackson.  Formality  was  at  once  dispensed  with,  and 
we  felt  assured,  by  his  language  and  manner,  of  his  pleasure  in 
seeing  us,  and  his  disposition,  so  far  as  his  health  would  allow,  to 
entertain  us. 

The  fact  was,  the  writer  and  Gen.  Armstrong  had  a  conversation 
the  day  before,  in  which  he  notified  the  General  of  his  desire  to 
be  placed  upon  easy  and  communicative  terms  with  Gen.  Jackson, 
with  a  view  to  the  pleasure  and  profit  of  the  visit.  The  writer 
happened  to  be  the  bearer  of  several  presents  to  Gen.  Jackson, 
from  Mr.  Scott,  of  select  religious  books,  besides  other  little  no 
tions,  among  them,  a  pair  of  gloves,  of  fine  linen  thread,  knit  so 
as  to  show  in  the  palm  of  each  the  representation  of  a  hickory 
leaf.  The  old  man  appeared  to  understand  its  signification.  His 
adopted  daughter,  Mrs.  Andrew  Jackson,  Jr.,  a  lady  of  accomplish 
ments,  who  dispensed  the  honors  of  the  White  House  during  Gen. 
Jackson's  Presidential  term,  was  pleased  with  the  gloves,  and  re 
marked:  "Father,  these  will  do  for  you  to  wear  at  Rachel's  wed 
ding,"  alluding  to  her  daughter,  a  pretty  and  sprightly  little  Miss 
who  bore  the  name  of  Gen.  Jackson's  wife.  He  replied,  "I 
reckon,  my  child,  I  shall  be  laid  away  before  that  day." 

After  partaking  of  the  hospitalities  of  the  Hermitage,  and  en 
joying  a  few  hours  of  pleasant  and  profitable  conversation  with  the 
venerable  ex-President  and  his  family,  the  company  returned  to 
Nashville,  greatly  delighted  by  the  visit. 

REPORTS   OF   COMMITTEES. 

The  Committees  in  charge  of  various  matters  of  public  concern, 
made  lengthy  and  able  reports,  which  are  upon  the  Journals  of 
the  two  Houses,  but  too  long  for  a  place  here.  Among  these  may 
be  mentioned  that  of  Mr.  Clay,  from  the  Stdte  Bank  and  Branches ; 
Mr.  Norman,  Education;  Mr.  Hubbard,  Federal  Relations;  Mr. 
Watts,  16th  Sections;  and  Mr.  Woodward,  Public  Printing,  in 
the  House. 

In  the  Senate,  Mr.  Shorter,  from  16th  Sections;  Mr.  Harris, 
from  Penitentiary;  Mr.  Norris,  Public  Printing;  Mr.  Posey,  from 
16th  Sections;  and  Mr.  McClung  from  the  Judiciary;  all  of  which 
received  attention,  and  were  freely  discussed.  The  session  was  a 
long,  laborious  one,  and  the  two  houses  adjourned  5th  February, 
having  been  in  session  sixty-seven  days.  There  were  no  recesses 
in  those  days.  The  two  Houses  generally  took  holiday  on  Christ 
mas  day ;  but  no  other.  They  went  forward  with  earnestness  in 
dispatching  the  public  business. 


428  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama* 

The  session  of  1845  was  the  last  held  at  Tuskaloosa. 
about  twenty  years  the  members  of  the  Legislature  met  here  an 
nually,  on  which  occasion  the  Capitol  of  the  State  was  favored 
with  the  presence  of  a  large  number  of  visitors.  Henceforth,  the 
members  and  the  visitors,  with  the  Executive  and  cfepartment  offi 
cers,  were  all  to  congregate  at  Montgomery,  the  place  selected  for 
the  new  Capitol. 

NEW  SENATORS. 

Having  bestowed  as  much  notice  on  the  proceedings  of  the  Leg 
islature  as  the  limits  of  the  work  would  allow,  I  deem  it  necessary 
to  pay  my  respects  to  several  gentlemen  who  took  their  seats  in 
the  Senate  for  the  first  time : 

JACK  F.  COCKE,  of  Perry,  defeated  Col.  Walthall,  and  his  sub 
sequent  long  career  in  the  Senate  showed  that  his  predecessor  had 
to  contend  with  no  ordinary  strength,  or  evanescent  popularity; 
for  Mr.  Cocke  continued,  without  cessation,  the  Senator  from- 
Perry  for  sixteen  years;  through  all  the  ups  and  downs  of  party  he 
remained  in  his  seat.  In  his  Senatorial  character,  he  outlived 
every  Senator  who  occupied  a  seat  with  him  at  this  session,  an<J 
when,  in  1861,  he  left  the  halls  of  legislation,  he  was  the  last  of 
class  of  1845. 

He  was  quiet,  and  very  attentive  to  the  public  business,  seldom 
spoke,  and  never  made  a  set  speech.  He  was  a  Whig  who  seldom 
varied  in  his  votes  upon  political  topics,  and  yet  at  home  he 
received  at  every  election  more  or  less  Democratic  support.  His 
silence  and  kindness  constituted  a  good  deal  of  his  stock  in  trade. 
It  was  for  years  a  wonder  to  many  that  the  Whigs  of  his  District 
had  not  run  him  for  Congress.  He  did  try  the  experiment,  I  be 
lieve,  as  candidate  on  his  own  bottom,  under  the  Confederate 
Government;  but  that  was  after  the  old  parties  were  pretty  well 
exploded,  and  he  was  beaten  by  Mr.  F.  S.  Lyon.  Mr.  Cocke 
was  a  man  of  good  heart,  had  many  friends,  and  but  few  enemies. 

JEFFERSON  FALKNER,  of  Randolph,  served  this  session  in  the 
Senate  from  that  county  and  Tallapoosa.  He  was  an  early  settler 
in  Randolph,  where  he  was  Clerk,  and  Judge  of  the  County 
Court.  He  has  been  for  many  years  a  respectable  lay-minister  of 
the  Baptist  Church,  and  has  dispensed  ministerial  services  exten 
sively  in  East-Alabama.  In  1851,  he  was  a  candidate  for  Con 
gress  in  the  Talladega  District,  and,  after"  a  'partial  canvass,  was 
ruled  off  to  make  way  for  Mr.  S.  F.  Rice,  by  which  Mr.  Alexan 
der  White  was  elected. 

During  the  War  between  the  States,  although  he  was  exe  mpt 
from  service,  as  well  by  age  as  his  profession  as  a  minister,  Judge 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  429 

Falkner  entered  warmly  into  the  struggle,  and  raised  a  company 
of  cavalry,  with  which  he  was  sometime  connected.  He  has  sev 
eral  times  been  brought  forward  by  his  friends  for  Chancellor  and 
Judge,  and  generally  made  a  fair  run,  but  never  won  the  prize. 
He  was  an  active  member  of  the  Senate,  and  often  participated 
in  the  debates  of  that  body — indeed,  a  good  many  of  his  friends 
thought  he  occupied  the  floor  too  frequently  for  a  new  and  inex 
perienced  Senator.  He  was  fully  allied  to  the  Democratic  party. 

JAMES  G.  L.  HUEY,  of  Talladega,  served  this  session  only,  and 
never  was  again,  I  believe,  a  candidate  for  legislative  honors.  He 
was  afterward  elected  Major-General  of  the  Eighth  Division  of 
Alabama  Militia. 

Gen.  Huey  brought  into  the  Senate  fine  business  qualities,  a 
bold  and  manly  decision  of  character,  and  weight  of  personal  influ 
ence  which  at  once  gave  him  position  in  legislative  and  social  cir 
cles.  He  may  be  truly  set  down  as  one  of  the  useful  men  of  the 
session.  He  was  a  South  Carolinian  by  birth  and  education,  but 
came  to  Alabama  and  settled  in  Talladega  county,  where,  by  dint 
of  industry  and  frugality,  and  a  straight-forward  attention  to  busi 
ness,  he  had  amassed  a  good  property  at  the  commencement  of  the 
war,  and  was  Secretary  of  the  Talladega  Insurance  Company, 
which,  under  his  management,  gained  the  public  confidence.  His 
personal  character  was  decided,  while  at  the  same  time  he  was 
amiable  and  kind  in  his  disposition.  He  is  a  prominent  member 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  South.  Nature  bestowed  on 
him  many  advantages  in  his  appearance — a  large  and  commanding 
figure,  and  a  face  expressive  of  a  resolute  will.  He  resides  now 
in  Perry  county,  in  the  vigor  and  health  of  a  temperate  life,  no 
doubt  exercising  that  salutary  influence  in  the  Church  and  in  the 
community,  for  which  he  was  distinguished  in  Talladega  county. 

JOHN  GILT,  SHORTER,  of  Barbour,  was  returned  to  the  Senate 
this  year,  and  contributed  no  little,  by  his  attention  and  knowl 
edge,  to  the  dispatch  of  business.  His  minority  reports  from  com 
mittee  show  clearly  the  independence  and  individuality  of  his 
opinions  of  public  policy  upon  the  subjects  considered,  and  readi 
ness  to  follow  his  convictions,  though  it  separate  him  from  his 
fellow-members.  This  was  Mr.  Snorter's  first  connection  with 
the  Legislature,  when  quite  a  young  man.  We  shall  see  him 
again  in  the  progress  of  this  work,  and  notice  him  more  fully 
from  an  advanced  position. 

SOLOMON  C.  SMITH,  of  DeKalb,  was  first  a  member  of  the 
House  in  1837,  the  first  time  that  county  had  a  Representative, 
and  was  again  elected  in  1838.  In  1839,  he  was  returned  to  the 


430  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

Senate  from  Cherokee  and  DeKalb.  He  was  a  decided  Demo 
crat,  and  voted,  in  1840,  for  the  General  Ticket  bill,  which  caused 
his  defeat  by  Judge  Foster  in  1841.  In  1844,  he  had  recovered 
his  position  in  the  Senate,  and  was  reflected  in  1845.  In  the 
Fall  of  1846  he  died. 

Mr.  Smith  was  a  sharp,  intelligent,  managing  man.  He  pos 
sessed  the  faculty  of  concealing  his  plans  and  purposes  from 
others,  and  by  that  means,  with  fair  resources  naturally,  he  ac 
complished  a  good  deal.  He  was  at  all  times  attentive  to  the 
interests  of  his  constituents,  and  contributed  no  little,  by  his  leg 
islative  course,  to  the  early  settlement  of  that  newly  acquired 
section.  His  plans  were  so  well  laid  that  he  generally  succeeded 
in  business.  His  habits  were  good,  and  altogether  he  was  a  man 
of  fair  character.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  South. 

BELOVED  L.  TURNER  was  elected  in  1845,  as  the  successor  of 
G.  W.  Creagh,  from  the  District  composed  of  Washington  and 
Clarke  counties.  He  had  been  several  years  in  the  House,  and  with 
occasional  intermissions,  was  in  public  life  for  near  twenty  years. 

Mr.  Turner  was  quiet  and  unpretending,  but  watchful  and  vig 
ilant,  and  generally  knew  as  well  how  he  was  voting  as  any  of  his 
peers.  His  person  was  well  set,  with  black  eyes  and  dark  com 
plexion,  and  physically  he  was  evey  inch  a  man.  But  I  saw  him 
light  with  his  match  once.  At  the  burning  of  the  Capitol,  he  was 
a  member,  and  no  man  took  a  more  active  part  in  saving  the  pub 
lic  property.  Everything  of  a  light  value  was  taken  out  of  the 
Secretary  of  State's  office  but  the  old  State  seal,  with  its  heavy 
fixtures  of  arms,  and  large  lead  balls — the  whole  weighing  nearly 
five  hundred  pounds.  Mr.  Turner  asked  me  if  I  wanted  that 
taken  out,  and  being  answered  affirmatively,  he  called  a  negro  to 
assist,  and  told  him  to  get  under  one  of  the  arms,  while  he  got 
under  the  other.  The  negro  was  the  tallest,  and  the  two  straight 
ened  with  the  load  upon  their  shoulders,  and  started  for  the  door. 
I  saw  at  once  the  advantage  the  negro  had  over  Mr.  Turner  in 
height,  but  he  told  the  negro  to  go  ahead,  and  they  cleared  the 
door  with  the  State  seal.  But  the  muscular  strength  of  one  man 
was  well  tested  that  day,  to  a  degree  seldom  taxed,  if  one  was  to 
judge  from  the  twisting  and  writhing  of  the  man.  While  I  re 
mained  in  the  office  of  Secretary  of  State,  I  never  knew  Mr.  Tur 
ner  come  into  it  afterward  without  stopping  just  outside  the  door, 
and  taking  a  good  look  at  the  old  seal  and  its  heavy  fixtures,  in 
deep  thought,  in  which  recollection  appeared  to  be  busy;  and 
once  or  twice  he  remarked,  half-way  to  himself,  "That  is  the 
heaviest  load  I  ever  attempted  to  carry."  He  is  a  Democrat 
under  the  old  party  organization,  true  as  steel. 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  431 


CHAPTER  XXV. 

Session  of  1845  Continued — Sketches  of  the  House. 

THOMAS  K.  BECK,  of  Wilcox,  concluded  a  service  of  two  years 
in  the  House.  He  was  a  gentleman  of  respectable  general  intel 
ligence,  and  a  planter.  He  was  a  Democrat,  and  occupied  a  good 
position  with  the  party.  In  the  House,  he  was  an  efficient  work 
ing  member,  but  seldom  shared  in  discussion  on  the  floor,  though 
he  possessed  the  gift  of  speech  in  a  high  degree  upon  the  stump, 
where,  it  is  said,  he  often  addressed  the  people  with  considerable 
effect.  He  was  a  nephew  of  the  Hon.  William  R.  King.  Mr. 
Beck  showed  signs  of  decline  in  his  health  before  he  retired  from 
the  Legislature,  but  lived  some  years  thereafter. 

BENAJAH  S.  BIBB,  of  Montgomery,  was  born  in  Elbert  county, 
Georgia,  in  the  year  1796,  and  in  1819  he  married  Miss  Sophia 
Gilmer,  a  sister  of  Gov.  Gilmer.  In  January,  1822,  he  removed 
to  Alabama,  and  settled  as  a  planter  in  Montgomery  county. 

His  public  employments  began  in  1825,  when  he  was  elected 
by  the  Legislature  Judge  of  the  County  and  Orphan's  Court  of 
Montgomery  county,  which  office  he  resigned  in  1827,  when  he 
removed  to  Morgan  county,  and,  in  1828,  was  elected  a  Repre 
sentative  in  the  Legislature  from  that  county.  In  the  Fall  of 
1829,  he  returned  to  Montgomery,  and,  in  1832,  was  elected  Judge 
of  the  County  Court.  In  1833,  he  was  returned  to  the  Senate, 
and,  in  ]  834,  he  was  again  elected  County  Judge,  in  which  office 
he  served  until  1844,  making  twelve  successive  years. 

The  citizens  of  Montgomery  county  desiring  to  change  the  Seat 
of  Government  from  Tuskaloosa  to  the  city  of  Montgomery,  by 
common  consent  elected  Judge  Bibb  to  the  House,  in  1845,  that  his 
influence  might  be  exerted  in  support  of  that  measure.  The  suc 
cess  that  attended  the  movement  may  be  seen  in  another  chapter 
of  this  work.  In  1847,  he  again  represented  the  county  in  the 
Legislature,  which  then  held  its  first  session  in  the  new  Capitol  at 
Montgomery.  In  1851,  he  was  a  candidate,  openly  avowed  in 
favor  of  the  Compromise  Measures  of  Congress  of  the  previous 
year,  and  was  elected  to  the  Senate  by  a  large  majority. 

Judge  Bibb  was  an  old-line  Whig,  supporting  Gen.  Harrison  in 
1840,  and  Mr.  Clay  in  1844,  for  the  Presidency,  and  Bell  and 
Everett,  the  Union  candidates  for  President  and  Yice-Prevsident 


432  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

in  1860.  He  was  opposed  to  secession;  but,  after  the  passage  of 
the  Ordinance  in  1861,  he  went  with  the  State  heartily  in  support 
of  the  war. 

In  1864,  he  was  elected  Judge  of  the  Criminal  Court  for  the 
city  and  county  of  Montgomery,  which  he  regarded  as  the  great 
est  compliment  of  his  life,  over  two  highly  respectable  competitors. 
He  has  never  been  defeated  in  any  election  before  the  people  of 
the  county. 

In  1865,  Judge  Bibb  was  deposed  from  the  Judgeship  of  the 
Criminal  Court,  by  Gov.  Smith,  and  many  others  were  also  de 
posed  who  had  taken  an  active  part  in  support  of  the  South  during 
the  war.  He  was  and  is  opposed  to  the  Reconstruction  acts  of 
Congress,  and  to  Radicalism  in  general;  and  no  one  rejoiced  more 
at  what  he  considered  the  triumph  of  virtue  and  intelligence  at 
the  November  elections,  of  1870,  in  Alabama,  over  ignorance 
and  folly. 

From  1825  to  1865,  a  period  of  forty  years,  Judge  Bibb  has 
been  in  public  life,  with  very  slight  intermission.  It  is  a  proud 
record — and  intelligence,  patriotism  and  fidelity  combined  in  his 
character  to  justify  the  confidence  reposed  in  him.  His  brother, 
the  Hon.  William  Wyatt  Bibb,  was  a  Senator  in  Congress  from 
Georgia  in  1813,  in  place  of  Hon.  William  H.  Crawford,  who  had 
been  appointed  Minister  to  France  by  President  Madison.  After 
ward,  Senator  Bibb  removed  to  the  Alabama  Territory,  and  was 
elected  the  first  Governor  of  the  State  in  1819.  He  died  in  office 
in  1821,  and  his  brother  Thomas  Bibb,  of  Limestone,  then  Presi 
dent  of  the  Senate,  succeeded  him  in  discharging  the  functions  of 
the  Executive  office — perhaps  the  only  instance  known  where  two 
brothers  stood  in  this  relation  to  the  people. 

The  Bibb  and  Gilmer  connections  probably  represent  a  greater 
amount  of  wealth  and  solid  substance  than  any  other  in  the  State. 
The  personal  influence  of  Judge  Bibb,  founded  on  his  virtues  and 
on  his  elevated  worth  in  all  the  relations  of  life,  public  and  pri 
vate,  is  not  surpassed  by  that  of  any  man  in  the  community.  He 
is  a  leading  and  pious  member  of  the  Methodist  Protestant  Church 
in  Montgomery  where  he  resides,  at  a  venerable  age,  universally 
honored  and  beloved. 

WILLIAM  P.  BKOWNE,  of  Mobile,  was  returned  in  1845,  his 
only  session,  and  was  a  well-informed  and  useful  member  of  the 
House.  A  young  bachelor,  he  that  winter  made  the  acquaintance 
of  a  young  lady  of  Shelby  county,  whom  he  soon  married,  and 
then  became  a  citizen  of  that  county.  He  engaged  extensively 
in  the  Iron  and  Coal  business,  and  no  doubt  overtasked  his  phys 
ical  and  mental  faculties  in  the  eager  pursuit  of  his  enterprise,  as 
his  health  and  strength  gave  way  under  the  pressure.  I  met  with 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  433 

him  in  1866  on  the  Selma  and  Dalton  Railroad,  and  could  scarcely 
realize  the  change  that  had  come  over  his  physical  condition ;  but 
he  retained  the  elasticity  of  mind  of  former  years,  so  far  as  his 
failing  strength  would  allow.  He  died  a  year  or  two  thereafter. 
Mr.  Browne  was  a  Democrat,  and  a  man  of  strong  will  and  reso 
lution  in  following  his  convictions  of  duty  and  interest. 

AARON  B.  COOPER,  of  Monroe,  was  by  birth  a  Northern  man, 
and  probably  from  the  State  of  New  Jersey.  He  was  an  early 
settler  in  Alabama,  and  had  served  many  sessions  in  the  Legisla 
ture  previous  to  1845.  As  a  lawyer  he  had  an  established  repu 
tation  lor  learning  and  ability,  and  for  a  number  of  years  was  the 
partner  of  Gen.  Enoch  Parsons,  who  was  the  candidate  in  1835 
of  the  Whig  party  in  opposition  to  Gov.  Clay,  for  the  State  Exec 
utive.  Ready  in  debate,  calm,  logical,  and  with  ripe  scholarship 
to  adorn  his  arguments,  Mr.  Cooper  justly  ranked  with  the  fore 
most  members  of  the  House.  He  well  understood  first  princi 
ples,  and  could  detect  at  a  glance  the  bearing  of  any  measure,  in 
its  application  to  the  affairs  of  men.  His  delivery  was  pleasant, 
and  his  matter  solid  and  instructive.  He  never  dealt  in  puerile 
or  commonplace  observations,  as  his  mind  was  sufficiently  original 
and  his  stores  of  information  so  extensive,  thai  he  always  had  a 
fund  of  his  own  upon  which  to  draw  fresh  and  beautiful  thoughts. 
As  a  legislator,  his  capacity  was  of  a  high  order,  and  nothing 
escaped  his  attention  in  the  proceedings  of  the  House.  Even  the 
unguarded  phraseology  of  a  bill  or  resolution  received  the  aour- 
/t;smi  of  his  pruning  knife. 

Being  a  widower,  Mr.  Cooper,  after  the  session  of  1845,  married 
Mrs.  Creagh,  of  Wileox,  the  widow  of  Judge  John  G.  Creagh, 
and  changed  his  residence  to  that  county.  In  1847,  he  was  re- 
elected  to  the  House  and  wras  made  chairman  of  the  Judiciary 
Committee,  a  place  for  which  he  was  well  qualified.  In  1865,  he 
was  a  delegate  to  the  Convention  called  to  reorganize  the  State, 
after  the  Avar,  and  to  form  a  Constitution.  Soon  thereafter  he  was 
elected  to  the  Senate  from  Wilcox  and  Dallas.  I  had  the  pleas 
ure  of  serving  with  him  in  that  body  through  two  long,  laborious 
sessions,  and  served  on  committee  with  him.  There  I  learned  to 
appreciate  his  intelligence  and  familiarity  with  the  business  of 
legislation,  and  especially  the  uprightness  of  his  character.  Al 
though  considerably  advanced  in  years,  Mr.  Cooper  retains  the 
vigor  of  his  intellect.  Taken  altogether,  in  the  different  relations 
of  life,  as  a  jurist,  advocate,  legislator,  and  member  of  society,  but 
few  men  have  acted  their  part  with  equal  efficiency  and  success, 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church. 
28 


434  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

ISHAM  W.  GARROTT,  of  Perry,  was  elected  to  the  House,  in 
1845,  on  a  divided  ticket  with  A.  B.  Moore,  a  political  antagonist. 
He  was  from  North  Carolina,  where  he  was  educated  in  the  law, 
and,  a  few  years  previous  to  £is  election,  had  settled  in  Marion,  to 
pursue  his  profession.  A  gentleman  of  his  mental  endowments 
and  spirited  character  could  not  be  long  in  a  community  without 
being  noticed.  He  was  a  Whig,  and  was  ready  at  all  times  to 
give  a  reason  for  his  political  faith.  He  was  fiery  in  his  tempera 
ment,  and  bold  and  fearless  in  his  political  assaults.  Few  men 
in  the  Legislature  carried  more  of  mercury  and  bile  in  their  organ- 
nation,  especially  in  discussing  party  measures.- 

Mr.  Garrott  was  again  in  the  Legislature  in  1847,  where  he  con 
tinued  to  exert  the  same  intellectual  superiority,  and  to  indulge 
his  nervous  and  excitable  propensities.  When  addressing  himself 
to  a  political  adversary,  he  was  somewhat  overbearing  in  his  man 
ner;  but  it  was  the  result  of  temperament,  and  not  malice. 

In  the  political  movements  of  1860,  Mr.  Garrott  took  a  very 
active  part,  and  was  on  the  Breckinridge  Electoral  Ticket.  After 
the  war  commenced,  he  entered  the  service,  and,  I  believe,  com 
manded  a  regiment,  when  he  was  killed,  in  one  of  the  battles 
near  Yicksburg.  Had  he  survived  the  war,  his  life  no  doubt  would 
have  been  a  burden  to  him,  in  view  of  the  oppression,  disfran- 
chisement,  and  indignities  visited  upon  the  Southern  people,  by 
the  revengeful  conquering  party,  and  his  death  was,  therefore,  a 
blessing  rather  than  a  misfortune,  so  far  as  he  was  personally  con 
cerned.  The  same  remark  may  be  as  truly  applied  to  thousands 
of  brave  Southern  heroes  and  patriots  who  perished  in  battle,  in 
the  attempt  to  defend  their  country  from  fanatical  aggression  and 
insult.  Their  memories  will  ever  be  dear  to  all  Southern  hearts. 

GEORGE  W.  GAYLE,  of  Dallas,  had  served  previously  as  a 
member  of  the  House,  and  in  1845  was  elected  by  the  people, 
mainly  with  the  view  of  having  his  influence  in  the  Legislature  on 
the  removal  question,  as  Selma  put  forth  claims  for  the  new  Seat 
of  Government.  That  he  failed  in  this  enterprise  was  owing  to 
no  lack  of  zeal  or  effort  on  his  part  to  accomplish  the  object.  Mr. 
Gayle  was  well  qualified,  by  his  urbanity  in  approaching  men,  and 
in  advocating  any  particular  measure,  to  fulfill  any  mission  or  trust 
confided  to  him  in  the  Legislature. 

At  this  session,  he  aspired  to  the  Speakership,  without  success, 
and  was  made  Chairman  of  the  Committee  on  Ways  and  Means, 
a  position  of  more  responsibility  than  any  other  in  the  House. 
His  reports  were  ably  prepared,  and  well  supported  on  the  floor. 
A  skillful  lawyer,  well  acquainted  with  the  forms  of  proceeding, 
he  was  at  all  times  a  prominent  man  in  any  deliberative  body  in 
which  he  took  part,  whether  in  the  Legislature  or  in  political  con- 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  435 

ventions.  In  fact,  he  was  very  sagacious,  and  self-reliant,  so  much 
so  that  he  generally  brought  forward  any  measure,  and  advanced 
any  opinion  that  suited  him,  without  consultation  with  others.  In 
this  respect  he  was  sometimes  prudent,  and  sometimes  rash.  Of 
the  latter  disposition,  a  noted  example  may  suffice.  While  the 
war  was  raging,  and  the  Southern  people  were  straining  every 
nerve  to  support  the  cause,  Mr.  Gayle,  believing  that  President 
Lincoln  was  the  author  of  all  this  mischief  and  suffering,  offered 
a  reward  of  one  million  dollars  in  Confederate  money  to  any  per 
son  who  would  destroy  the  monster,  as  he  considered  him,  and 
thus  put  an  end  to  the  frightful  atrocities  committed  through  his 
influence.  It  was  a  mere  fancy,  intended  to  convey  his  opinion 
of  the  man,  without  the  least  idea  or  expectation  that  any  person 
would  attempt  to  execute  such  a  daring  and  hazardous  deed.  Sev 
eral  years  thereafter,  Mr.  Lincoln  was  assassinated  by  a  Nortiiern 
tragedian,  who  acted  the  part  of  Brutus  at  Ford's  Theatre  in 
Washington,  from  his  own  impulses,  without  ever  having  seen  or 
heard  of  the  published  offer  of  Mr.  Gayle.  But  in  the  course  of 
time,  after  the  Southern  people  were  subjugated,  and  placed  at 
the  mercy  of  District  Commanders,  with  bayonet  in  hand  to  pun 
ish  disloyalty,  Mr.  Gayle  was  arrested  on  the  charge  of  conspiracy 
to  assassinate  the  President.  The  proceeding  against  him  was 
simply  ridiculous,  and  after  some  military  bluster,  and  talk  of  a 
Court-Martial,  he  was  discharged  without  a  trial. 

In  early  life,  Mr.  Gayle  married  Miss  Kornegay,  a  niece  of 
Hon.  William  R.  King,  and  thus  added  to  his  influence  and  pros 
pects  by  the  strong  family  connection.  President  Jackson  ap 
pointed  him  United  States  Attorney  for  the  Southern  District  of 
Alabama.  His  brother,  Billups  Gayle,  Esq.,  was  for  a  long  time 
Cashier  of  tjie  Branch  Bank  at  Mobile,  and  gave  him  the  benefit 
of  his  patronage. 

After  serving  through  the  session  of  1845,  Mr.  Gayle  retired 
from  public  life ;  but  has  since  frequently  been  in  Conventions  of 
the  Democratic  party,  generally  as  a  leader  in  settling  platforms, 
and  in  engineering  a»particular  policy  through  the  necessary  forms 
of  indorsement.  He  is  a  gentleman  of  kind  heart,  and  warmly 
social  with  his  friends.  He  resides  at  Selma,  the  "Bluff  City," 
and  probably  unites  the  two  characters  of  lawyer  and  planter  with 
fair  success. 

DE.  JAMES  GUILD,  of  Tuskaloosa,  came  to  Alabama  from  Ten 
nessee,  and  was  a  brother  of  Judge  Joseph  C.  Guild,  of  Lawrence 
county  in  that  State,  a  leading  member  of  the  bar,  and  a  Demo 
crat.  In  their  political  opinions,  the  two  brothers  coincided. 

Dr.  Guild  had  served  in  the  Legislature  several  years  before 
1845,  when  he  was  elected  to  the  House  in  place  of  the  Hon. 


436  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

Lincoln  Clark,  who  had  resigned  his  seat  on  being  appointed 
Judge  of  the  Circuit  Court.  His  solid  talents  and  experience 
gave  him  a  prominent  rank  among  the  business  members,  although 
he  seldom  shared  in  the  discussions  on  the  floor,  restrained  more 
by  the  modesty  of  his  character,  than  any  want  of  speaking 
capacity. 

After  settling  in  Tuskaloosa,  when  a  young  man,  Dr.  Guild 
married  a  daughter  of  Judge  M.  D.  Williams,  who  was  the  can 
didate  for  Governor  in  opposition  to  Gov.  Bibb,  in  1819,  and 
received  a  very  respectable  popular  vote. 

With  fine  qualifications  as  a  physician,  Dr.  Guild  has  had  a 
large  and  successful  practice  throughout  a  long  professional  life. 
No  man  is  more  respected  for  his  virtues,  and  honorable  charac 
ter.  He  still  resides  in  Tuskaloosa,  having  .long  set  a  Christian 
example  before  his  fellow-men,  by  connecting  himself  with  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  Advanced  age  has  somewhat  im 
paired  his  faculties  for  usefulness. 

Twenty  years  afterward,  Dr.  Guild  joined  in  a  report  which 
had  been  referred  to  a  Committee  of  the  Senate,  to  be  found  on 
the  Journal  for  1865,  page  114: 

Mr.  Foster,  from  the  Committee  on  the  Insane  Asylum,  to  which  was  referred 
the  annual  report  of  the  Trustees  of  said  institution,  reported — 

That  no  legislation  on  the  subject  could  be  of  any  practical  value,  because  the 
State  has  no  means  on  hand  which  can  be  applied  to  the  use  of  that  institution  at 
this  time.  They  recommend  that  the  report  be  spread  upon  the  Journal. 

The  report  was  concurred  in. 

ANNUAL  REPORT. 

To  the  Governor  of  the  State  of  Alabama : 

The  Trustees  of  the  Insane  Hospital  respectfully  submit  to  your  Excellency  the 
following  brief  report : 

There  has  been  admitted  in  the  Hospital,  since  its  opening,  in  July,  18G1,  177 
patients : 

Discharged,  cured 54  patients. 

Discharged,  improved 23        " 

Eloped 6 

Died 38 

Keinaining  under  treatment 56        " 

The  Hospital  has  been  ably  managed  by  its  resident  officers,  although  its  pro 
gress  has  been  much  curtailed,  and  was  completely  arrested,  by  the  inability  of 
the  State  and  county  authorities  to  pay  the  board  of  the  indigent  patients.  Since 
last  January,  no  money  has  been  received  from  any  public  source  (Mobile  county 
except ed),  and  the  Trustees  have  been  compelled  to  close  the  doors  of  the  institu 
tion  against  numbers  of  persons  clamorous  for  admission,  and  even  to  dismiss  such 
of  the  patients  as  could  safely  be  returned  to  the  delinquent  counties.  This  will 
account  for  the  large  number  of  discharges,  and  the  comparatively  small  number 
of  patients  at  present  under  treatment. 

An  appropriation,  contingent  upon  the  sale  of  State  bonds  bearing  six  per  cent, 
interest,  to  be  held  at  not  less  than  par,  was  made  by  the  last  Convention,  and  the 
present  Legislature  was  instructed  by  that  body  to  grant  such  additional  aid  as 
might  become  necessary  to  keep  the  institution  in  effectual  operation.  You  need 
hardly  be  reminded  that  nothing  has  yet  been  accomplished,  and  the  appropria 
tion  has  n°t  been  realized. 


Reminiscmecs  of  PuMie,  Men  in  Alabama.  437 

As  your  Excellency  can  testify,  the  Trustees  have  not  failed,  on  every  possible 
occasion,  to  present  this  important  matter  in  its  strongest  light.  In  its  capac 
ity  for  usefulness,  and  in  reputation,  this  Hospital  is  second  to  none  In  the 
South.  It  is  free  from  debt  not  more  than  covered  by  credits,  and  if  the  latter 
were  available,  no  special  aid  would  now  be  required. 

Impressed  with  a  due  sense  of  the  great  interests  at  State,  both  in  a  moral  and 
pecuniary  aspect,  the  Trustees  feel,  in  view  of  the  responsibility  imposed  upon 
them  as  Christian  men  and  officers  of  the  State,  that  they  will  have  done  their 
whole  duty  when  they  frankly  declare  that,  unless  the  promised  aid  is  promptly 
rendered,  the  functions  of  the  institution  must  cease,  and  its  helpless  inmates 
driven  from  its  doors  into  the  streets  of  Tuskaloosa.  Than  such  an  issue,  it  were 
better  the  God-like  instincts  that  prompted  the  enterprise  had  never  been  called 
into  action.  We  remain,  very  respectfully, 

11EUHEN  SEARCY,  President, 
15.  MANLY. 
JAMES  GUILD, 

Resident  Trustees. 
Tuskaloosa,  Nov.  1805. 

DR.  J.  H.  HASTIE,  of  Baldwin,  was  a  Whig  of  intelligence  and 
large  reading,  not  only  in  politics,  but  in  the  general  literature  of 
the  day.  Without  attempting  any  particular  display  of  his  abili 
ties  upon  the  floor,  he  attended  closely  upon  the  sittings  of  the 
House,  and  watched  its  proceedings,  so  that  he  might  be  prepared 
to  vote  imderstandingly  on  all  questions.  His  finely  cultivated 
taste,  and  high  position  in  the  social  circles  of  Mobile,  brought  him 
much  in  society  at  Tuskaloosa,  where  he  was  highly  esteemed  for 
his  agreeable  address,  and  gifts  in  conversation.  He  still  resides 
in  Baldwin  county. 

JOHN  J.  HOLLY,  of  Tallapoosa,  was  first  a  member  of  the 
House  in  1838,  and  reflected  in  1839.  For  a  period  of  twenty 
years,  with  occasional  intervals,  he  has  served  in  the  Legislature; 
in  1845,  with  his  colleague,  Dr.  Kimball,  and  closing  with  the  ses 
sion  of  1859-'60. 

Mr.  Holly  was  from  Georgia,  and  was  much  attached  to  the  legal 
forms  of  that  State,  such  as  Justices  Courts,  special  juries,  and  the 
law  as  laid  down  in  Prince's  Digest.  He  was  an  apt  scholar  in 
learning  the  drift  of  legislation  in  Alabama,  and  soon  made  himself 
useful  as  a  business  member,  without  pretending  to  shine  in  de 
bate,  though  he  took  the  floor  when  necessary  to  explain  any  fa 
vorite  measure.  He  has  had  a  long  career  of  success  before  the 
people,  and  in  his  palmy  days  was  accounted  one  of  the  best  elec- 
tioneerer  s  in  the  State,  in  the  rough  and  tumble  line,  although  he 
seldom  made  a  speech  in  form.  But,  turn  him  loose  in  a  crowd  of 
men,  and  if  there  was  any  laugh  in  them,  it  was  sure  to  make 
itself  heard.  He  was  a  Democrat. 

CRAWFORD  M.  JACKSON,  of  Autauga,  was  a  Brigadier-General 
of  militia,  and  was  a  son  of  James  Jackson,  Esq.,  who  came  from 


438  Reminiscences  of  PMic  Men  in  Alabama. 

Georgia  to  the  Alabama  Territory,  and  was  a  delegate  to  the  Con 
vention  which  formed  the  State  Constitution  in  1819.  He  was  a 
brother  of  Absalom  Jackson,  Esq.,  a  citizen  and  planter  of  merit, 
in  Autauga  county. 

Gen.  Jackson  first  served  in  the  House  in  1843,  and  again  in 
1844,  1845,  1855,  and  1857.  At  the  latter  session  he  was  unani 
mously  elected  Speaker  of  the  House,  a  position  for  which  he  was 
qualified  by  experience,  and  by  his  knowledge  of  parliamentary 
law.  In  his  Legislative  career  he  displayed  a  high  order  of  intel 
ligence,  and  he  retired  from  public  life  with  some  distinction  of 
character.  He  was  a  Democrat,  firm  in  his  opinions,  yet  always 
cautious  and  respectful  to  opponents.  After  he  had  maturely  in 
vestigated  a  principle,  he  adhered  to,  his  convictions. 

With  a  good  estate,  and  a  bachelor,  he  devoted  himself  to  mental 
culture,  to  general  reading,  and  to  occasional  compositions  for  the 
press,  in  which  his  style  was  chaste  and  entertaining.  As  a  neigh 
bor,  he  was  kind  and  obliging,  and  as  a  social  companion,  he  was 
highly  esteemed.  He  died  suddenly,  about  the  commencement  of 
the  war. 

B,.  T.  JOHNSTON,  of  Pickens,  received  his  education  at  the  Uni 
versity,  near  which  his  father  resided,  in  Tuskaloosa  county.  Set 
tling  in  Pickens  county  in  the  practice  of  the  law,  he  was  soon 
elected  to  the  House,  and  was  a  member,  with  occasional  inter 
missions  of  party  ascendency  for  many  years,  in  which  he  dis 
played  abilities  of  a  respectable  order.  He  took  an  active  and 
intelligent  part  in  the  proceedings  of  the  House,  and  in  the  coun 
cils  of  his  Whig  friends.  With  a  will  and  energy  founded  on 
conviction,  he  was  resolute  in  the  discharge  of  duty,  and  in  the 
pursuit  of  his  proper  interest.  He  died  in  a  few  years  after  serv 
ing  through  the  session  of  1845. 

EGBERT  J.  JONES,  of  Limestone,  was  a  young  lawyer,  raised 
and  educated  in  North- Alabama — elected  to  the  House  in  1844, 
and  again  in  1845.  This  comprises  his  legislative  record,  as  to 
duration  of  time.  He  was  for  many  years  a  member  of  the  Board 
of  Trustees  of  the  State  University. 

Mr.  Jones  was  certainly  the  most  diffident  young  man  I  ever 
knew  in  the  Legislature,  of  his  culture  and  general  intelligence. 
He  really  appeared  as  bashful  as  a  timid  young  lady.  He  had  a 
fine  person,  tall,  well  proportioned,  and  a  handsome  face,  with  a 
complexion  red  and  fresh,  the  very  picture  of  health  and  temper 
ance.  Of  course,  he  seldom  participated  in  debate,  but  in  the 
details  of  business  he  took  a  lively  interest,  and  was  fully  up  to 
the  mark  of  a  young  legislator. 

But  if  quiet  and  unobtrusive  in  the  General  Assembly,  where 


Reminiscences  of  PMic  Men  in  Alabama.  439 

talent  and  experience  often  alarm  the  diffidence  of  youth  unnec 
essarily,  there  was  a  position  in  his  subsequent  life  in  which  the 
true  merit  of  his  character,  as  a  son  of  Alabama,  was  exhibited. 
After  retiring  from  public  life,  he  prosecuted  the  practice  of  his 
profession,  and  ^developed  a  legal  character  of  no  ordinary  mould, 
whilst  he  also  became  a  man  of  mark  in  the  cultivation  of  the 
higher  moral  and  social  qualities.  In  1860,  the  writer  met  him  at 
Montgomery,  where  the  two  Conventions  had  assembled,  and 
although  we  attended  different  places  of  meeting,  I  found  him 
warm-hearted  and  friendly,  yet  fired  with  a  conviction  of  the 
rights  and  wrongs  of  the  South. 

After  the  organization  of  the  Confederate  Government,  Mr. 
Jones  volunteered  in  the  service,  and  was  elected  Colonel  of  the 
4th  Alabama  Regiment,  and  was  ordered  to  Virginia  where  he 
arrived  with  his  command  in  time  to  take  part  in  the  first  battle 
of  Manassas.  Here  he,  and  the  men  under  his  command,  distin 
guished  themselves,  and  reflected  honor  on  the  State  for  stubborn 
bravery  and  endurance  in  resisting  the  repeated  attacks  of  the 
enemy.  It  is  said  that  Col.  Jones  maintained  his  position  at  the 
head  of  his  regiment,  calm  and  determined,  until  he  was  mortally 
wounded,  and  borne  off  the  field.  He  was  a  consistent  member 
of  the  Methodist.  Episcopal  Church,  and  died  as  a  Christian;  and 
was  among  the  first  of  Alabama's  native  sons  to  offer  his  life  in 
defense  of  her  rights  and  her  honor,  when  both  were  invaded. 

ELIJAH  KET7R,  of  Benton,  came  from  South  Carolina,  and  set 
tled  in  Alabama  in  1836  where  he  has  since  resided.  He  was 
induced  to  take  a  seat  in  the  House,  in  1845;  but  his  tastes  and 
inclinations  made  him  prefer  private  life  afterward.  He  was  a 
silent,  yet  attentive  member,  in  discharging  his  legislative  duties, 
and  was  affable  in  his  intercourse  with  those  around  him.  He  is 
a  gentleman  of  solid  character,  of  respectable  intelligence,  and 
has  long  exerted  a  healthful  influence  in  his  county.  Mr.  Kerr 
is  a  Democrat,  and  a  leading  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
'Church,  South. 

AMOS  R.  MANNING,  of  Marengo,  came  into  the  House,  1845, 
it  being  his  first  session  as  a  member.  He  was  a  lawyer,  well 
versed  in  business  details,  intelligent  and  industrious,  and  contrib 
uted  no  little  by  his  ready  attention  Jand  ability,  to  the  dispatch  of 
the  public  business.  A  fluent  speaker,  always  prepared  for  the 
tilt,  he  entered  freely  into  the  discussions  on  the  floor,  and  was 
listened  to  with  attention  and  respect.  His  voice  was  agreeable, 
and  his  style  that  of  a  scholar.  His  arguments  were  always  marked 
with  ability. 

In  1849,  Mr.  Maiming  was  returned  to  the  Senate,  where  he 


440  Reminiscences  of  PuUw  Men  in  Alabama. 

served  through  a  term  of  four  years,  in  which  time,  with  en 
larged  experience,  his  usefulness  as  a  legislator  increased.  After 
this,  he  removed  to  Mobile  where  he  has  since  resided,  engaged 
in  the  practice  of  the  law.  He  belonged  to  the  Whig  party,  but 
was  tolerant  in  his  feelings,  and  a  social,  pleasant  gentleman  in 
society,  relaxing  at  times  into  the  pleastantries  and  anecdotes  of 
the  familiar  circle.  If  I  mistake  not,  Mr.  Manning  is  a  native  of 
Alabama. 

THOMAS  M.  PETERS,  of  Lawrence,  graduated  at  the  University 
of  Alabama,  in  the  class  of  1834,  with  C.  C.  Clay,  Jr.,  of  Madison, 
and  Walter  H.  Crenshaw,  of  Butler,  both  of  whom  have  acquired 
distinction  in  the  public;  service. 

Mr.  Peters  took  his  seat  in  the  House  for  the  first  time,  in  1845, 
was  a  Whig,  entirely  self-possessed,  sensible,  and  fond  of  taking 
part  in  the  debates  as  they  occurred.  In  1847,  he  was  elected  to 
the  Senate  from  Lawrence  and  AValkcr,  and  in  this  body  preserved 
his  character  for  speech  making,  as  well  as  that  for  general  intelli 
gence.  He  was  rather  a  strong  man  intellectually,  though  he  was 
a  little  impatient  when  a  leading  rank  was  not  accorded  to  him. 

After  serving  through  his  term  in  the  Senate,. Mr.  Peters  re 
mained  in  private  life,  in  the  practice  of  the  law,  until  the  reor 
ganization  of  parties  under  the  reconstruction  policy  of  Congress, 
when  he  allied  himself  with  the  Republican,  or  Radical  party; 
and  through  the  influence  of  the  bayonet,  or  during  the  bayonet 
rule,  he  was  elected  a  delegate  to  the  Convention  to  form  the 
Constitution  under  which  the  people  of  Alabama  are  now  living. 
He  was  the  nominee  of  the  Radical  party  for  a  seat  upon  the 
Bench  of  the  Supreme  Court,  and,  under  the  rule  then  predom 
inating,  obtained  it,  and  now  sits  upon  the  Bench  from  which  the 
law  has  been  expounded  in  other  days  by  such  men  as  Goldthwaite, 
Collier,  Ormond,  Chilton,  Dargan,  and  others  of  equal  merit. 

JAMES  R.  POWELL,  of  Coosa,  is  a  native  of  Virginia,  and,  in 
his  seventeenth  year  came  to  Alabama,  in  1833,  in  quest  of  for 
tune.  His  education  was  respectable,  and  he  assisted  a  while  in 
the  teachers'  department  of  an  academy  in  Lowndes  county.  He 
was  buoyant  with  hope  and  industry.  After  he  had  laid  the  foun 
dation  for  business,  he  sent  for  his  father,  Col.  Addison  Powell,  a 
Virginia  gentleman  of  the  olden  time,  and  the  family  removed  to 
Montgomery,  where  they  kept  a  hotel  under  the  firm  of  Addison 
Powell  &  Son.  The  father  died  in  a  few  years.  His  widow,  the 
mother  of  James  R.  Powell,  a  lady  of  culture  and  amiable  char 
acter,  lived  many  years  thereafter,  raising  a  family.  A  career  of 
great  enterprise  and  success  was  soon  opened  to  the  son. 

In  1845,  he  was  elected  to  the  House  from  Coosa  county,  with 
his  colleague  Col.  Howell  Rose,  both  gentlemen  of  ability.  Being 


of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  441 

deeply  interested,  in  common  with  their  constituents,  in  the  re 
moval  of  the  Seat  of  Government  to  Wetumpka,  they  applied 
themselves  diligently  to  this  enterprise,  and  obtained  a  very  re 
spectable  support  for  their  town,  as  may  be  seen  by  the  table  of 
ballots  in  another  place  in  this  volume. 

Col.  Powell  was  a  shrewd,  practical  man,  and  often  addressed 
the  House  in  a  brief,  but  very  sensible  manner,  in  behalf  of  or 
against  any  measure,  as  he  might  think  proper,  and  as  his  judg 
ment  dictated.  He  was  very  active  and  useful  on  Committees, 
and  in  the  general  dispatch  of  the  public  business.  His  suggest 
ions  always  denoted  a  closely  observing  mind,  and  a  rare  degree 
of  penetration. 

In  1853,  he  was  nominated  for  the  Senate  by  the  Democrats, 
and  was  elected.  He  served  that  session,  and  through  the  session 
of  1855,  when  he  retired  from  the  Legislature.  In  the  meantime 
he  had  become  extensively  interested  in  mail  contracts,  which, 
through  great  energy  and  skillful  management,  proved  a  source 
of  revenue  to  him.  At  the  close  of  his  Senatorial  term,  he  made 
Montgomery  the  seat  of  his  financial  operations,  and  he  lias  since 
resided  in  that  city,  with  ample  means  at  his  command,  and  a 
large  property  to  reward  his  toils. 

Col.  Powell  traveled  extensively  in  Europe  during  the  year 
1870,  and  wrote  several  letters  which  were  published  in  the  Mont 
gomery  papers,  giving  a  very  interesting  description  of  the  places 
of  note  which  he  had  visited,  with  a  variety  of  observations  show 
ing  faculties  as  a  writer  and  a  thinker,  which  do  him  much  credit. 
He  well  deserves  the  prosperity  for  which  he  has  so  diligently 
labored,  and  which  will  render  the  evening  of  life  agreeable  and 
comfortable. 

But  the  greatest  enterprise  in  the  way  of  building  up  cities, 
mining  and  manufacturing  establishments  in  the  South,  is  that  of 
the  Ely  ton  Land  Company,  with  the  new  city  of  Birmingham  as 
its  center,  which  originated  with  Col.  Powell.  As  data  upon 
which  the  future  may  be  calculated  from  the  resources  brought  to 
light,  several  letters  are  here  reproduced,  the  first  from  the 
'^Montgomery  Advertiser/7  dated: 

BIRMINGHAM,  April  3d,  1872. 

Editors  Advertiser — 1  have  seen  several  letters  of  late  from  this  place,  in  which 
great  surprise  is  expressed  at  the  rapid  growth  of  Birmingham,  and  in  which  a 
faint  description  of  its  improvements  is  given.  But,  Messrs.  Editors,  the  truth  is 
the  writers  were  afraid  to  tell  the  whole,  for  fear  of  taxing  the  credulity  of  their 
readers  to  too  great  an  extent.  The  half  has  not  been  told;  and  when  we  come  to 
minutely  examine  the  surroundings,  there  is  no  cause  for  surprise. 

Atlanta,  before  the  war,  had  no  advantage  of  Birmingham  in  point  of  railroad 
facilities.  Upon  the  completion  of  the  South  and  North  Railroad,  Birmingham 
will  be  accessible  to  the  great  cities  of  the  Northwest,  having  a  direct  communica 
tion  with  Louisville,  Nashville,  Memphis,  Cincinnati  and  Chicago.  It  now  has 
connection  by  the  Alabama  &  Chattanooga  Railroad,  via  Chattanooga,  with  Rich- 


442  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

mond,  Washington,  Baltimore,  Philadelphia  and  New  York ;  and  via  Meridian, 
with  Mobile  and  New  Orleans ;  and  via  Montgomery,  with  the  Atlantic  ports  at 
Savannah  and  Brunswick.  This  much  Atlanta  also  had,  and  no  more.  In  addition 
to  all  these,  Birmingham  has  rich  and  fertile  agricultural  lands  around  it,  and  the 
first  mineral  country  in  the  world.  The  beds  of  coal,  iron  and  lime  that  surround 
it  are  simply  inexhaustible.  Enterprising  men  from  the  North  are  being  daily 
attracted  to  Birmingham  by  the  wonderful  stories  told  of  its  great  wealth,  now 
buried  in  the  bowels  of  the  earth.  When  once  on  the  spot,  they  find  themselves 
spell-bound  by  the  superior  quality  and  quantity  of  the  ores,  and  they  at  once 
resolve  to  invest.  Yet  Atlanta,  which  twenty-five  years  ago  was  a  mere  wilder 
ness,  is  now  a  growing  city  of  thirty-five  or  forty  thousand  inhabitants.  I  remem 
ber  well,  as  you  doubtless  do,  Messrs.  Editors,  the  contemptuous  remarks  and 
sneers  made  at  the  predictions  about  Atlanta,  and  even  now  there  are  those  who 
will  not  believe  Atlanta  anything  more  than  a  mushroom  town — for, 


"Convince  a  fool  against  his  will, 
He'll  be  of  the  same  opinion  still." 


So  it  is  with  Birmingham ;  but  let  any  one  who  doubts,  come  and  see  for  him 
self,  and  like  the  writer,  though  his  expectations  may  run  high,  he  will  neverthe 
less  be  surprised.  A  little  more  than  seven  months  ago,  the  site  of  Birmingham 
was  a  cotton-field.  There  was  not  a  hut  upon  the  place.  When  the  founder,  the 
indefatigable  and  enterprising  Col.  Powell  (the  present  Duke),  with  his  surveyor, 
Mr.  Parker,  and  his  clerk,  Mr.  Milner,  landed  at  Birmingham  to  lay  off  the 
streets,  they  were  compelled  to  go  into  camps.  On  the  8th  of  August,  1871,  the 
foundation  for  the  first  house  was  laid,  and  on  the  29th  of  August  it  was  ready 
for  use.  On  the  19th  of  December  thereafter,  the  city  was  incorporated  by  the 
Alabama  Legislature,  (application  having  been  made  only  three  weeks  before,)  and 
a  Mayor  and  City  Council  were  immediately  elected.  Col.  R.  H.  Henly,  a  talented 
young  lawyer,  and  the  editor  of  the  "Sun,"  has  the  honor  of  being  the  first 
Mayor  of  this  promising  young  city. 

There  are  now  over  300  buildings,  80  framed  storehouses,  20  brick  stores  and 
houses  two  and  three  stories  high,  and  40  brick  stores  under  contract,  and  to  be 
built  this  summer.  There  are  also  two  planing  mills,  and  sash  and  blind  factories, 
two  grist  mills,  one  cotton  factory,  (being  built,)  one  foundry  and  machine  shop, 
two  hotels,  five  restaurants,  ten  boarding-houses,  one  Episcopal  Church,  eight 
brick-yards,  two  lime-kilns,  three  stone  quarries,  two  butcher  pens,  six  physcians, 
six  lawyers,  two  newspapers,  two  job  printing  offices,  one  livery  stable,  three 
blacksmith  and  wagon  shops,  two  paint  stores,  two  news  depots,  five  bar  and  bil 
liard  saloons,  three  hardware  stores,  two  furniture  stores,  and  last,  but  not  least, 
aperfeet  Mohammed1  s  paradise  of  lovely  women. 

Here  are  representatives  from  all  sections  of  Alabama.  Having  a  tolerably 
extensive  acquaintance  in  the  State,  I  found  old  friends  and  acquaintances  from 
every  direction,  and  they  are  all  men  of  enterprise  and  full  of  vim.  To  give  you 
an  idea  of  how  business  is  done,  I  will  relate  an  incident  that  occurred  some 
weeks  ago.  Happening  to  be  in  Jacksonville  I  met  on  the  train,  as  I  was  leaving, 
an  old  and  valued  friend  in  the  person  of  Jim  Morris,  from  West  Point,  Ga.  After 
the  usual  salutations,  said  I,  "Jim,  where  are  you  going?  What  are  you  doing 
out  here?"  He  replied,  "I  have  heard  so  much  of  Birmingham,  that  I  have  con 
cluded  to  go  and  see  the  place  for  myself."  "Do  you  intend  to  settle  there?" 
said  I.  "Don't  know,  <may  if  I  like  it."  We  separated  and  I  heard  no  more  of 
Jim  until  yesterday,  when  walking  along  in  amazement  at  the  rapid  growth  of  the 
town,  some  one  called  to  me  from  the  opposite  side  of  the  street,  (Cor.  2d  Avenue 
and  20th  street.)  I  went  over  and  found  the  veritable  Jim.  He  had  built  a  fine 
store  room,  and  stocked  it  full  of  furniture  that  would  not  disgrace  the  magnifi 
cent  rooms  of  our  respected  and  beloved  old  friend,  Jno.  Powell.  Nor  is  this  all ; 
he  has  nearly  completed  another  two-story  store  house,  and  looks  as  jovial  and 
happy  as  he  used  to  look  while  doing  such  a  thriving  business  in  West  Point. 

I  merely  mention  this  to  illustrate  how  things  are  done  in  B- .  The  Meth 
odists,  Baptists  and  Presbyterians  are  all  making  arrangements  to  build  Churches. 
I  had  the  pleasure  of  meeting  and  spending  a  few  hours  quite  pleasantly  with. 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  443 

Father  McDonough,  of  Tuskaloosa,  who,  by  the  way,  is  one  of  the  most  talented, 
learned  and  pleasant  gentlemen  in  the  South.  He  informed  me  that  it  was  his 
intention  to  begin  work  at  an  early  day  upon  the  Catholic  Church  at  this  place, 
and  from  all  that  I  could  learn,  it  will  be  an  ornament  to  his  Church  as  well  as  to 
the  city  of  Birmingham.  It  will  have  about  100  members  to  begin  with. 

Now,  Messrs.  Editors,  these  things  being  strictly  true,  as  every  citizen  of  the 
place  will  testify,  what  may  we  not  expect  of  Birmingham,  should  the  other  con 
templated  railroads  be  built  ?  And  why  should  they  not  ? 

If  you  will  take  your  map  and  follow  me,  I  think  I  can  show  you  the  practica- 
bility/probability  and  vast  importance  of  each  and  every  one  of  these  roads.  The 
S.  &  N.  and  the  A.  &  C. 'Roads  being  already  built,  we  will  begin  with  the  Georgia 
Western  Road.  This  Road,  it  is  conceded,  will  surely  be  built.  Atlanta  is  bound, 
in  self-defense  to  build  it,  in  order  to  open  up  the  vast  fields  of  iron  and  coal  in 
N.  W.  Georgia  and  N.  E.  Alabama.  The  Road  to  West  Point,  known  as  the  West 
Point  L.  &  B.  (Narrow  Gauge)  Railroad,  I  am  assured  by  the  citizens  of  West 
Point  will  soon  be  commenced.  The  Savannah  &  Memphis  is  being  pushed  forward 
by  capitalists  at  the  North,  and  there  is  not  a  shadow  of  a  doubt  as  to  its  early 
completion.  Selma,  1  leai'n,  is  determined,  at  all  hazards,  to  have  a  direct 
communication  with  Birmingham,  by  means  of  an  air  line  road  from  Ashby,  a 
point  on  the  Selma,  Rome  &  Dalton  Railroad  a  few  miles  south  of  Montevallo. 
Mobile  will  never  allow  the  "Grand  Trunk"  to  stop  short  of  Birmingham.  Now 
comes  the  Road  of  Roads,  the  one  most  important  to  the  cities  of  Birmingham, 
Montgomery,  St.  Louis  and  Brunswick,  viz:  the  Elyton,  Corinth  &  Tennessee 
River  Railroad. 

As  you  will  readily  perceive,  this  Road  will  form  almost  an  air  line  from  St. 
Louis,  via  Birmingham  and  Montgomery,  to  Brunswick,  Ga.,  on  the  Atlantic 
Coast.  It  will  begin  at  Pittsburg  landing,  on  the  Tennessee  River,  and  run  through 
the  counties  of  Walker,  Winston,  Marion  and  Franklin  to  Birmingham  in  Jeffer 
son  county.  I  have  just  had  the  pleasure  of  meeting  Dr.  A.  M.  Johnson,  the  Sec 
retary,  an  intelligent  and  well-informed  gentleman,  who  informs  me  that  a  survey 
of  this  Road  has  been  completed  to  Birmingham.  It  passes  through  the  best  coal 
regions  of  Alabama,  as  yet  untouched,  and  will  place  Montgomery  in  as  direct  com 
munication  with  St.  Louis  as  it  will  shortly  be  with  Louisville.  It  will  therefore 
give  us  two  outlets  to  the  great  North-west. 

This  Road,  shortening  the  distance,  as  it  does,  from  St.  Louis  to  the  Atlantic 
Coast,  at  Brunswick,  Ga.,  by  80  miles  or  more,  will  afford  us  the  great  desideratum 
of  our  people,  viz :  direct  communication  with  Europe.  It  will  opon  to  us  the 
immense  cribs  and  meat  houses  of  the  Queen  City  of  the  West,  where  we  can  deal 
with  friends  and  sympathizers.  When  this  matter  is  properly  viewed  by  our  own 
citizens,  and  the  citizens  of  St.  Louis,  Brunswick  and  other  places  equally  inter 
ested,  I  am  forced  to  believe  that  this  important  Road  will  be  speedily  built.  It  is 
a  matter  in  which  Montgomery  is  or  should  be  deeply  interested,  because  this  road 
will  afford  two  sources  from  which  to  draw  her  supplies,  instead  of  one  as  now. 

I  have  made  this  letter  much  longer  than  I  intended  when  I  started,  but  1  can 
not  even  yet  find  my  consent  to  conclude  it  without  paying  a  deserved  tribute  to 
the  noble,  patriotic  and  energetic  citizens  of  Jefferson  county,  and  especially  those 
of  Elyton  and  Birmingham.  They  are  the  men  and  women  who  truly  "constitute 
a  State,"  who  always  have  been  and  always  will  be  its  chief  ornament  and  support. 

The  second  letter  is  from  Col.  Powell  himself,  published  in  the 
"Corinth  (Miss.)  Ledger,"  addressed  to  the  Hon.  J.  F.  Arnold, 
President  of  the  E.  C.  &  Tenn.  E.  R.?  dated— 

BIRMINGHAM,  ALA.,  April  4,  1872. 

MY  DEAR  SIR:  Your  favor  of  23d  of  March  received,  contents  noted,  and  I 
hasten  to  reply. 

Dr.  Johnson  is  here  doing  good  work  for  your  enterprise,  which  I  consider  the 
greatest  work  now  in  contemplation  in  the  South,  in  connecting  this  country,  by  a 
short  line  railroad,  to  St.  Louis  and  the  Northwest.  In  a  political  aspect,  it  is 


444  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

admirable  to  contemplate  the  advantages  of  identifying  the  Queen  City  of  thd 
West  with  the  heart  of  the  South  by  the  shortest  practicable  railroad  line  con 
necting  with  deep  water  navigation  at  Pittsburg  Landing,  on  the  Tennessee  River 
It  is  interesting  to  see  a  down-trodden  people,  as  we  are,  so  much  excited  in  en 
couraging  the  rivalry  of  St.  Louis  in  her  contest  with  New  York  for  financial  an< 
commercial  supremacy,  which,  in  time,  she  must  obtain,  when  the  great  Missis 
sippi  Valley  is  populated  by  her  unborn  millions.     We  crave  to  cement  ourselve 
with  the  Queen  City  of  the  West,  and  help  her  to  become  the  political  metropoli 
of  the  United  States,  as  well  as  the  financial  and  commercial  metropolis  of  this 
continent ;  and  she  has  only  to  sti'etch  forth  her  arms  with  her  mighty  power,  and 
take  us  into  her  embraces  and  relieve  us  from  that  fostering  protection  which  has 
well  nigh  destroyed  us.     We  want  free  intercommunication  with  a  people  who 
sympathize  with  with  us  in  our  political  afflictions,  which  have  been  more  oppres 
sive  since  the  war  than  the  war  itself. 

Before  St.  Louis  can  build  this  great  railroad  from  Pittsburg  Landing  (160 
miles)  to  Birmington,  there  will  be  completed  railroads  from  this  place  to  Atlanta, 
Georgia,  to  Opelika  and  Savannah,  to  Mobile  and  Pennsacola,  (the  roads  to  Mont 
gomery,  Chattanooga,  Tennessee,  and  Meridian  being  already  finished). 

The  Savannah  and  Memphis  being  in  fact  a  part  of  your  line,  you  will  have 
free  and  direct  communication  with  Savannah  and  Brunswick,  from  one  or  both  of 
which  should  be  established  mail,  passenger  and  freight  steamers  to  Europe,  as 
are  now  enjoyed  by  New  York.  Thus  St.  Louis  will  be  placed  in  quick  communi 
cation  with  the  South,  and  direct  communication  with  Europe,  by  which  she  will 
be  able  to  supply  the  whole  South  and  West  on  as  good  terms  as  New  York  can  do. 

Our  city  is  progressing  well,  and  all  we  need  now  to  give  additional  impetus  to 
investments  in  foundries  and  machine  shops,  is  the  construction  of  competing 
lines  of  transportation  to  authorize  large  investments.  We,  at  Birmingham,  rely 
with  great  confidence  upon  your  route  to  supply  us  with  cheap  food,  to  feed  the 
millions  who,  in  the  course  of  years,  will  be  required  to  work  on  the  minerals  of 
this  favored  locality.  To  say  nothing  of  other  minerals,  such  as  marble,  slate, 
etc.,  the  inexhaustible  abundance  of  coal  and  iron,  limestone  and  sandstone — all 
indispensible  elements  in  making  iron — and  all  n  close  proximity  and  in  greater 
abundance  here  than  in  any  other  locality  in  the  world,  makes  it  peculiarly  appro- 
paiate  that  we  should  be  closely  identified  with  the  granaries  and  meat-houses  of 
the  great  Northwest,  by  which  we  can  exchange  our  commodities  with  such  recip 
rocal  advantages;  when,  with  iron  and  coal  in  such  abundance,  and  all  the  ele 
ments  at  hand  to  make  cheap  iron,  and  enough  to  supply  the  workshops  and 
laborers  of  the  world  through  two  or  three  centuries,  how  can  we  limit  the  popu 
lation  of  this  country,  when  we  will  be  able  to  get  food  from  the  Northwest  as 
cheaply  as  at  St.  Louis  prices,  adding  transportation,  four  hundred  miles  by  water 
and  one  hundred  and  sixty  miles  by  land,  which  small  additional  cost  to  the  la 
borer  in  the  item  of  food  is  more  than  compensated  by  the  use  of  less  fuel  and 
cheaper  and  less  expensive  clothing  and  winter  goods,  to  say  nothing  of  the  greater 
number  of  days  in  which  labor  can  be  performed  in  this  genial  and  healthful  cli 
mate  than  in  latitudes  frozen  four  or  five  months  in  the  year. 

You  will  be  surprised  to  know  that  in  three  months  and  twenty  days  after  our 
first  house  was  built,  Birmingham  was  incorporated  a  city,  on  the  lUth  of  Decem 
ber  last,  with  twelve  hundred  inhabitants,  and  forty-eight  large  stores,  eighteen 
of  which  are  two  story  brick.  Now  we  have  four  hundred  houses,  among  which 
are  one  hundred  and  fifty  dwellings,  many  of  these  first  class,  eighteen  brick  and 
two  stone  stores,  two  and  three  stories  high ;  eighty  framed  stores,  one  large  hotel 
and  livery  stable,  ten  boarding  houses,  five  restaurants,  one  foundry  and  machine 
shop,  three  blacksmith  shops,  two  planing  mills  and  sash  and  blind  factories,  two 
grist  mills,  one  cotton  factory  commenced  and  parties  at  the  North  engaged  in  buy 
ing  the  machinery,  besides  about  two  hundred  good  class  houses,  many  of  them 
brick,  now  under  contract  to  be  built  this  year.  All  the  buildings  and  enterprises 
mentioned  above  are  finished  and  in  successful  operation,  except  the  foundry  and 
machine  shop,  which  is  not  yet  commenced — the  lots  are  engaged  for  that  pur 
pose.  Nine  brick-yards  are  now  employed  actively  in  making  brick,  under  a  con 
tract  to  make  each  a  million  of  brick,  to  be  sold  at  not  more  than  seven  dollars 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabmna.  445 

jper  thousand,  and  will  probably  make  each  two  millions — the  Elyton  Land  Com 
pany  agreeing  to  furnish  the  land  and  wood  free  of  charge  for  that  purpose,  to 
Insure  cheap  brick  to  builders.  Lime-kilns  are  in  successful  operation,  affording 
abundance  of  excellent  lime  on  the  premises,  and  several  quarries  of  rock  are 
opened,  which  give  choice  to  builders  to  use  that  material  instead  of  brick. 

In  short,  we  are  a  live  people  in  Birmingham,  without  any  connection  with  the 
Northwest,  which  we  soon  hope  to  have,  by  the  South  £  North  Alabama  Ilailroa'd, 
to  Louisville,  Cincinnati  and  Chicago ;  and  live  in  hope  to  have  direct  connection 
with  the  Queen  City  of  the  West,  that  she  may  exchange  her  breadstuffs  and  other 
supplies  with  the  prospective  and  natural  Queen  City  of  the  South  for  her  iron 
and  coal. 

You  observe  that  this  subject  swells  into  such  proportions  that  it  is  difficult  to 
conclude  a  letter  when  you  attempt  to  handle  it. 

You  will,  however,  excuse  me  for  trespassing  upon  your  time,  and  hoping  to 
see  you  soon,  I  am  truly  your  friend,  J.  11.  POWELL. 

The  third  letter  is  also  from  Col.  Powell,  as  President  of  the 
Elyton  Land  Company,  addressed  to  John  M.  Caldwell,  Indian 
apolis,  Indiana,  and  published  in  the  "Indianapolis  Sentinel/7  as 
follows : 

OFFICE  OF  ELYTON  LAND  COMPANY,  | 
BIRMINGHAM,  ALA.,  April  L'8,  1872.      j 

MY  DKAR  SIR:  Yours  of  the  17th  instant  received,  asking  me  to  "give  you  my 
views  on  this  section  of  Alabama  in  reference  to  its  mineral  advantages."  I  shall 
be  very  glad  to  see  you  located  in  this  favorable  locality — Jones'  Valley — favored 
because  of  its  wonderful  developments  of  minerals — coal,  iron  slate,  marble,  and 
lead.  Those  minerals,  the  sources  of  great  wealth  to  a  country,  including  sand 
stone  and  limestone,  are  in  inexhaustible  quantities  in  this  valley. 

Here,  according  to  the  united  testimony  of  every  iron  master  from  the  principal 
works  of  Europe  and  America,  (and  we  have  had  their  representatives  here)  iron 
can  be  made  more  cheaply  than  in  any  other  locality,  because  all  the  elements 
which  make  iron  arc  in  such  close  proximity,  and  in  exhaustless  abundance. 

This  locality  must  surely  be  the  Birmingham  of  America.  Railroads  permeat 
ing  the  cotton  belt  of  Georgia,  Alabama,  Florida  and  Mississippi  are  being  built, 
and  in  rapid  progress  of  construction  to  this  point,  while,  during  this  year,  our 
direct  railroad  connections  will  be  complete,  via  Decatur,  Alabama,  with  Louis 
ville,  Kentucky,  and  the  markets  of  the  Northwest. 

The  new  and  young  city  of  Birmingham,  named  for  its  renowned  predecessor 
in  England,  is  situate'!  at  the  intersection  of  all  these  railroads,  and  in  the  heart 
of  the  coal  and  iron  region  of  the  State,  in  a  high  and  healthy  latitude,  with  soil 
and  climate  suitable  for  all  the  grasses  and  cereals  grown  in  the  most  favored 
localities  of  Tennessee  and  Kentucky. 

All  articles  made  of  iron,  and  used  in  the  Southern,  Southwestern,  Northern, 
and  Northwestern  States,  ought  to  be  more  cheaply  made  here  than  any  point 
in  the  Union.  It  is  here  that  the  raw  material  required  can  be  most  cheaply  ob 
tained.  Here  can  the  fuel  be  bought  to  be  used  in  the  manufacture  of  iron  at  a 
less  cost  than  at  any  other  point  where  ore  and  labor  needed  can  mingle  in  the 
production.  The  labor,  too,  can  be  had  at  less  r;ttes  than  in  any  other  locality. 
When  it  is  domiciled  here,  and  provision  for  its  support  can  be  got  into  cheap  and 
expeditious  channels,  we  presume  no  one  will  dispute  this.  With  direct  railroad 
communication  with  Louisville  during  the  present  year,  and  direct  rail  communi 
cation  with  St.  Louis,  which  is  in  contemplation,  the  difference  in  cost  of  living  at 
Birmingham  and  at  Louisville  or  St.  Louis,  will  only  be  the  difference  in  the  cost 
of  transportation  of  breadstuffs  by  competing  lines  of  transportation,  which  will 
be  more  than  compensated  by  cheap  rents,  cheaper  and  less  heavy  clothing, 
cheaper  and  less  fuel,  with  the  advantage  of  having  every  day  in  the  year  utilized 
in  work,  while  in  frozen  regions  three  or  four  months  of  every  year  are  compar 
atively  lost  by  the  rigidity  of  the  climate. 


446      .        Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

The  intelligent  and  well-informed  will  need  no  array  of  facts  as  to  the  cost  of 
ore,  coal,  labor,  etc.,  at  this  point,  as  compared  with  others  that  may  become  our 
rivals  in  manufacturing.  Nor  will  it  be  necessary  to  call  attention  to  facilities  for 
distribution  by  rail  to  a  larger  extent  of  country  than  can  be  reached  in  a  few 
years  from  any  other  locality  on  equal  terms.  A  glance  at  the  maps  will  be 
needed  only  to  show  the  extensive  region  we  ought  to  supply. 

'  To  become  the  Birmingham  of  the  United  States,  we  have  only  to  harmonize 
these  advantages,  and  develop  into  practiced  utility  the  resources  at  our  disposal. 
Then  what?  What  factories  ought  we  to  have?  Every  variety  requisite  for  the 
making  of  every  article  of  a  metalic  character.  There  should  be,  and  doubtless 
will  be,  extensive  manufactories  here  of  every  article,  from  the  largest  steam  en 
gines,  hydraulic  presses,  or  crystal  palaces,  down  to  the  smallest  toy,  pin  or 
needle. 

With  a  rapidly  increasing  population  estimated  at  four  hundred  tliousand, 
being  double  the  number  of  inhabitants  when  I  visited  it  in  1866,  Birmingham, 
England,  produces  annually  nearly  £5,000,000  worth  of  manufactured  articles. 
This  amount,  in  our  money,  would  be  equal  to  $25,000,000,  a  colossal  sum  to  be 
distributed  to  four  hundred  thousand  inhabitants,  or  to — allowing  one  man  for 
every  five  of  population — each  man  over  $3,000  a  year.  If  one-fifth  of  this  be 
the  profit,  or  production*  from  labor,  it  will  be  giving  every  man  in  that  city  six 
hundred  dollars  per  annum  as  the  net  proceeds  or  return  from  the  manufacturing 
alone.  It  would  be  an  interesting  subject  for  investigation  to  estimate  the  amount 
that  this  city,  the  American  Birmingham,  would  receive  per  annum,  when  her 
railroad  system  shall  be  further  advanced,  in  supplying  the  country  tributary  to 
her  commerce  and  trade,  and  legitimately  within  the  scope  of  her  transportations, 
at  less  rates  than  it  can  be  supplied  for  from  any  other  point. 

With  proper  effort,  the  time  is  not  far  distant  when  all  metalic  articles,  as  well 
as  those  into  which  wood  and  iron  mingle,  will  be  made  here,  whether  of  gold, 
silver,  brass,  steel,  or  of  the  hard  lumber  so  easily  obtained  at  this  point. 

In  maturer  years,  we  will  make  engines,  presses,  fire-arms,  swords,  jewelry, 
Japanned  articles,  ornaments,  hardware  and  cutlery  of  all  kinds.  The  population 
this  would  bring  here,  in  addition  to  that  which  other  pursuits  command,  which, 
by  the  concentration  of  many  railways  permeating  the  cotton  belt,  and  making 
this  a  great  distributing  point  for  Western  products  and  manufactured  materials, 
would  cause  this  city  to  acquire,  in  due  time,  a  population,  the  estimation  of 
which  at  this  time,  would  be  incredible.  Indeed,  with  an  inexhaustible  supply  of 
iron  ore,  and  coal,  sandstone  for  furnaces,  and  limestone  for  fluxing,  and  all  sur 
rounding  the  city  of  Birmingham,  Jefferson  county,  Alabama,  with  the  advantages 
of  cheap  living  in  a  healthy  region,  there  can  be  no  limit  to  the  capital  to  be  in 
vested,  and  the  laboring  population  which  must  in  time  congregate  to  this  favored 
locality,  where  the  making  of  iron,  on  account  of  its  increasing  value  and  demand, 
affords,  and  will  ever  continue  to  afford,  such  remunerative  compensation  for  labor. 
I  am,  very  truly,  your  friend,  J.  R.  POWELL. 

JOSEPH  "W.  TAYLOR,  of  Greene,  was  born  in  Cumberland 
county,  Kentucky,  about  the  year  1820.  His  parents  were  Vir 
ginians.  He  graduated  at  Princeton  College,  Kentucky,  and 
came  to  Alabama  in  1838,  where  he  studied  law  in  the  office  and 
under  the  direction  of  Judge  H.  I.  Thornton,  in  Greene  county. 
After  his  admission  to  the  bar,  he  practiced  law  several  years.  In 
the  Presidential  canvass  of  1840,  Mr.  Taylor,  young  as  he  was, 
entered  warmly  into  the  support  of  Gen.  Harrison,  by  making 
speeches  in  the  Tippacanoe  Clubs  common  at  that  day.  His 
strength  of  character  was  then,  for  the  first  time,  made  known  to 
the  public.  He  also  wrote  a  number  of  articles  which  were  pub 
lished  in  the  Whig  papers,  defending  the  policy  and  measures  of 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  447 

that  party.  In  1844,  he  was  appointed  a  District  Elector  on 
the  Clay  ticket  for  President,  and  made  a  number  of  speeches 
during  the  canvass  to  promote  the  success  of  the  great  Western 
statesman. 

In  1845,  Mr.  Taylor  was  elected  a  member  of  the  House  of 
Representatives,  at  the  age  of  twenty-five  years.  His  speech 
against  the  removal  of  the  Seat  of  Government  was  considered  a 
masterly  effort. 

On  the  9th  of  August,  1847,  Mr.  Taylor  made  "A  PLEA  FOR 
THE  UNIVERSITY  OF  ALABAMA/'  being  "An  address  delivered 
before  the  Erosophic  and  Philomathic  Societies  of  the  University 
of  Alabama,  on  the  Anniversary  occasion,"  which  was  published 
in  a  pamphlet  of  57  pages,  and  is  a  performance  of  great  ability. 
In  it  is  a  correspondence  between  a  Committee  consisting  of 
Messrs.  John  A.  Foster,  Alexander  C.  Davidson,  and  James  T. 
Killough,  on  the  part  of  the  Philomathic  Society;  and  Messrs. 
Elmore  J.  Fitzpatrick,  Thaddeus  H.  Perry,  and  A.  A.  Archibald, 
on  the  part  of  the  Erosophic  Society,  and  Mr.  Taylor,  -requesting 
a  copy  of  the  address  for  publication.  The  note  of  the  Committee 
on  the  part  of  the  Trustees,  and  the  reply  of  Mr.  Taylor  are  here 
inserted : 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ALABAMA,  Aug.  11,  1847. 
JOSEPH  W.  TAYLOR,  Esq. : 

Dear  Sir: — The  Trustees  of  the  University,  at  a  meeting  on  the  10th  instant, 
Resolved  unanimously,  that  they,  as  a  body,  felt  very  great  pleasure  and  high  grat- 
incation  in  listening  to  your  able  and  interesting  Address  before  the  Literary  Soci- 
ties  of  the  University,  on  Monday  last;  and  that  you  be  respectfully  requested  to 
let  a  copy  be  taken  for  publication. 

The  undersigned  were  appointed  a  committee  to  convey  to  you  the  sentiments 
and  wishes  of  the  Board  of  Trustees. 

In  discharging  that  pleasant  duty,  you  will  permit  us  to  add  our  individual 
congratulations  at  the  successful  accomplishment  of  the  object  of  your  address  in 
making  an  aide  and  powerful  Plea  for  the  Institution;  and  our  sincere  desire  that 
you  will  comply  with  the  wishes  of  the  Board  of  Trustees. 

Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servants, 

JAS.  GUILD, 
RICH.  T.  NOTT, 
F.  G.  NORMAN, 

TrsKALOOSA,  Aug.  12,  1847. 

Gentlemen: — I  take  great  pleasure  in  complying  with  the  request  of  the  Trustees 
of  the  University,  contained  in  your  note  of  the  llth  instant. 

Please  convey  to  them  very  grateful  acknowledgments  for  so  flattering  a  mark 
of  their  approval  of  my  address  before  the  Literary  Societies  of  the  University, 
and  accept  for  yourselves,  my  thanks  for  the  complimentary  terms  in  which  you 
have  communicated  the  wishes  of  those  you  represent. 

Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

JOSEPH  W.  TAYLOR. 

To  Messrs.  Jas.  Guild,  Rich.  T.  Nott,  F.  G.  Norman, 
Committee  of  the  Trustees,  $c. 

In  1847,  Mr.  Taylor  was  elected  to  the  House,  and  served 
through  the  first  session  at  Montgomery.  The  record  establishes 


448  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

his  position.  In  1855,  he  was  returned  to  the  Senate,  and  made 
Chairman  of  the  Committee  on  Education — the  very  place  for 
him  as  a  public  benefactor. 

Mr.  Taylor  married  a  daughter  of  Solomon  McAlpin,  Sr.,  a 
wealthy  and  influential  citizen  of  Greene  county.  In  1851,  he, 
with  Mr.  McAlpin  and  a  few  other  gentlemen,  represented  the 
Alabama  State  Agricultural  Society,  at  the  State  Fair  held  at  Ma- 
con,  Georgia.  By  his  family  alliance,  he  probably  became  con 
nected  \vith  agricultural  pursuits,  and  thus  reduced  to  practice,  to 
some  extent,  his  stores  of  theoretical  knowledge  on  the  subject. 

After  the  war  terminated,  and  the  State  had  complied  with  the 
terms  required  by  President  Johnson,  to  be  restored  to  all  her 
former  relations  with  the  Federal  Government,  Mr.  Taylor  was 
elected  a  Representative  to  Congress  in  the  Fall  of  1865,  and, 
with  his  colleagues,  visited  Washington  City  with  their  credentials, 
at  the  opening  of  Congress,  in  December  of  that  year.  They  were 
not  permitted  to  take  their  seats.  While  awaiting  the  final  action 
of  Congress  in  the  matter,  Mr.  Taylor  wrote  a  series  of  articles 
signed  "  Madison,"  which  were  published  in  the  "  National  Intel 
ligencer,"  under  the  title  of  aThe  case  of.  the  Southern  members 
of  Congress,"  averaging  about  two  columns.  Owing  to  their 
length,  it  will  not  be  practicable  to  transfer  all  of  them  to  this 
work,  as  their  merits  deserve;  but,  as  the  first  number  opens  the 
whole  question  so  fairly  and  accurately,  on  a  documentary  basis, 
we  make  room  for  it  entire : 

MESSRS.  EDITORS  :  I  propose,  with  your  permission,  to  submit  to  the  public, 
through  the  columns  of  your  conservative  and  truly  national  journal,  some  consid 
erations  touching  the  application  of  the  Southern  members  for  seats  in  Congress. 
I  do  so  of  my  own  motion  and  upon  my  individual  responsibility  alone.  I  have 
had  no  consultation  with  the  gentlemen  composing  the  delegations  from  the 
South  as  to  the  propriety  of  such  a  discussion.  They  will  be  in  no  manner  respon 
sible  cither  for  the  arguments  I  may  use  or  the  appeals  which  I  may  make.  So 
far  as  I  am  advised,  these  gentlemen  are  behaving  with  the  most  becoming  pro 
priety  in  the  trying  and  very  embarrassing  position  in  which  they  have  been 
placed  by  the  resolution  of  exclusion  adopted  by  the  House  of  Representatives  on 
the  first  day  of  the  session.  They  have  made  no  public  complaints  as  to  its  injus 
tice.  They  have  uttered  no  protest  as  to  the  infraction  of  the  great  right  of  free 
discussion  made  by  an  arbitrary  decree  which  has  silenced  discussion  upon  the 
floor  or  at  the  bar  of  the  House  upon  the  most  momentous  question  ever  sub 
mitted  for  the  decision  of  a  deliberative  assembly.  The  representatives  of  great 
constituencies,  they  have  maintained  the  dignity  of  their  position  by  quietly  pre 
senting  their  credentials  and  patiently  awaiting  the  action  of  Congress  upon  them. 
Such  a  course  is  a  silent,  but  eloquent  appeal,  not  only  to  the  justice  of  that  body, 
but  to  the  magnanimity  and  sense  of  light  of  the  whole  American  people.  As  one 
of  that  people  I  confess  that  I  am  not  insensible  to  its  force,  and  feel  impelled  to 
respond  to  its  demands  upon  me  by  submitting  a  sincere,  though  it  may  be  a  fee 
ble  and  unavailing  argument,  in  behalf  of  the  claims  of  these  Southern  members 
to  their  seats.  '  "  % 

It  cannot  be  denied,  Messrs.  Editors,  that  the  question  of  their  admission  or 
exclusion  is  one  of  transcendent  interest  and  importance.  It  deeply  concerns  the 
present,  and  takes  large  hold  upon  the  future  of  the  whole  country.  It  relates  to 
the  unity  of  the  Republic  and  the  representative  equality  of  the  people  of  its  dif- 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  449 

ferent  sections.  It  comprehends,  within  the  range  of  its  possible  results,  the 
peace  of  a  section,  the  prosperity  of  a  nation,  and,  perhaps,  the  repose  of  a  conti 
nent.  The  fraternal  feelings  and  the  intersectional  comities  of  millions  of  freemen, 
and  much  either  of  glory  or  of  shame  to  our  common  country,  depend  upon  the 
solution  which  this  question  is  destined  to  receive  at  the  hands  of  the  present 
Congress. 

The  parties  to  it  are  the  most  august  and  respectable  that  ever  stood  suitors  for 
the  right  at  the  bar  of  a  nation,  or  sat  as  judges  in  its  loftiest  seats  of  justice. 
Eleven  commonwealths — some  of  them  venerable  for  age  and  illustrious  for  ser 
vice  in  the  great  war  of  American  Independence,  and  all  of  them  distinguished 
for  the  fertility  of  their  soil,  the  salubrity  of  their  clime,  the  abundance  of  their 
resources,  and  for  the  intelligence,  the  bravery,  and  the  high-toned  character  of 
their  people — stand  at  the  bar  of  the  National  Congress,  by  their  representatives, 
to  demand  the  right  so  dear  to  American  freemen,  and  which  they  believe  to  be 
indisputably  theirs  under  the  common  Constitution  of  the  country:  the  right  to 
be  represented  in  the  council  halls  of  the  nation.  Twenty-six  other  common 
wealths,  many  of  them  also  venerable  for  age  and  illustrious  for  service  in  the 
same  Revolutionary  struggle,  and  all  of  them  abounding  in  wealth,  in  intelligence, 
and  in  the  activities  of  a  teeming  and  busy  population,  sit  within  the  bar  of  the 
National  Congress,  by  their  representatives,  as  judges  to  decide,  under  the  sanctity 
of  solemn  oaths  and  high  official  responsibility,  and  by  the  lights  of  reason  and 
law,  one  of  the  mightiest  questions  ever  submitted  to  the  arbitrament  of  an 
earthly  tribunal. 

It  is  deeply  to  be  deplored  that  a  question  of  such  transcendent  interest  and 
importance,  requiring  for  its  adjustment  the  exercise  of  the  calmest  and  most  un 
prejudiced  reason,  should  be  surrounded  with  so  many  circumstances  unfavorable 
to  its  proper  solution.  The  country  has  just  emerged  from  a  long  and  desolating 
civil  war.  The  passions  engendered  by  its  conflicts  of  arms  and  of  opinion  have 
not  yet  had  time  to  cool.  The  memory  of  its  numerous  dead  who  perished  on  the 
battle-field  or  by  the  multitudinous  casualties  of  war;  the  spectacle  of  its  widows 
and  orphans  asking  for  bread,  and  of  its  maimed  and  halt  victims  hobbling  through 
the  land;  its  numberless  social  and  domestic  bereavements;  the  sight,  in  one  sec 
tion,  of  ravaged  fields,  of  burnt  homesteads,  of  ruined  villages  and  towns,  of  a 
demoralized  people  and  an  impoverished  land  ;  the  pressure  of  an  immense  public 
debt,  exhausting  the  resources  of  the  country  to  meet  its  demands,  and  taxing  the 
skill  of  its  financiers  to  maintain  the  public  credit  unimpaired;  the  mighty  arrest 
placed,  for  four  years,  upon  the  commerce,  the  industrial  development,  and  the 
general  improvement  of  the  country;  these  and  numberless  other  fierce  mementos 
of  the  struggle  remain  to  embitter  the  feelings  and  to  alienate  the  affections  of  the 
people  of  the  two  sections,  and  to  disqualify  their  representatives  for  the  calm 
consideration  and  the  impartial  umpirage  of  the  question  submitted  for  their  decis 
ion.  Happy  would  it  be  for  the  people  of  America,  now  that  the  terrible  conflict 
is  over,  could  they  and  their  representatives  mutually  both  forgive  and  forget  its 
wrongs,  its  desolations,  and  its  crimes,  and  address  themselves  with  the  energies 
of  united  hands  and  hearts  to  the  great  work  of  reconstructing  the  fallen  fabric  of 
our  country's  greatness  and  prosperity. 

It  is  a  circumstance  also  much  to  be  regretted  that  the  question  of  the  admissi- 
bility  of  Southern  members  to  seats  in  Congress  has  been  drawn  into  the  arena  of 
party  politics,  and  made  the  theme  of  party  discussion  in  the  newspaper  press  of 
this  country.  Alas !  that  such  a  question  should  be  dragged  down  from  the  serene 
heights  of  reason  and  the  Constitution,  where  it  should  be  permitted  to  remain  for 
solution,  to  be  steeped  in  the  mire  of  party,  distorted  by  its  passions,  and  decided 
at  the  bar  of  its  distempered  fancies !  He  who  brings  to  the  consideration  of  this 
great  question  the  spirit  and  purposes  of  a  partisan,  instead  of  an  American 
patriot,  disqualifies  himself  by  that  very  fact  for  sitting  as  a  judge  in  the  cause, 
and  impeaches,  in  advance,  the  correctness  of  the  decision  which  he  may  render. 

The  true  spirit,  Messrs.  Editors,  in  which'  all  of  us,  both  people  and  official 
representatives  of  the  people,  should  address  ourselves  to  the  solution  of  this  par 
ticular  question,  and  to  the  great  work  of  the  general  pacification  of  the  country, 
is  that  of  conciliation,  compromise,  and  mutual  forbearance.  We  are  poltical 

29 


450  Reminiscences  oj  Public  Men  in  Akibwma. 

brethren  of  one  lineage  and  household.  We  have  a  common  country  in  the  pres 
ent  to  protect,  and  common  destiny  in  the  future  to  advance.  In  an  evil  hour  we 
quarrelled  among  ourselves,  and  appealed  to  the  sword  as  the  arbiter  of  the  strife. 
After  four  years  of  unparalleled  sti-uggle,  the  work  of  mutual  destruction  has 
been  stayed.  Brethren  still,  we  meet  either  as  people  or  representatives  of  the 
late  warring  sections,  to  take  counsel  for  repairing  the  desolations  of  the  past  and 
for  improving  the  future  fortunes  of  the  Republic.  Here  in  the  metropolis  of  our 
coutry,  standing  upon  the  hearthstone  of  the  nation,  and  in  full  view,  as  it  were, 
of  its  household  gods,  let  us  renew  our  broken  family  vows,  and  forgetting  that 
we  have  once  been  foes,  and  remember  only  that  we  are  political  brethren,  having 
henceforth  one  common  country,  and  one  common  destiny,  let  us  pledge  our  fealty 
anew  to  the  flag  and  the  fortunes  of  the  Great  Republic. 

Having  glanced  at  those  topics  to  which  I  deemed  a  preleuiuiary  reference  both 
useful  and  appropriate,  I  proceed  next  to  state  and  discuss  the  great  question  of 
the  right  of  the  Southern  members  to  seats  in  Congress.  A  somewhat  formal  and 
elaborate  statement  of  the  question  itself  will  contribute  no  little  to  its  elucida 
tion  and  much  to  the  clearness  of  the  argument  which  I  am  about  to  submit. 

Five  years  ago,  Abraham  Lincoln  and  Ilanibal  Haiulin  were  elected  President 
and  Vice-President  of  the  United  States.  Immediately  on  the  occurrence  of  that 
event,  or  during  the  next  succeeding  year,  ten  States  of  the  South,  by  formal  . 
ordinances  of  secession,  and  three  others  by  Legislative  resolves,  declared  their 
separation  from  the  Federal  Union,  formed  a  provisional  and  afterward  a  perma 
nent  government,  elected  a  President,  assembled  a  Congress,  and  proceeded  to 
exercise  all  the  functions  of  a  separate  political  sovereignty,  under  the  name  of 
the  Confederate  States  of  America.  The  United  States  resisting  this  attempt  to 
disintegrate  its  territory  and  its  nationality,  a  civil  war  between  the  sections 
ensued  and  ended,  after  four  years,  in  the  unconditional  submission  of  the  people 
and  States  of  the  South  to  the  National  authority.  Amid  its  closing  scenes,  Abra 
ham  Lincoln,  who  had  been  a  second  time  elected  to  the  Presidency,  perished  by 
the  hand  of  an  assassin,  and  Andrew  Johnson,  the  Vice-President,  became  Pres 
ident,  in  accordance  with  the  provisions  of  the  Constitution.  Soon  after  his  acces 
sion  to  that 'office,  he  promulged,  in  Executive  proclamations,  his  plan  for  the  res 
toration  of  the  former  relations  between  the  States  of  the  South  and  the  Federal 
Union. 

The  fundamental  and  pervading  idea  of  this  scheme  seems  to  be  that  of  justice 
to  the  entire  nation,  and  of  favoritism  to  neither  of  its  sections.  It  held  that  the 
integrity  of  the  National  Union  was  neither  destroyed  or  impaired  by  the  war  be 
tween  its  sections :  that  the  insurrectionary  States,  not  having  the  right  to  with 
draw  from  the  Federal  compact  by  an  ordinance  of  secession,  and  having  failed 
to  accomplish  their  separation  by  the  sword,  emerged  from  the  struggle  as  they 
entered  it,  States  and  members  of  the  Union;  that  these  States  retain  their  Con 
stitutions,  laws,  and  State  boundaries,  such  as  they  were  prior  to  the  passage  of 
their  several  ordinances  of  secession ;  that  the  two  former  have  been  placed  in  a 
state  of  abeyance  or  temporary  suspension  by  the  revolutionary  action  of  the 
States  themselves;  that  each  one  of  these  States  for  itself,  and  jointly  with  its  co- 
States  in  the  rebellion,  submitted  the  institution  of  slavery,  as  an  issue  of  the 
war,  to  the  abitrament  of  the  sword,  and,  having  failed  to  sustain  it  by  the  sword, 
must  accept  the  abolition  of  the  institution  as  an  accomplished  and  henceforth 
irreversible  fact;  that  for  the  purpose  of  restoring  the  Constitution  and  laws  of 
these  States  to  their  pristine  vitality  and  force,  by  removing  the  hindrances  cre 
ated  by  a  state  of  war,  and  the  acts  of  a  revolutionary  and  usurping  government, 
and  also  for  the  purpose  of  engrafting  upon  both  a  recognition  of  the  abolition  of 
slavery  as  a  result  of  the  war,  provisional  governments  are  necessary  and  consti 
tutional  agencies;  that  all  local  citizens  of  those  States — meaning  by  that  term 
those  who  remained  loyal  to  the  Union  during  the  war,  and  those  who  may  take 
and  subscribe  the  oath  of  allegiance  prescribed  in  the  amnesty  proclamation  of 
the  President,  or  who,  being  included  in  one  of  its  excepted  classes  shall  have 
received  a  special  pardon — should  be  allowed  to  participate  in  the  work  of  restor 
ing  the  State  to  its  former  relations  with  the  Federal  Union;  that  the  citizens  of 
each.  S,  taJte  a?e  best  entitled  to  fill  the  offices  of  its  provisional  government,  and. 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  451 

should  alone  be  appointed  to  them :  that  the  masses  of  the  people  in  the  insurrec 
tionary  States,  having  been  seduced  and  precipitated  into  rebellion  by  the  arts  and 
persuasions  of  their  leaders,  ought  to  be  leniently  treated  And  generally  pardoned 
by  the  Government,  while  the  leaders  themselves  and  their  influential  followers 
should  be  held  to  a  stricter  reckoning,  both  to  vindicate  the  supremacy  of  the 
National  authority  in  the  punishment  of  treason,  and  because,  as  the  really  guilty 
authors  of  the  rebellion,  they  deserve  more,  both  of  censure  and  of  punishment, 
than  the  comparatively  innocent  masses;  that  the  black  race  in  the  South  have 
been  forever  freed  by  the  emancipation  proclamation  of  President  Lincoln,  and  by 
the  operation  and  issue  of  the  war;  that  the  emancipated  blacks  are  not  qualified 
to  participate  in  the  work  of  reconstructing  the  rebellious  States ;  that  the  Presi 
dent  has  no  constitutional  power  to  confer  upon  them  the  right  of  suffrage,  that 
power  belonging,  by  express  grant  of  the  Constitution,  exclusively  to  the  States 
themselves;  that  the  determination  of  their  political  status  belongs  to  the  people 
of  the  several  States  as  a  question  of  domestic  policy,  but  that  the  blacks  should 
be  protected  in  their  rights,  both  of  person  and  property,  by  adequate  State  legis 
lation  ;  that  the  debt  contracted  by  each  Southern  State  in  aid  of  the  war  should 
be  wholly  and  forever  repudiated;  that  the  amendment  to  the  Federal  Constitu 
tion  abolishing  slavery  within  the  territorial  limits  of  the  United  States  should  be 
adopted;  and,  finally,  that  after  these  States  shall  have  passed  through  the  brief 
pupilage  of  provisional  government,  complied  with  the  conditions  prescribed  in 
the  restoration  policy  of  the  President,  and  completed  their  organization  under 
their  amended  Constitutions  by  the  election  of  the  Federal  and  State  officers  to 
which  they  are  entitled,  they  shall  be  recognized  and  treated  as  restored  to  their 
former  relations  with  the  Federal  Union. 

Following  out  this  scheme  of  restoration,  the  President  appointed  Provisional 
Governors  for  the  Southern  States,  and  issued  proclamations  prescribing  the  gen 
eral  outlines  of  his  reconstruction  policy.  These  Governors  called  conventions  of 
the  people  of  their  several  States,  which  abolished  slavery,  or  rather  recognized, 
by  suitable  averments  in  their  Constitutions,  the  fact  that  it  had  been  destroyed, 
provided  that  it  should  not  again  exist  within  their  limits,  and  otherwise  modified 
and  amended  those  instruments  so  a^s  to  make  them  conform  to  the  new  order  of 
things,  and  the  altered  relations  of  the  two  races  in  the  South.  These  conven 
tions  also  ordered  elections  to  be  held  for  the  various  State  officers,  and  either  or 
dered  themselves,  or  authorized  and  requested  the  Provisional  Governors  to  issue 
writs  for  the  election  of  members  to  the  Congress  of  the  United  States.  At  the 
elections  thus  holden,  the  members  from  the  South  now  claiming  seats  were 
chosen,  by  the  free  voice  of  their  several  constituencies  representatives  to  Con 
gress.  Whether  they  are  entitled  to  seats  in  that  body  is  the  great  question  which 
I  proceed  next  to  discuss. 

The  validity  of  the  claims  of  Southern  members  to  seats  depends  chiefly  upon 
the  constitutional  validity  of  that  scheme  of  provisional  or  military  government 
under  which  they  have  been  chosen.  I  propose,  therefore,  to  show: 

First,  That  this  scheme  is  constitutional  in  all  its  provisions  and  features. 

Second,  That  the  President  had  the  power,  under  the  Constitution,  to  estab 
lish  it. 

Third,  That  the  persons  elected  to  Congress  under  it  are  entitled  to  seats  in 
that  body,  free  from  all  conditions  and  qualifications  except  those  prescribed  in 
the  Constitution  itself. 

The  papers  which  followed  from  Mr.  Taylor's  pen  were  in  the 
nature'of  a  review  of  the  Federative  System  of  the  United  States, 
the  history  of  the  compact  of  Union,  the  denial  of  all  powers  to 
the  General  Government  except  such  as  the  Constitution  expressly, 
or  by  implication,  delegated  to  it,  as  the  agent  of  the  States  for 
external  defense,  for  foreign  intercourse,  and  for  domestic  security. 
These  features  were  examined  in  a  style,  and  with  an  intelligence, 
elevation  and  courtesy,  which  have  been  seldom  surpassed  by  any 


452  Reminiscences  of  PiMc  Men  in  Alabama. 

writers  on  the  subject.  The  ten  columns  of  matter  which  the 
articles  embrace,  show  a  degree  of  research,  and  a  power  of  logic 
of  which  any  statesman  might  be  proud.  The  fifth  article  closes 
the  series,  of  which  the  following  is  an  extract: 

But  it  is  time,  Messrs.  Editors,  that  1  should  bring  this,  I  fear,  too  extended 
discussion  to  a  close.  1  cannot  do  so,  however,  consistently  with  my  sense  of  duty 
to  the  country,  without  presenting,  in  a  condensed  and  somewhat  rhetorical  form, 
and  as  an  appeal  both  to  the  judgment  and  sensibilities  of  the  public,  the  case  of 
these  Southern  members. 

Far  away  in  the  South  there  lies  a  beautiful  land,  warmed  by  glowing  suns, 
and  fanned  by  cooling  breezes  from  the  sea.  Its  soil  is  fertile,  its  air  is  pure,  and 
its  productions  rich  and  varied  as  those  of  the  tropics.  The  bravery  of  its. sons 
has  become  proverbial,  and  its  (laughters,  fair  as  the  dames  of  Caucassus,  are  as 
virtuous  as  they  are  fair.  This  glowing  clime  has  borne  its  full  part  'in  all  the 
perils  of  the  country,  and  contributed  its  full  share  of  glory  and  fame  to  the 
nation.  Its  heroic  dead  lie  buried  on  all  the  battle-fields  of  the  llepublic.  The 
fiery  genius  of  its  sons  has  added  to  the  parliamentary  and  forensic  glory  of  the 
land.  Its  morals,  like  its  intellect,  are  vigorous  in  type.  Its  social  life  is  pure. 
Over  this  fair  and  abounding  clime,  in  an  evil  hour,  the  fell  spirit  of  sectional  dis 
cord  brought  the  sweep  of  the  hurricane  breath  of  war.  The  earthquake  jar  of 
contending  hosts  shook  its  hills,  and  its  plains  ran  red  with  the  blood  of  its 
slaughtered  people.  After  the  desolation  had  spread  far  and  near,  the  plague  of 
war  was  stayed.  Its  smoke  lifted  from  the  battle-fields  of  its  strife,  and  it  was 
seen  that  the  fair  and  fruitful  land  which,  four  years  before,  had  entered  the  arena 
of  the  conflict  almost  a  paradise  of  love  and  plenty,  was  no  more.  There  stood  in 
its  place  a  charred  and  desolate  land — a  land  riven  by  the  bolts  of  war,  drenched 
in  blood,  and  filled  with  dead  men's  bones.  Myriads  of  its  noblest  sons  had  gone 
down  to  the  red  burial  of  the  brave  on  the  battlefields  of  the  strife,  or  perished 
by  the  varied  casualties  of  war.  Widowhood  and  orphanage  filled  its  habitations. 
In  every  household  there  was  gloom,  in  every  heart  a  grief.  A  fatal  blight  had 
fallen  upon  all  its  material  interests  and  pursuits.  Its  fields  were  desolate,  its  vil 
lages  waste,  its  proudest  cities  in  chains.  All  but  the  fragments  of  its  wealth, 
the  virtues  of  its  women,  and  the  heroic  resolves  of  its  men  to  bear  and  to  con 
quer  an  adverse  fate,  had  perished.  To  this  sorrowing  and  stricken  land  there 
came  from  a  benignant  Government,  voices  of  encouragement  arid  words  of  cheer. 
Its  people  were  invited  to  a  political  resuscitation  under  a  new  order  of  things, 
and  to  seats  in  the  family  circle  of  the  nation.  Accepting  the  summons,  they 
have  beaten  their  swords  into  ploughshares,  and  their  spears  into  priming-hooks. 
To  every  requisition  of  the  Government  they  have  yielded  a  full  and  unreserved 
obedience.  Acquiescing  in  all  the  results  of  the  war  as  final  and  conclusive  upon 
them,  both  in  honor  and  in  fact,  they  have  ratified  the  sternest  issues  of  the  strug 
gle  by  pulling  down  their  social  and  industrial  fabric,  and  laying  its  corner  stone 
on  the  foundation  of  a  new  and,  to  them,  an  untried  polity.  They  have  modified 
their  organic  laws,  and  helped  to  modify  the  organic  law  of  the  nation,  adapting 
them  to  the  new  order  of  things.  They  know  no  other  purpose,  they  cherish  no 
other  resolve,  than  to  be  true  to  their  plighted  word  with  the  nation,  and  hence 
forth  loyal  to  its  flag  and  obedient  to  its  laws.  That  the  former  relations  with 
the  Union  of  their  fathers  might  be  restored,  they  have,  in  compliance  with  ex 
press  invitation  from  the  National  authorities,  reorganized  their  State  Govern 
ments,  and  chosen  representatives  to  both  branches  of  Congress.  Some  of  those 
representatives  are  now  in  this  city.  More  of  them  were  present  in  the  Capitol 
halls  on  the  day  Congress  opened  its  session.  They  stood  and  knocked  at  the 
door  of  the  family  mansion  of  the  Republic,  demanding,  as  their  family  birth 
right,  admission  to  its  fireside,  and  participation  in  the  hospitalities  of  its  board. 
The  door  has  been  shut  in  their  faces.  With  a  grief  too  deep  for  tears,  many  of 
them  have  already  gone,  and  soon  all  of  them  will  go  back  to  their  wronged  and 
trampled  people,  to  tell  the  tale  of  the  scornful  rejection  of  the  proffered  hand  of 
family  reunion.  Upon  the  heart  of  that  people,  brave  and  noble  as  they  are,  will 


JRemmiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  45$ 

descend  a  sorrow  too  deep  for  utterance — sorrow  for  their  desolate  homes,  sorrow 
for  their  wasted  land,  given  over  again,  and  for  how  long  they  are  unable  to  know, 
to  the  ravages  of  a  peace  that  is  war  in  all  but  the  name.  But  their  grief  will  be 
accompanied  by  no  unmanly  repinings.  From  it  there  will  spring  no  revolt,  in 
their  outward  allegiance,  no  appeal  to  the  sword  as  the  avenger  of  their  wrong. 
Their  purpose  in  that  regard  is  "nominated  in  the  bond"  of  their  honor,  and  that 
bond  they  will  keep  inviolate  forever.  But  from  the  agents  who  merely  hold  the 
keys,  and  occupy  by  permission  the  family  mansion  of  the  nation,  they  will  ap 
peal  to  the  principals  of  these  agents,  to  the  real  owners  of  the  mansion — the 
people,  the  whole  people  of  the  United  States  of  America.  The  decision  which 
they  will  render  in  the  case  may  be  collected  even  now  from  their  antecedents  and 
character.  It  comes  in  the  prophetic  utterances  of  the  popular  wish,  which 
reach  this  city  from  far  and  near  through  the  land.  It  is  syllabled  in  voices  from 
the  pulpit  and  the  hustings.  It  is  heralded  by  that  portion  of  the  press  that  is 
conservative  in  character  and  National  in  spirit.  Its  solemn  tones  echo  even  now 
along  the  Capitol  halls  of  the  nation,  thundering  in  the  ears  of  the  representatives 
of  the  people,  if  they  would  but  hear  them,  the  mandatory  words  that  the  chil 
dren  of  the  National  household,  erring  even  though  they  might  have  been,  but 
now  reconciled  and  forgiven,  must  not  be  shut  out  from  the^fireside  and  the  hospi 
talities  of  the  common  family  mansion. 

If,  in  obedience  to  this  yet  unpronounced,  but  sure-coming  decision  of  the 
American  people,  or  upon  the  justice  and  the  right  of  the  case  itself,  the  doors  of 
that  mansion  shall  yet  be  opened  to  the  representatives  and  the  people  of  the 
South,  it  requires  no  vision  of  the  prophet  to  foresee  that  a  new  era  of  progress 
and  good  feeling  will  soon  begin  to  run  its  golden  cycles  in  these  occidental  climes. 
From  the  summit  of  the  National  Ararat,  on  which  the  ark  of  the  Constitution, 
freighted  with  the  precious  interests  of  the  country,  rested  on  the  subsidence  of 
the  bloody  deluge  of  war,  a  reconciled  and  mighty  people  will  come  down  and  fill 
all  the  borders  of  the  land  with  the  hum  of  industry  and  the  activities  of  a  busy 
and  prosperous  national  life.  Arts  and  sciences  will  nourish  under  the  patronage 
of  extended  appreciation  and  abundant  rewards.  A  thriving  commerce  will 
whiten  every  sea  with  its  canvas,  and  visit  every  port  with  its  exchangeable  values. 
Revived  manufactures  and  resuscitated  agriculture  will  pour  a  ceasejess  tide  of 
wealth  into  the  lap  of  the  nation.  The  men  of  the  North  and  the  men  of  the 
South,  standing  beneath  the  folds  of  the  same  starry  flag,  will  vindicate  its  honor 
and  maintain  its  supremacy  on  every  land  and  every  sea  of  the  habitable  globe. 
A  nation,  mightier  and  more  prosperous  than  any  the  sun  looks  down  on  in  its 
circuit  through  the  heavens,  will  fill  the  earth  with  the  renown  of  its  arts  and  its 
arms,  and  prove,  by  the  stability  of  its  order,  the  supremacy  of  law  and  the  per 
manence  of  free  institutions,  that  man  is  indeed  competent  to  the  great  work  of 
governing  himself. 

Who,  Messrs.  Editors,  would  not  anxiously  covet  the  opportunity  of  aiding  in 
the  accomplishment  of  results  so  auspicious  as  these?  That  opportunity  is  pre 
sented  to  the  members  of  the  present  Congress.  Should  they  embrace  it,  and  thus  aid 
In  harmonizing  the  discords  and  restoring  the  unity  of  a  great  people,  they  will 
have  accomplished  enough  of  fame  for  themselves  and  of  good  for  their  country. 
In  days  to  come,  when  the  great  Republic  of  the  West,  blessed  and  it  may  be,  pre 
served  by  their  ministry  of  reconciliation,  shall  have  become,  even  more  than  it  is 
now,  the  wonder  of  the  world,  they  will  be  able  to  point  to  it  with  pride,  and 
claim  that  they  had  themselves  contributed  much  to  its  preservation  and  no  little 
to  the  sum  of  its  glory  and  renown.  That  will  be  a  reward  above  all  Greek,  above 
all  Roman  fame. 

My  task,  Messrs.  Editors,  is  done.  MADISON. 

Washington  City,  December  18,  1865. 

Had  the  fair  and  equitable  views  and  Constitutional  arguments 
so  ably  presented,  by  Mr.  Taylor,  been  permitted  to  influence  the 
action  of  Congress  in  measures  of  justice  to  the  South,  there  would 
have  been  no  assumed  necessity  for  bayonets,  or  military  tribunals. 


454  Reminiscences  of  Public  Aten  in  Alabama. 

or  for  any  harsh  legislation,  to  preserve  public  order.  The  Stat£ 
Governments  would  have  settled  down  harmoniously  to  the  work 
of  recuperation,  and  all,  by  this  time,  would  have  been  peace  and 
prosperity. 

The  reputation  of  Mr.  Taylor  as  an  orator  and  writer  was  not 
confined  to  his  own  State.  He  was  invited  to  deliver  an  address 
before  the  literary  societies  of  Washington  and  Lee  University, 
Lexington,  Virginia,  and  on  Commencement  Day,  June  22,  1871, 
he  appeared  before  the  great  audience  assembled  on  the  occasion. 
His  theme  was:  "The  Lee  Monument;  or  a  plea  for  the  conver 
sion  of  Washington  and  Lee  University,  by  the  people  of  the 
South,  to  constitute  their  final  and  crowning  monument  to  the 
memory  of  General  Robert  E.  Lee."  This  very  able  and  elo 
quent  address  has  been  published  by  the  request  of  the  Literary 
Societies,  the  Alumni  Association,  and  the  Board  of  Trustees,  in 
a  pamphlet  of  52  pages,  handsomely  printed  in  Baltimore.  It  is 
a  production  which  justly  ranks  him  among  the  finished  scholars 
of  the  country. 

Mr.  Taylor  now  resides  at  Tuskaloosa,  his  chief  employment 
being  that  of  editor  of  the  "Times,"  a  paper  which  has  been  estab 
lished  in  lieu  of  the  "Monitor,"  and  "Observer,"  which  have  been 
merged  under  his  direction.  He  is  in  the  vigor  of  life,  with  culture 
and  talents  of  a  very  high  order.  As  President  of  the  Board  of 
Trustees  of  the  Southern  University,  an  institution  at  Greenes- 
boro,  under  the  patronage  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church, 
South,  Mr.  Taylor  has  the  opportunity  of  doing  much  for  the 
cause  of  education;  and  it  is  hoped  that  his  labors  and  influence 
will  be  attended  with  the  happiest  effects.  No  citizen  of  Alabama 
is  more  respected. 

ABRAHAM  JOSEPH  WALKER  was  born  in  Davidson  county, 
Tennessee,  eight  miles  from  Nashville.  His  ancestors  were 
among  the  early  settlers  of  the  country,  and  his  educational  op 
portunities  were  of  the  very  best  character.  Pie  graduated  at  the 
Nashville  University  in  1838,  when  in  his  nineteenth  year.  He 
then  taught  school  two  years;  after  which  he  studied  law  in  the 
office  of  John  Trimble',  Esq.,  of  Nashville,  and  in  the  Fall  of 
1841  he  obtained  license  to  practice  law. 

Soon  afterward  he  came  to  Alabama,  and  wandered  through  the 
State  for  sometime,  and  ultimately  settled  at  Jacksonville,  then 
Benton  county,  (now  Calhoun,)  about  the  first  of  January,  1842, 
without  money  or  friends.  He  paid  his  board  the  first  year  by 
teaching  a  class  in  Latin  and  Greek,  and  the  higher  brandies  of 
mathematics.  He  persistently  studied  his  profession,  and  pro 
gressed  slowly  in  the  acquisition  of  a  practice. 

In  1845,  he  was  elected  to  the  House  of  Representatives,  and 


Heminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  456 

served  through  the  ensuing  session  of  the  Legislature.  As  a 
matter  of  principle  the  Democratic  party,  to  which  Mr.  Walker 
belonged,  had  refused  to  accept  the  share  of  the  sales  of  the  public 
lands  to  which  Alabama  was  entitled  under  the  act  of  Congress, 
and  at  the  session  of  1845,  Mr.  Garland,  of  Franklin,  introduced 
a  bill  to  accept  it,  which  was  warmly  supported  in  a  speech  by 
Mr.  Walker,  probably  his  first  effort,  wherein  his  great  abilities 
were  displayed  in  the  Capitol.  His  course  was  severely  criticised 
bv  Mr.  Hubbard,  as  a  departure  from  the  Democratic  faith;  and 
although  the  bill  failed  at  that  session,  it  subsequently  became  a 
law  in  a  Democratic  Legislature. 

In  1848,  he  was  on  the  Electoral  Ticket  for  Cass  and  Butler, 
and  canvassed  the  District  with  the  Hon.  Samuel  F.  Rice,  his 
competitor,  who  supported  Taylor  and  Fillmore  for  President  and 
Vice-President  of  the  United  States.  In  1851,  Mr.  Walker  was 
elected  to  the  Senate.  In  1852,  he  removed  to  Talladega,  where 
he  formed  partnership,  in  the  practice  of  the  law,  with  John  T. 
Morgan,  Esq.,  in  which  relation  he  continued  until  1854,  when  he 
was  elected  Chancellor  of  the  Northern  Division.  In  December, 
1855,  he  was  elected  Judge  of  the  Supreme  Court  to  fill  the  va 
cancy  caused  by  the  resignation  of  the  Hon.  William  P.  Chilton, 
and  was  sworn  into  office  on  the  first  of  January,  1856.  On  the 
25th  of  January,  1859,  he  was  appointed  Chief  Justice  of  the 
Supreme  Court,  on  the  resignation  of  Judge  S.  F.  Rice.  At  the 
expiration  of  his  term  of  six  years,  he  was  reflected  Judge  of  the 
Supreme  Court. 

In  1865,  under  the  reorganization  of  the  State  Government  in 
pursuance  of  President  Johnson's  proclamation,  Chief  Justice 
Walker  was  again  elected  Judge  of  the  Supreme  Court,  in  which 
office  he  continued  until  .superseded  by  the  reconstruction  meas 
ures  of  Congress,  in  July  or  August,  1868,  since  which  timd  he 
has  been  quietly  and  successfully  pursuing  his  profession  in  Mont 
gomery,  where  he  now  resides. 

By  the  appointment  of  Gov.  Patton,  Judge  Walker  compiled 
the  present  Code  of  Alabama,  a  labor  for  which  he  was  eminently 
.qualified.  His  legal  abilities  are  beyond  question,  which  with  his 
great  industry  and  success,  constitute  an  honorable  record.  He 
supported  the  measure  of  secession,  in  1861. 

[NoTE. — The  sketch  of  Judge  Walker  was  written  in  1871.  Tie  died  of  heart- 
disease,  at  Montgomery,  April  25,  1872,  much  regretted  by  the  public.] 


45B  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 


CHAPTER  XXVI. 

Session  of  1847 — Reception  of  General*  Shields  and  Quitman — Sen 
atorial  Contest — Judicial  and,  State-House  Elections — SketcJies  of 
Characten\ 

The  year  1846  was  a  singular  one  in  the  political  annals  of  Ala 
bama.  There  was  no  State  election  on  the  first  Monday  in  Au 
gust — the  first  omission  of  the  kind  in  the  history  of  the  State. 
There  were  no  candidates,  consequently  there  was  no  excitement, 
and  in  this  respect  the  people  remained  perfectly  quiet. 

But  there  was  an  event,  however,  which  stirred  the  public  mind 
deeply  in  Alabama,  in  common  with  the  whole  people  of  the 
United  States.  Of  course  I  mean  the  Mexican  war,  which  was 
inaugurated  in  the  Spring  of  1846,  and  which,  as  its  results,  se 
cured  California  and  New  Mexico — with  their  great  appendages, 
financial,  commercial,  and  political — as  an  acquisition  to  the  United 
States,  by  military  conquest.  For  his  gallantry  and  success  as  a 
commander  in  this  war,  the  people  made  General  Zachary  Taylor 
President  of  the  United  States.  Of  that  war,  and  its  ultimate 
consequences,  whether  it  was  fortunate  or  calamitous  to  the  whole 
country,  the  writer  does  not  assume  the  office  to  judge,  and  there 
fore  he  has  but  little  to  say.  That  whole  matter  belongs  to  the 
historian.  In  respect  to  it,  however,  the  reflection  may  be  in 
dulged,  that  while  these  immense  territorial  possessions  brought 
to  commerce  and  general  enterprise  an  enlarged  basis,  in  the 
hands  of  the  people  and  Government  of  the  United  States,  this 
territorial  question  proved  the  political  Pandora's  Box,  from  which 
came  the  sectional  strife  that  moved  in  the  disintegration  of  the 
Union,  and  in  the  war  of  1861-'65,  between  the  States.  What 
was  apparently  a  blessing  at  the  time,  in  the  acquisitions  from 
Mexico,  has  proven  quite  otherwise  in  the  results  which  followed; 
if  human  suffering  be  indeed  a  cause  of  regret.  By  this  remark, 
no  unfriendly  imputation  is  intended  against  those  who  declared, 
the  war  of  1846-'48,  with  Mexico,  nor  against  the  Federal  admin 
istration  by  which  it  was  directed  and  supported. 

There  being  no  State  elections  in  Alabama  in  1846,  no  candi 
dates,  no  stump  speaking,  no  ballot-box  for  the  reception  of  voles 
as  had  annually  been  the  case  since  1819,  there  was  a  gem-nil 
calm  in  the  political  elements,  and  the  people,  in  the  meantime, 
were  left  at  home,  free  to  pursue  their  avocations  and  interests  at 


Heminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  457 

pleasure;  to  plant,  to  cultivate,  and  to  harvest  their  crops;  and 
Avere  as  well  off  in  the  absence  of  elections  and  sessions  of  the 
Legislature,  as  when  these  privileges  occurred  annually. 

The  old  Capitol,  at  Tuskaloosa,  was  still  occupied  by  the  Execu 
tive  and  State  officers,  and  by  the  Supreme  Court,  awaiting  the 
completion  of  the  new  building,  rapidly  going  up  at  Montgomery. 
The  Spring  of  1847,  brought  signs  of  political  life,  and  preparation 
for  the  biennial  elections  to  come  off  in  August.  The  first  step  of 
a  marked  character  was  a  Democratic  State  Convention,  called  at 
Montgomery,  in  May,  to  nominate  a  candidate  for  Governor.  That 
Convention,  after  a  good  many  fruitless  ballotings,  and  some  polit 
ical  maneuvering,  of  little  avail,  adopted  a  resolution  offered  by 
Col.  James  E.  Belser,  declaring  the  Hon.  Reuben  Chapman  the 
choice  of  the  Convention  for  Governor;  and  having  done  this,  it 
adjourned. 

Gov.  Martin  was  before  the  people  for  reelection  on  his  own 
merits,  and  it  was  generally  expected  that  another  internicine  po 
litical  war  in  Alabama  would  ensue.  Many  of  the  people  were 
preparing  to  take  part  in  the  contest,  and  others  to  look  on  as  dis 
interested  spectators.  The  candidates  were  arranging  to  take  the 
field  and  rally  their  forces,  when  Captain  Nicholas  Davis,  of  Lime 
stone,  was  announced  by  authority  as  the  Whig  candidate  for  Gov 
ernor.  This  gave  a  new  feature  to  the  campaign.  The  Whig 
leaders  were  dissatisfied  and  unwilling  to  support  either  of  the 
candidates,  who  were  both  Democrats,  and  wisely  concluded  to 
fall  back  upon  their  principles.  Captain  Davis  was  a  favorite  with 
his  party,  and  was  likely  to  receive  as  many  votes  as  any  other 
member  of  it,  as  was  no  doubt  the  case,  as  the  result  showed. 
Gov.  Martin  was  not  long  in  determining  his  course.  His  contin 
uing  in  the  field  would  have  hazarded  the  success  of  both  himself 
and  Mr.  Chapman,  and,  in  deference  to  the  action  of  the  Conven 
tion,  and  because  Mr.  Chapman,  as  its  nominee,  was  supposed  to 
represent  more  fully  the  principles  and  wishes  of  the  Democratic 
party,  Gov.  Martin  promptly  withdrew  his  name  as  a  candidate, 
and  the  contest  regularly  assumed  a  party  shape,  resulting  in  the 
election  of  Mr,  Chapman  by  a  majority  of  6,255,  out  of  a  total 

•  'vote  of  53,189  in  the  State.     The  popular  vote  was  small,  com 
paratively..    The  election  of  members  to  the  Legislature  gave  to 
the  Democrats  a  majority  in  both  branches,  as  usual. 
i^z '.r.  Jhe  election  of  members  to  Congress  resulted  in  the  success  of 

...the  Democratic  candidates,  except  in  the  Mobile  District,  where 
Gov.  Gayle,  Whig,  was  elected  over  John  T.  Taylor,  Democrat; 

••'  and  in  the  Montgomery  District,  where  Mr.  Hilliard  was  reflected 
,/  % •tfithout  opposition. 


4S8  Bemin'iscences  of  Public  Men  in 

HON.  JOHN  GAYLE,  a  South  Carolinian,  came  to  Alabama  when 
a  young  man,  and  cast  his  lot  among  the  people  of  the  Territory, 
as  a  practising  lawyer.  He  soon  began  to  rise  in  public  favor, 
and  was  advanced  to  honorable  positions,  as  the  records  of  the 
Legislature,  the  Circuit  and  Supreme  Court  will  show.  The  judi 
cial  offices  which  he  filled  were  the  highest  in  the  State,  except 
the  office  of  Governor,  to  which  office  he  was  elected  by  the  people 
in  1831  and  reflected  in  1833,  after  having  been  Speaker  of  the 
House  of  Representatives. 

His  administration  of  the  Executive  office  was  faithful  and  en 
ergetic.  In  1835,  some  appearance  of  difficulty  with  the  Creek 
Indians  caused  President  Jackson  to  send  a  military  force  to  Ala 
bama,  rather,  it  is  believed,  to  hold  the  Governor  in  check,  from 
executing  his  policy,  than  to  prevent  the  disturbances.  At  all 
events,  the  messages  of  Gov.  Gayle  to  the  Legislature  were  so 
decided  in  their  State  Rights  tendency,  and  his  opinions  in  other 
respects  so  freely  avowed,  against  the  interference  of  the  Presi 
dent,  that  the  latter  was  induced  to  send  Francis  S.  Key,  Esq.,  as 
a  Special  Commissioner  to  Alabama,  in  order  to  settle  the  points  in 
controversy.  The  author  of  the  "Star  Spangled  Banner"  arrived 
at  Tuskaloosa,  on  his  mission  of  peace,  and  after  a  brief  corre 
spondence  and  consultation  with  the  Governor,  the  cause  of  com 
plaint  was  removed,  and  good  feeling  happily  restored.  While  in 
Alabama,  Mr.  If  ey  addressed  a  beautiful  poem  to  Mrs.  Gayle,  as 
a  personal  compliment,  which  was  published  and  greatly  admired. 

Whilst  discharging  the  duties  of  his  high  office,  Gov.  Gayle  was 
cheered  by  the  fact  that  prosperity  was  general  among  the  people, 
and  that  few  or  no  complaints  existed  as  to  his  policy  or  measures. 
Perhaps  the  greatest  objection  laid  to  his  charge  was  the  too  free 
exercise  of  the  pardoning  power.  If  this  were  truly  an  error,  it 
was  impossible  for  him  to  avoid  it,  as  nature  had  given  him  a  warm 
sympathizing  heart,  which  was  easily  touched  by  human  sorrow, 
and  by  all  forms  of  distress.  This  trait  of  character  prevailed 
throughout  his  life,  in  all  situations,  public  and  private,  even  to 
such  extent  as  to  impair  his  own  fortunes  by  too  much  generosity. 

Soon  after  the  term  for  which  Gov.  Gayle  was  elected  to  Con 
gress  expired,  a  vacancy  occurred  in  the  office  of  Judge  of  the 
United  States  District  Court,  by  the  death  of  the  lion*.  William 
Crawford,  which  was  filled  by  President  Taylor,  by  the  appoint 
ment  of  Gov.  Gayle  to  that  honorable  position.  The  latter  con 
tinued  to  hold  the  office,  and  to  administer  its  duties  with  ability, 
and  to  the  satisfaction  of  the  public,  until  his  death  in  1858. 

In  early  life,  Gov.  Gayle  married  Miss  Ainsworth,  of  Clarke 
county,  a  lady  of  rare  talent  and  accomplishments,  who  dispensed 
the  hospitalities  of  his  mansion,  at  Tuskaloosa,  while  Governor, 
with  a  dignity  and  grace  never  surpassed.  But  she  was  not  per- 


fteminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  459 

mitted  to  see  the  end  of  his  term ;  for,  having  an  operation  per 
formed  on  her  teeth,  it  resulted  in  lockjaw,  of  which  she  died, 
universally  regretted  by  the  people  of  the  State.  She  was  a  gen 
eral  favorite,  and  admired  by  all  for  her  many  shining  virtues  and 
talents  which  adorned  social  life.  Some  of  her  descendants  still 
live  in  the  State. 

The  eldest  daughter  of  Gov.  Gayle  (Sarah)  married  Dr.  William 
B.  Crawford,  a  leading  physician  of  the  State.  He  died  in  Malaga, 
Spain,  in  1853.  His  widow  resides  in  Mobile.  The  second  daugh 
ter,  Amelia,  married  Gen.  J.  Gorgas,  the  distinguished  Chief  of 
Ordnance  of  the  late  Southern  Confederacy.  He  is  now  Acting 
Vice-Chancel  lor  of  the  University  of  the  South,  at  Sewanee, 
Tennessee.  The  third  daughter,  Mary,  married  Gen.  Hugh 
Aiken,  of  South  Carolina,  who  commanded  a  brigade  in  Hamp 
ton's  Cavalry,  and  was  killed  at  the  head  of  his  brigade,  March, 
1865,  near  Camden,  South  Carolina,  resisting  Sherman's  inarch 
through  that  State.  The  fourth  daughter,  Maria,  married  Thomas 
L.  Bayne,  Esq.,  a  lawyer  of  New  Orleans.  The  sons,  Dr.  Matthew 
Gayle,  resides  in  Alabama,  and  Captain  Richard  H.  Gayle  is  a 
citizen  of  New  Orleans.  All  these  were  by  the  first  marriage. 
Of  the  second  family  of  children,  no  information  has  been  ob 
tained,  except  that  the  last  daughter,  Helen,  married  James  W. 
Locke,  Esq.,  of  Hale  county. 

The  second  wife  of  Gov.  Gayle  was  Miss  Peck,  of  Greenesboro, 
with  whom  he  lived  in  great  happiness.  Indeed,  all  who  came 
within  his  influence,  either  in  the  domestic  relations,  or  in  any 
other  sphere,  were  made  happy  by  his  pleasant  manners  and  dis 
position.  In  his  day,  Gov.  Gayle  was  one  of  the  best  speakers 
and  writers  in  the  State.  His  person  was  tall,  and  his  address  pe 
culiarly  graceful.  But  amiable  and  gifted  as  he  was,  he  possessed 
an  infirmity  winch  it  would  be  uncandid  to  conceal,  as  I  have  fre 
quently  referred  to  it  in  others,  with  the  hope  of  doing  good  to 
young  men  who  have  their  fortunes  to  establish.  The  social  na 
ture  of  Gov.  Gayle,  and  the  common  usages  of  his  day,  betrayed 
him  into  habits  of  intemperance,  which,  although  not  of  an  ex 
treme  character,  formed  something  of  a  barrier  to  his  public  use 
fulness,  and  to  his  personal  happiness. 

JOHN  T.  TAYLOR,  who  was  defeated,  in  1847,  by  Gov.  Gayle, 
for  Congress,  was  of  course  the  candidate  of  the  Democratic  party. 
He  had  been  a  merchant,  and  failing  in  business,  like  many  others 
of  his  time,  he  studied  law,  and  entered  upon  the  practice  in  Mo 
bile.  Although  commencing  late,  comparatively,  he  has  succeeded 
well  in  his  profession.  He  was  several  times  elected  a  member 
of  the  House  from  Mobile,  and  established  a  good  reputation  as  a 
legislator.  His  habits  of  close  application,  secluding  him,  in  some 


400  J&miniscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

degree,  from  social  enjoyments,  have  well  compensated  him  in  the 
very  respectable  rank  he  maintains  at  the  bar.  He  still  resides 
in  Mobile,  in  the  practice  of  the  law. 

STATE   ARCHIVES. 

In  October,  1847,  the  Secretary  of  State  received  notice  from 
Judge  Nimrod  E.  Benson,  Mayor  of  the  City  of  Montgomery, 
that  the  new  Capitol  Building  would  be  ready  by  the  1st  Novem 
ber,  for  examination  by  the  Commissioners,  (Miles  W.  Abernathy, 
George  Steele,  Daniel  Pratt,  Johnson  J.  Hooper,  and  John  K.  Col 
lins,  Esqrs.,  elected  by  the  Legislature,)  who  had  been  notified  to 
meet  in  the  discharge  qf  their  duty,  and  that  upon  such  examination 
the  key  to  the  Capitol  and  title  to  the  property  upon  which  it  was 
erected,  dedicating  it  to  the  State,  free  of  charge,  would  be  ready ; 
therefore  the  Secretary  repaired  to  Montgomery,  and  received,  on 
the  part  of  the  State,  a  compliance  with  the  law  for  the  removal. 
This  was  fully  performed  by  Judge  Benson,  the  Mayor,  and  Col. 
Charles  T.  Pollard,  Chairman  of  the  Building  Committee.  The 
title  papers  were  referred  for  legal  examination,  and  reported  suffi 
cient.  The  key  of  the  great  front  door  was  used  in  locking  and 
unlocking,  and  therefore  the  result  was  announced,  and  reported 
to  the  Governor,  after  which  the  law  for  removal  declared  the 
Seat  of  Government  was,  to  all  intents  and  purposes,  removed. 

No  time  was  to  be  lost  in  transferring  the  archives,  to  be  ready 
for  the  assembling  of  the  Legislature,  the  6th  of  December,  less 
than  a  month.  This,  however,  was  accomplished  by  industry.  On 
or  about  the  20th  of  November,  the  archives,  records  and  papers 
of  the  Executive  and  State  Departments,  and  Supreme  Court,  had 
been  packed  up  in  113  boxes,  and  loaded  in  13  wagons;  and  this 
train,  under  the  control  of  James  H.  Owen,  the  Door-Keeper  of 
the  House  of  Representatives,  moved  off  in  the  direction  of  Mont 
gomery.  The  cargo  in  weight  was  26,704  pounds.  Without  acci 
dent,  the  whole  train,  in  due  time,  arrived  at  Montgomery,  and 
the  archives  deposited  in  their  appropriate  rooms.  The  entire 
cost  of  the  removal  of  these  archives  from  Tuskaloosa  to  Mont 
gomery,  was  $1,325,  which  was  paid  by  Col.  Pollard,  Chairman  of 
the  Building  Committee. 

LEGISLATURE. 

The  Legislature  met  in  the  new  Capitol  on  the  6th  day  of  De 
cember,  1847;  and  the  novelty  of  the  occasion,  together  with 
greater  facilities  to  reach  the  Seat  of  Government,  brought  to 
gether  an  immense  concourse  of  people — more  visitors  than  I  ever 
saw  before  or  since  at  a  meeting  of  the  Legislature.  The  hotels 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  461 

were  crowded  to  inconvenience,  private  boarding  houses  were  in 
creased  and  thronged,  and  every  avenue  to  the  Capitol  presented, 
at  all  hours  of  the  day,  a  stirring  multitude.  Candidates  for  the 
various  offices  were  as  thick  as  blackbirds  in  a  fresh  plowed  field 
in  Spring. 

The  attendance  of  members  of  the  two  Houses  was  large.  In 
the  Senate,  nearly  every  one  was  present,  and  in  the  House  94 
out  of  100  answered  to  the  call.  John  A.  Winston,  of  Suniter, 
was  elected  President  of  the  Senate,  without  opposition;  Jennings 
F.  Marrast,  Secretary ;  Wilson  M.  Kidd,  Assistant  Secretary ;  and 

A.  R.  Thomas,  Door-Keeper. 

In  the  House,  Gen.  Leroy  Pope  Walker,  of  Lauderdale,  and 
Col.  Felix  G.  Norman,  of  Franklin,  were  placed  in  nomination 
for  Speaker.  The  vote  stood:  for  Mr.  Walker,  60;  Mr.  Norman, 
8 ;  Mr.  Robert  Jemison,  of  Tuskaloosa,  8 ;  Mr.  Elisha  Young,  of 
Marengo,  14;  Mr.  Walter  H.  Crenshaw,  of  Butler,  1;  and  Mr. 

B.  F.  Porter,  of  Tuskaloosa,   1.     So  Mr.  Walker  was  elected 
Speaker.     A.  B.  Clitherall  was  elected  Principal  Clerk;  T.  F. 
Samuels,  Assistant  Clerk;  William  J.  Greene,  Engrossing  Clerk; 
and  James  H.  Owen,  Door-Keeper. 

The  two  Houses  being  organized,  the  message  of  Governor 
Martin  was  transmitted  to  the  two  branches  of  the  General  As 
sembly  on  the  second  day,  which  was  read  and  laid  on  the  table, 
and  ordered  to  be  printed. 

This  document  occupies  about  sixteen  pages  of  the  printed 
Journal  of  the  House,  and  the  business  portions  of  it  refer  mainly 
to  the  Banks,  the  domestic  and  foreign  debt  of  the  State,  the  16th 
Section  Fund,  a  system  of  revenue  and  taxation,  a  proper  system 
of  public  education,  the  affairs  of  the  University,  the  disputed 
boundary  between  Georgia  and  Alabama,  the  condition  of  the 
Penitentiary,  and  the  war  with  Mexico.  As  it  was  the  only  op 
portunity  which  Gov.  Martin  had  of  presenting  the  part  he  acted, 
in  his  official  character,  the  portion  of  his  message  relating  to  the 
war  is  given  entire,  as  follows: 

Since  the  last  session  of  the  General  Assembly  a  war  has  been  declared  to  exist 
between  the  United  States  and  the  Republic  of  Mexico,  and  requisitions  have  been 
made  by  the  President  upon  Alabama  for  troops  for  its  prosecution.  The  first 
requisition  was  made  in  May,  1840,  for  "one  regiment  of  volunteer  Infantry  or 
Riflemen,"  to  serve  for  the  term  of  twelve  months.  This  force  was  supplied  in 
June  of  the  same  year.  In  a  short  time  thereafter  I  was  requested  by  the  War 
Department  to  raise  five  companies  of  the  same  description  of  troops  to  be  held 
in  readiness  to  enter  the  service  of  the  United  States  when  called  for.  This  re 
quest  was  complied  with,  and  duly  reported ;  the  troops,  however,  have  not  been 
called  for  by  the  Government. 

Before  any  requisition  was  made  upon  the  State  for  troops,  at  a  time  when  it 
was  reported  that  the  small  force  constituting  the  army  of  occupation  on  the  Rio 
Grande,  under  the  command  of  General  Taylor,  was  in  imminent  danger  from  the 
large  number  of  the  enemy  in  its  neighborhood,  three  companies  of  patriotic  citi 
zens,  ^commanded  by  Captains  Desha,  Elmore  and  Platt,  respectively,  without 


462  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

delay,  marched  to  its  supposed  relief.  About  the  same  time,  and  induced,  doubt 
less,  by  the  same  report,  I  received  a  communication  from  General  Gaines,  then 
commanding  the  Southern  Division  of  the  United  States  Army,  suggesting  the  pro 
priety  of  recommending  to  our  "Young  Chivalry"  to  raise  and  organize  volunteer 
companies  in  anticipation  of  a  call  which  was  expected  to  be  made  upon  the  State 
for  troops  by  the  President,  in  order  to  be  able  promptly  to  respond  to  it.  Ap 
proving  the  course  suggested,  I  issued  a  proclamation  accordingly,  but  at  the  same 
time  carefully  guarded  againt  any  procedure  of  the  companies  which  might  be 
raised  without  my  further  orders. 

The  excitement  that  prevailed  at  that  time  throughout  the  country  was  such  as 
to  induce  a  large  number  of  volunteer  companies  to  proceed  to  the  city  of  Mobile 
without  my  order,  where  they  were  received  and  mustered  into  the  service  of  the 
United  States  by  the  order  of  General  Gaines,  to  serve  for  the  term  of  six  months. 
One  regiment  was  organized,  and  elected  their  field  officers ;  and  six  additional 
companies  were  received  as  a  part  of  a  second  regiment.  I  had  no  farther  con 
nection  with  this  procedure  than  to  commission  the  officers.  Entertaining  fears 
that  the  course  of  General  Gaines  in  regard  to  these  troops  might  not  meet  the 
sanction  of  the  President,  and  feeling  anxious  that  our  patriotic  citizens  thus  en 
gaged  should  not  be  disappointed,  apprehending  too,  that  injurious  consequences 
would  follow  their  discharge,  in  future  efforts  to  raise  a  volunteer  force  in  this 
State,  I  addressed  a  communication  to  the  Secretary  of  War,  urging  their  accept 
ance — describing  the  high  quality  of  the  troops,  and  the  patriotic  motives  by 
which  they  were  governed — adverting  also  to  the  consequences  which  would  prob 
ably  follow  their  rejection. 

Before  the  reply  of  the  Secretary  of  War  reached  me,  I  received  a  communica 
tion  from  that  Department,  which  rendered  it  necessary  that  I  should  disband  this 
force,  which  I  proceeded  to  do  without  delay,  as  it  was  clear  from  this  communica 
tion  that  the  troops  could  not  be  received.  Having  proceeded  without  authority 
of  law,  there  was  no  provision  for  paying  those  troops,  which  rendered  their  con 
dition  extremely  unpleasant.  In  order  to  relieve  them  as  far  as  possible,  [  caused 
the  discharge  of  each  man  to  be  so  framed  as  to  embody  all  the  facts  which  might 
be  necessary  to  secure  the  benefit  of  such  provision  as  should  thereafter  be  made 
by  Congress  for  their  compensation,  for  I  did  not  doubt  but  that  provision  would 
be  made.  With  these,  I  was  enabled  to  relieve  them  from  embarrassment,  and  to 
afford  the  means  of  conveyance  for  each  to  the  neighborhood  of  his  home.  My 
expectations  were  soon  after  realized  in  regard  to  the  action  of  Congress  in  the 
premises.  Provision  was  made  for  the  compensation  of  these  troops,  and  the 
whole  matter  was  adjusted  to  the  satisfaction  of  all  concerned,  as  I  have  been  in 
formed. 

Four  companies  of  the  regiment  mentioned,  under  the  command  of  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  Raford,  had  embarked  for  Point  Isabel,  before  the  receipt  of  the  commu 
nication  referred  to.  Fearing  that  aid  might  become  necessary  to  them,  I  dis 
patched  Maj.  Sanford,  of  General  Smith's  staff,  to  make  such  provision  for  them 
as  might  be  required.  I  am  happy  to  be  able  to  say,  however,  that  no  difficulty 
was  encountered  by  them  requiring  the  assistance  contemplated,.  These  compa 
nies  were  sent  back  by  the  Government  to  Mobile,  where  they  were  discharged, 
and  returned  home.  The  important  aid  afforded  me  in  the  management  of  this 
difficult  and  painful  subject  by  Gen.  Walter  Smith,  and  his  staff,  entitle  them  to 
my  gratitude  and  thanks. 

Early  in  May  last,  a  further  requisition  was  made  by  the  President  on  this. 
State  for  troops  to  the  extent  of  one  company  of  mounted  volunteers,  and  five, 
companies,  or  one  battalion,  of  infantry,  to  serve  during  the  war  with  Mexico. 
This  call  was  made  known  to  our  citizens  by  a  proclamation  dated  on  the  6th 
day  of  May,  1847,  in  which  they  were  requested  to  respond  to  it  promptly.  In  a 
very  short  time  thereafter,  the  company  of  mounted  volunteers  was  furnished.  I 
was  not  so  fortunate  in  regard  to  the  infantry  requested.  Having  failed  to 
obtain  a  single  company,  on  the  30th  day  of  September  last  I  published  a  second 
proclamation,  in  which  I  urged  upon  our  citizens  the  importance  of  supplying 
the  force  called  for  by  our  country.  I  ascertained  in  a  short  time  that  unless  the 
necessary  expenses  to  be  incurred  in  raising  and  subsisting  the  troops  were  pro- 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  463 

vided  for,  no  effort  which  I  could  make  would  be  successful.  In  consequence  of 
which,  and  in  order  to  preserve  the  honor  and  standing  of  the  State,  which  I  felt 
to  be  deeply  involved  in  the  success  of  my  efforts,  on  the  14th  of  October  last,  I 
published  dn  address  to  the  people,  in  which  I  undertook  to  provide  for  the  ex 
penses  mentioned,  with  the  funds  of  the  State.  The  result  of  this  course  has 
been  the  accomplishment  of  the  great  object  sought. 

The  five  companies  of  infantry  called  for  have  been  tendered  me,  and  accepted, 
two  of  which  have  been  mustered  into  the  service  of  the  United  States,  and  the 
other  three  are  en  route  to  Mobile,  the  place  of  rendezvous  for  muster.  The  ex 
penditures  which  have  been  made,  so  far  as  they  have  been  certified  to  me,  have 
been  paid  out  of  the  contingent  fund,  which  will  be  reported  to  you  by  the  Comp 
troller.  I  have  endeavored  to  observe  throughout,  proper  economy  in  the  appli 
cation  of  this  fund  to  the  object  mentioned.  My  instructions  to  the  agents  who 
have  disbursed  the  funds  have  been  to  require  proper  vouchers  for  the  claims  cer 
tified  for  payment,  which  I  presume  have  been  strictly  observed.  .  I  entertain  no 
doubt,  from  the  past  course  of  Congress  on  like  occasions,  that,  upon  proper  ap 
plication,  the  amount  expended,  or  most  of  it,  will  be  refunded.  And  I  submit 
to  you  the  propriety  of  making  such  application. 

1  made  the  expenditures  mentioned,  under  a  full  knowledge  that  my  power  to 
do  so  was  of  questionable  character — and  that  my  course  involved  great  responsi 
bility.  I  could  not  have  been  induced  to  pursue  such  a  course  upon  an  ordinary 
occasion.  1  trust,  however,  that  I  shall  never  see  a  time  when  I  will  hesitate  to 
maintain  the  honor  of  the  State  at  any  hazard.  1  have  acted  in  good  faith,  for 
the  best  interest  of  the  State,  in  view  of  the  emergency  presented,  and  I  submit 
my  procedure  on  this  subject,  with  confidence,  to  the  llepreseiitatives  of  the 
people. 

The  two  Houses  contained  a  good  amount  of  experience  and 
talent.  Many  gentlemen  who  had  been  long  connected  with  one 
or  the  other  of  these  bodies,  were  returned,  and  several  young 
men  entered  the  House  for  the  first  time  as  members,  who  were 
destined  to  occupy  a  large  space  in  public  affairs.  The  principal 
Committees  of  the  Senate  were  headed  by  Chairmen  as  follows : 

On  the  Judiciary,  Mr.  McClung; 

On  Education,  Air.  Beckett; 

On  Propositions  and  Grievances,  Mr.  Abercrornbie; 

On  Accounts,  Mr.  Crcagli. 

In  the  House,  the  important  Committees  had  Chairmen  thus 
arranged  by  the  Speaker: 

On  the  Judiciary,  Mr.  A.  B.  Cooper,  of  Monroe; 

On  Federal  Relations,  Mr.  Walker,  of  Mobile; 

On  the  State  Bank  and  Branches,  Mr.  Scott,  of  Jackson ; 

On  Education,  Mr.  Norman,  of  Franklin ; 

On  Ways  and  Means,  Mr.  Jemison,  of  Tuskaloosa; 

On  Internal  Improvement,  Mr.  Porter,  of  Tuskaloosa; 

On  the  Military,  Mr.  Jackson,  of  Autauga; 

On  Accounts,  Mr.  Kittrell,  of  Greene. 

On  Friday  of  the  first  week,  the  two  Houses  convened  in  the 
Representative  Chamber,  to  count  and  compare  the  votes  for  Gov- 


464  Reminiscences  of  PMic  Men  in  Alabama. 

ernor,  at  the  last  election,  as  presented  in  the  official  returns  from 
42  counties,  of  which  the  following  is  a  statement: 

Counties.  Reuben  Chapman.      Nicholas  Davis. 

Autauga...                                                492  520 

Baldwin                                                   ....182  173 

Barbour 700  1002 

Benton 1528  584 

Bibb 541  416 

Blount ...... i .v .......; 754  112 

Butler 295  699 

Chambers  ...        .                           768  1263 

Cherokee 1149  468 

Clarke 602  223 

Conecuh 333  393 

Coosa 937  487 

Covington 87  208 

Dallas 1 704  839 

Dale 497  262 

DeKalb 795  231 

Fayette 911  245 

Franklin 1009  523 

Greene 686  1004 

Henry 481  362 

Jackson 1732  114 

Jefferson 609  286 

Lauderdale 870  641 

Limestone 730  494 

Marengo .......' 548  814 

Marion 689  183 

Marshall 879  219 

Mobile 1284  1117 

Monroe '. 353  536 

Montgomery 821  1136 

Morgan 466  526 

Perry 841  900 

Pickens 1035  1039 

Pike 731  927 

Kandolph 846  414, 

Russell 681  818 

St.  Clair 661  51 

Shelby... '. 459  529 

Sumter 918  1020 

Talladega 902  832 

Walker 519  243 

Wilcox .597  594 


Total 29,722  23,467 

Reuben  Chapman  having  received  a  majority  of  all  the  votes  cast  for  Governor, 
at  the  late  general  election,  as  appeared  from  the  said  official  returns,  Mr.  Speaker 
declared  him  to  have  been  duly  and  constitutionally  elected  Governor  of  Alabama 
for  the  term  of  two  years.  And  then  the  Senate  withdrew  to  their  chamber. 

The  returns  from  the  other  seven  counties  either  had  not  been 
received,  or  were  deemed  irregular,  so  that  they  were  not  counted. 
The  majority,  however,  would  not  have  been  much  varied  by  the 
absent  returns. 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  465 

This  table  is  given  complete,  to  show  the  relative  strength  of 
the  Democratic  and  Whig  parties  in  Alabama,  before  their  organ 
izations  were  modified  by  the  fusion  of  other  elements,  as  was  the 
case  in  1848  when  Gen.  Taylor  was  elected  President;  also  in 
1851  when  the  Compromise  and  Southern  parties  were  antago 
nistic,  and  again  in  1855  when  the  American  or  Know-Nothing 
party  took  the  field,  to  the  utter  absorption  and  disbandment  of 
the  Whigs  as  a  distinct,  and  once  powerful  organization,  in  the 
politics  of  the  country. 

A  joint  Committee  of  Arrangements  was  appointed,  consisting 
of  Messrs.  Storrs,  Manning,  Davis,  Coggin  and  Judge,  on  the  part 
of  the  Senate,  and  of  Messrs.  Jackson,  Young,  Wynn,  Norman 
and  Perkins,  on  the  part  of  the  House,  to  prepare  for  the  inaugu 
ration  of  the  Governor  elect,  who,  on  the  15th  of  December,  re 
ported  the  following  programme  of  the  order  of  the  day: 

1st.  The  two  Houses  will  adjourn  at  11  o'clock,  A.M.,  on  Thursday  next,  16th 
instant,  and  form  a  procession  at  the  Capitol,  and  in  proper  order  repair  to  the 
Montgomery  Hall,  and  receive  the  Governor  elect. 

2d.  The  procession  will  form  in  the  following  order: 

1.  The  Military. 

2.  The  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives  and  officers. 

3.  Judges  of  the  Supreme  and  Circuit  Courts  and  Chancellors. 

4.  Officers  of  State. 

5.  Committee  of  Arrangements. 

6.  Governor  elect  and  retiring  Governor. 

7.  Chaplain  and  Clergy. 

8.  Senators  of  the  United  States  and  Ex-Senators  and  Ex-Governors. 

9.  Mayor  and  Aldermen  of  the  city  of  Montgomery. 
10.  Citizens. 

3d.  The  Ceremony  of  Inauguration,  if  the  weather  permit,  shall  take  place  in 
front  of  the  Capitol. 

4th.  Rev.  Basil  Manly  will  act  as  Chaplain. 

5th.  Mr.  Wilson,  of  the  Senate,  Chief  Marshal ;  and  Mr.  Raiford,  of  the  House, 
Assistant. 

The  ceremony  of  inauguration  took  place  in  the  Represent 
ative  Hall,  in  the  presence  of  a  very  large  concourse  in  the  gal 
leries,  in  the  lobbies,  and  on  the  floor  of  the  Hall.  Perhaps  more 
than  a  thousand  of  the  fair  daughters  of  Alabama  graced  the  occa 
sion  with  their  beauty  and  their  smiles.  After  reading  his  address 
in  a  very  calm  manner,  Gov.  Chapman  took  the  oath  of  office, 
and  was  duly  proclaimed  Governor  of  the  State  for  the  term  of 
two  years. 

Thus  closed  the  administration  of  Governor  Martin.  He  had 
difficulties  in  his  path  from  the  day  he  set  himself  against  the 
nomination  of  the  Democratic  party  for  Governor  in  1845.  Some 
of  these  will  be  noticed  under  another  head.  Those  relating  to 
the  Mexican  War  are  enumerated  by  himself  in  his  message. 
Whatever  may  have  been  the  coldness  of  his  party  toward  him, 
Gov.  Martin  was  really  a  safe  and  judicious  man.  with  every  dis- 
30 


466  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

position  to  do  right,  and  to  serve  his  country  as  a  true  patriot. 
Minor  differences  should  be  pardoned  and  forgotten,  when  the 
substantial  good  in  his  character  so  far  outweighed  his  imperfec 
tions. 

At  this  point  it  may  be  remarked,  that  Gov.  Martin  left  several 
sons,  one  of  whom,  J.  M.  Martin,  Esq.,  of  Tuskaloosa,  was  Sena 
tor  from  that  county  at  the  session  of  the  Legislature  1871,  who 
is  a  gentleman  of  great  promise  in  the  legal  profession,  and  of 
usefulness  to  the  State. 

RECEPTION  OF  GEN.  SHIELDS. 

The  Mexican  War  had  pretty  much  run  its  course.  The  great 
battles  around  the  city  had  been  fought,  and  a  peace  conquered. 
Many  of  the  officers  who  had  won  laurels  in  that  far-off  land,  and 
who  had  entered  the  Halls  of  the  Montezumas  as  victors,  were 
returning  on  their  way  to  "Washington  to  catch  the  first  acclaim  of 
the  people,  who  were  anxious  in  some  way  to  acknowledge  their 
services.  In  the  early  part  of  the  session,  two  distinguished  Gen 
erals,  fresh  from  the  battle-fields  of  Mexico,  arrived  at  Mont 
gomery,  and  were  voted  a  public  reception.  Gen.  Shields  came 
first,  and  had  the  cream  of  the  pageant. 

There  was  a  very  large  concourse  of  people  at  the  wharf  to 
witness  the  reception  of  Gen.  Shields  as  he  landed  from  the  steam 
boat.  A  carriage  and  four  horses  had  been  provided  for  him,  and 
he  was  escorted  to  the  Exchange  Hotel  at  the  head  of  a  formal 
procession.  The  Journal  of  the  House  for  llth  December,  1847, 
says: 

Mr.  Perkins,  from  the  joint  committee  appointed  to  make  arrangements  for  the 
reception  of  Brigadier-General  Shields,  [reported  that  they]  have  performed  the 
duty  assigned  them.  They  have  appointed  Mr.  Wilson,  of  the  Senate,  first  Mar 
shal  ;  and  Mr..Raiford,  of  the  House,  second  Marshal.  They  have  also  appointed 
Mr.  McClung,  of  the  Senate,  to  deliver  to  General  Shields  the  welcome  of  the 
General  Assembly. 

The  Cqmmittee  recommend  that  the  two  Houses  assemble  in  the  Hall  of  the 
House,  on  this  day,  at  11  o'clock,  A.M.,  for  the  purpose  of  receiving  their  distin 
guished  guest. 

The  House  concurred  in  the  report  and  adopted  the  resolution. 

Mr.  Porter  offered  the  following  resolution,  which  was  adopted: 

Resolved,  That  the  ladies  be  invited  to  occupy  seats  within  the  bar  of  the  House 
to  witness  the  reception  of  Gen.  Shields. 

At  the  hour  appointed,  the  Senate  came  into  the  Representative 
Hall,  soon  after  which,  Gen.  Shields  was  presented  by  Marshals 
Wilson  and  Raiford,  to  the  President  of  the  Senate  and  Speaker 
of  the  House  of  Representatives.  On  the  part  of  the  General 
Assembly,  Mr.  McClung,  of  the  Senate,  delivered  an  eloquent 
address,  bidding  General  Shields  welcome,  to  which  the  latter 
gentleman  made  a  suitable  reply.  The  Senate  then  withdrew, 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  467 

and  the  members  of  the  two  Houses  were  personally  introduced 
to  Gen.  Shields. 

It  is  unnecessary  to  describe  the  vast  multitude  present  in  the 
Capitol,  and  the  wild  enthusiasm  which  prevailed  throughout  the 
ceremonies  of  reception.  During  his  stay  in  Montgomery,  Gen. 
Shields  received  every  courtesy,  and  demonstration  of  respect  and 
gratitude  which  it  was  possible  to  accord  to  a  successful  military 
man,  short  of  a  formal  coronation  with  garlands.  A  senatorial 
canvass  was  in  prospect.  General  Shields  was  elected  a  Senator 
in  Congress  a  short  time  afterward,  from  the  State  of  Illinois. 
That  he  did  not  reach  the  Presidency  was  owing  to  no  want  of 
conviction  on  his  part  that  he  was  qualified  for  the  office. 

MAJOR-GENERAL   QUITMAN. 

Another  military  pageant  followed  in  a  few  days,  on  the  arrival 
of  Major-General  John  A.  Quitman,  from  the  fields  of  Mexico, 
with  a  high  reputation  for  courage,  and  skill  as  a  commander.  His 
landing  at  the  wharf,  and  escort  to  his  lodgings,  with  other  mani 
festations  of  popular  regard,  will  not  be  particularly  described 
here,  as  it  was  a  mere  repetition  of  that  which  was  extended  to 
Gen.  Shields. 

On  the  Journal  of  the  Houses  for  Saturday,  December  18, 1847, 
the  following  proceedings  appear: 

Mr.  Young,  from  the  Joint  Committee  to  provide  for  the  reception  of  Major- 
General  Quitman,  reported  the  following  orders  of  the  day — 

1st.  Adjutant-General  Carroll  will  act  as  Chief  Marshal,  assisted  by  Messrs. 
Raiford,  of  the  House,  arid  Wilson,  of  the  Senate. 

2d.  The  two  Houses  will  take  a  recess  at  11  o'clock  A.  M.,  to  enable  the  Door- 
Keepers  to  prepare  the  Hall  of  the  House  of  Representatives  for  the  Senate,  for 
the  ladies  who  may  be  in  attendance,  and  for  the  reception  of  General  Quitman. 

3d.  The  Joint  Committee  of  Arrangements  will  proceed  to  General  Quitman' s 
quarters  in  the  city,  and  attend  him  to  the  Capitol,  and  at  12  o'clock  M,,  they  will 
attend  him  into  the  Hall  of  the  House  of  Representatives,  the  two  Houses  being 
assembled  there  to  meet  him. 

4th.  The  members  of  the  two  Houses  and  all  within  the  area,  will  remain  sitting, 
when  the  Committee,  with  General  Quitman,  enter  the  Hall,  and  while  they  are  so 
sitting,  the  Chairman  of  the  Joint  Committee  on  the  part  of  the  Senate,  addressing 
the  President  of  the  Senate,  will  present  General  Quitman  in  the  recognized  mode 
of  proceeding  when  the  two  Houses  are  met  in  Convention. 

5th.  The  President  of  the  Senate  then  rising,  will  announce  in  the  usual  form, 
that  Major-General  Quitman  is  presented  to  the  two  Houses  of  the  General  As 
sembly.  Whereupon  the  members  shall  then  rise  to  their  feet,  in  honor  of  General 
Quitman;  and  Mr.  Benjamin  F.  Porter,  in  behalf  of  the  General  Assembly,  bid 
him  welcome  in  a  salutatory  address. 

6th.  The  reception  and  public  salutations  being  concluded,  the  Senate  will  with 
draw  to  the  Senate  Chamber  and  continue  its  proceedings. 
The  above  report  was  concurred  in. 

The  hour  of  eleven  having  arrived,  the  House  took  a  recess. 
At  the  hour  of  12  M.,  Mr.  Speaker  called  the  House  to  order,  and  the  Senate, 
by  invitation,  appeared  in  the  Hall  of  the  House  for  the  reception  of  Major- 
General  Quitman. 


468  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

Major-General  Quitman,  escorted  by  the  Joint  Committee  of  Arrangements, 
then  entered  the  Hall,  and  was  presented  by  Mr.  Manning,  of  the  Senate. 

Mr.  Porter,  on  behalf  of  the  General  Assembly,  then  welcomed  General  Quit 
man  to  the  State  of  Alabama,  and  tendered  him  the  salutations  of  the  General 
Assembly. 

After  a  response  from  General  Quitman,  the  Senate  withdrew,  and  the  House 
resumed  the  consideration  of  its  appropriate  business. 

Mr.  Perkins  (by  leave,)  oifered  the  following  resolutions,  which  were  adopted: 

Resolved,  That  the  consummate  skill  and  indomitable  courage  of  our  army  in 
Mexico,  entitles  it  to  the  gratitude  of  the  whole  Nation ;  it  evidences  that  while 
life,  liberty,  and  property  are  protected  by  our  republican  institutions  with  scrupu 
lous  exactness,  a  strength  may  be  put  forth  to  punish  injury  and  insult  from  abroad 
by  which  the  National  honor  and  the  respect  of  the  nations  of  the  earth,  will  be 
perpetuated. 

Resolved,  That  while  the  General  Assembly  of  the  State  of  Alabama,  for  them 
selves  and  in  behalf  of  their  constituency,  join  in  the  general  lamentation  caused 
by  the  loss  of  many  brave  men  in  the  field  of  battle,  and  by  disease ;  and  heartily 
sympathising  with  their  friends  and  relatives,  and  feeling  a  common  interest  in 
the  fame  and  advantages  acquired,  take  this  method  of  expressing  their  highest 
admiration  and  their  warmest  gratitude  to  the  Generals  in  Chief,  and  all  their 
officers  and  soldiers,  who,  under  privations,  on  marches,  in  camp  and  hazard  in  so 
many  well-fought  victorious  battles,  have  acquired  such  accumulated  honors,  and 
advantages  to  our  common  country  in  Mexico. 

Resolved,  That  the  Governor  of  this  State  be,  and  he  is  hereby,  requested  to  in 
vite  Major-General  Zachary  Taylor,  who  is  now  in  the  United  States,  to  visit  this 
city  during  the  present  session  of  the  General  Assembly,  to  meet  the  hospitalities 
of  our  State. 

After  the  reception  of  Gen.  Quitman,  at  the  Capitol,  he  was 
escorted  in  a  coach-and-four  to  the  Montgomery  Hall,  where  the 
hospitalities  of  the  city  were  tendered  him  by  the  Hon.  William 
L.  Yancey,  in  a  speech  of  some  length,  to  which  the  General  re 
plied  in  quite  a  felicitous  manner.  And  thus  ended  the  public 
civilities  shown  to  the  two  distinguished  officers  in  question. 

In  a  short  time  thereafter,  the  remains  of  Col.  P.  M.  Butler, 
(Ex-Governor  of  South  Carolina),  of  Lieutenant-Colonel  Dickin 
son,  and  Lieutenant  Moragne,  of  the  Palmetto  Regiment,  brave 
officers  who  were  killed  in  the  battles  around  the  city  of  Mexico, 
arrived  at  Montgomery  on  a  steamboat  from  Mobile,  in  their 
transit  to  South  Carolina  for  final  interment.  The  Legislature 
informally  adjourned,  and  its  members  took  part  in  the  large  pro 
cession  of  citizens  which  followed  the  honored  dead  from  the  boat, 
a  mile,  to  the  railroad  depot,  where  an  appropriate  address  was 
delivered  by  the  Hon.  B.  F.  Porter,  as  the  remains  were  deposited 
in  the  cars,  in  charge  of  Captain  Blanding  and  two  or  three  Lieu 
tenants  of  the  Regiment,  who  had  accompanied  them  from  Mexico 
as  a  guard  of  honor. 

PACIFIC  KAILEOAD. 

Iu  the  course  of  the  session,  Mr.  A.  Whitney,  a  large  capitalist 
of  New  York,  arrived  in  the  city,  and  pursuant  to  a  resolution,  a 
committee  conferred  with  him  in  relation  to  his  projected  Railroad 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  469 

to  the  Pacific,  through  the  territory  which  had  just  been  acquired 
from  Mexico.  In  compliance  with  a  resolution  of  invitation,  Mr. 
Whitney  delivered  a  public  address  in  the  Representative  Hall, 
unfolding  his  scheme,  with  a  clear  and  simple  statement  of  the 
practicability,  necessity  and  advantages  of  this  great  national 
work.  He  predicted  its  accomplishment,  but  did  not  live  to  see 
fulfilled,  in  1868,  at  so  early  a  day  after  the  acquisition  of  the 
territory,  what  twenty  years  previously  he  had  predicted.  At  the 
time  Mr.  Whitney  was  traveling  through  the  country,  addressing 
the  people  at  large  commercial  points,  in  favor  of  an  enterprise 
which  he  was  the  first  to  propose  and  advocate  publicly,  most 
people  regarded  him  as  a  mere  intelligent  dreamer,  wise  enough 
to  make  a  few  millions  of  dollars  in  the  Stock  Exchange  of  New 
York,  and  as  an  importer  of  foreign  goods,  or  as  a  speculator  in 
real  estate,  but  certainly  not  competent  to  execute  what  nature 
had  decreed  to  be  impossible!  The  official  report  of  Captain  Fre 
mont,  of  his  expeditions  across  the  Rocky  Mountains,  in  1842—3, 
had  not  encouraged  the  belief  that  such  a  road  could  ever  pass 
these  formidable  barriers.  Yet  it  has  been  done,  and  persons 
now  travel  from  the  city  of  New  York,  3,000  miles  by  railroad, 
to  San  Francisco,  on  the  shores  of  the  Pacific,  in  eight  days.  After 
this  achievement  of  capital,  and  engineering  science,  who  will 
venture  to  say  that  anything  is  impossible,  through  the  same 
agencies?  Even  the  pride  of  England  might  be  overcome  by  the 
like  argument,,  and  the  resolution  offered  in  Congress  by  Gen.  Mc- 
Connell  to  annex  Ireland  to  the  United  States,  might  become  a 
veritable,  breathing  reality,  full  of  strength  and  resuscitation ! 

SENATORIAL   ELECTION. 

A  very  warm  contest,  usual  enough  in  name,  but  somewhat  sin 
gular  in  the  features  it  then  presented,  was  decided  by  joint  vote 
of  the  two  Houses,  during  the  first  week  of  the  session.  The 
facts  were  these. 

Col.  William  R.  King,  elected  Senator  in  Congress  from  Ala 
bama,  in  1819,  had  held  his  seat  continuously  in  that  body  for 
twenty-five  years,  until  1844,  when,  being  appointed  Minister  to 
France,  he  resigned.  The  Governor  filled  the  vacancy  by  issu 
ing  a  commission  to  the  Hon  Dixon  H»  Lewis,  who  was  then,  and 
had  been  for  many  years,  a  Representative  in  Congress  from  the 
Montgomery  District.  After  residing  abroad  several  years  in  his 
diplomatic  character,  Col.  King  returned,  and  his  friends  were 
very  anxious  to  restore  him  to  his  old  place  in  the  Senate,  which 
he  had  so  honorably  filled.  In  the  meantime,  Mr.  Lewis  had 
established  a  high  character  in  the  Senate,  and,  having  surren 
dered  his  position  in  the  House  of -Representatives,  he  was  unwil- 


470 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 


ling  to  throw  himself  entirely  out  of  Congress,  which  was  the 
field  of  his  public  usefulness,  and  of  his  ambition.  Hence,  a  com 
petition,  from  the  force  of  circumstances,  between  these  two  dis 
tinguished  citizens,  seemed  unavoidable.  Their  respective  friends 
went  to  work  accordingly,  for  a  trial  of  strength  in  the  Demo 
cratic  party,  where  the  two  gentlemen  stood  unimpeached  and 
unimpeachable  for  fidelity  to  its  principles. 

The  Whig  members,  seeing  the  division  among  their  opponents, 
imagined  it  possible,  though  a  result  not  to  be,reasonably  expected, 
that  they  might  secure  the  election  of  the  Hon.  A.  F.  Hopkins, 
their  great  Whig  leader  in  the  State,  and  determined  to  announce 
him  as  a  candidate,  on  whom  they  might  at  least  bestow  their 
votes  as  a  compliment,  without  interfering  with  the  Democratic 
fight,  which,  indeed,  they  had  no  motive  or  desire  to  ameliorate. 
On  Saturday,  December  11,  1847,  the  two  Houses  convened  for 
election,  when  the  Hon.  William  R.  King,  the  Hon.  Dixon  H. 
Lewis,  and  the  Hon.  Arthur  F.  Hopkins  were  placed  in  nomina 
tion,  and  the  ballots  began,  and  lasted  two  days.  The  following 
statement  will  show  with  what  tenacity  the  friends  of  each  ad 
hered  to  their  favorite  in  the  contest: 


fiallots. 

King. 

Lewis. 

Hopkins. 

First  

34 

50 

48 

Second  

34 

50 

48 

Third  

33 

50 

49 

Fourth  

32 

51 

48 

Fifth  

31 

50 

48 

Sixth  

30 

53 

49 

Seventh  

27 

56 

40 

Eighth  

27 

56 

49 

Ninth  

26 

58 

48 

Tenth  

26 

64 

43 

Eleventh  

25 

61 

47 

Twelfth  

28 

58 

47 

Thirteenth  

27 

56 

47 

Fourteenth  

28 

58 

47 

Fifteenth      

28 

55 

47 

Sixteenth  

23 

62 

47 

22 

66 

45 

Eighteenth  :  .  .  . 

* 

82 

45 

*  With  drawn. 


A  majority  of  all  the  votes  cast  having  been  given  to  Mr. 
Lewis,  he  was  declared  duly  elected  a  Senator  of  the  United 
States  for  a  term  of  six  years.  As  this  was  his  last  appearance  on 
the  arena  of  a  political  contest,  I  subjoin  a  brief  sketch  of  his 
character  and  public  services. 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  471 

DIXON  HALL  LEWIS  was  born  in  Hancock  county,  Georgia,  in 
the  year  1802,  and  completed  his  education  at  Columbia  College, 
South  Carolina.*  He  came  to  Alabama  while  yet  in  his  minority; 
and  I  have  been  told  by  one  who  was  present  and  knew,  that,  at 
the  State  election  in  1823,  the  vote  of  Mr.  Lewis  was  challenged 
and  rejected,  in  Autauga  county,  on  account  of  age — he  lacking 
ten  days  of  completing  his  twenty-first  year.  He  then  weighed 
three  hundred  and  thirty  pounds. 

In  1825,  1826,  and  1827,  he  was  elected  to  the  Legislature 
from  Montgomery,  and  from  the  first  was  a  leading  member  in  its 
counsels.  In  1827,  he  made  a  report  in  the  House  on  the  rela 
tion  and  policy  of  the  State  toward  the  Indian  tribes  within  its 
territorial  limits,  which  at  once  established  for  him  a  high  position 
as  a  legislator,  ami  no  doubt  exerted  its  influence  in  the  removal 
of  the  remaining  tribes  from  the  State. 

In  1829,  then  in  his  twenty -seventh  year,  Mr.  Lewis  was 
elected  a  Representative  in  Congress,  where  he  continued,  by  suc 
cessive  elections,  until  he  was  transferred  to  the  Senate  of  the 
United  States  in  1844.  He  belonged  to  the  State  Rights  school 
of  politicians,  and  followed  his  convictions  with  a  firmness  that 
knew  no  faltering.  In  Congress  he  exerted  a  powerful  influence 
with  his  party,  of  which  he  was  for  years  the  acknowledged  leader 
in  Alabama.  This  party  was  composed  of  many  of  the  first  men 
in  the  State  for  independence  and  weight  of  character.  Approv 
ing  the  policy  of  Mr.  VanBuren  in  1837,  for  the  separation  of  the 
Government  from  the  Banks,  and  for  the  establishment  of  the 
Independent  Treasury,  in  the  safe-keeping  and  disbursement  of 
the  public  money,  Mr.  Lewis  gave  earnest  support  to  his  adminis 
tration,  and  was  thenceforth  in  full  alliance  with  the  Democratic 
party.  Many  of  his  old  political  friends  went  with  him  in  this 
direction,  while  others  refused,  and  fell  into  the  Whig  party. 

At  the  meeting  of  Congress  in  .1839,  Mr.  Lewis  was  supported 
for  Speaker  of  the  House  of  Representatives,  and  came  within  a 
few  votes  of  an  election.  He  was  very  much  opposed  to  a  pro 
tective  tariff,  and  rarely  permitted  an  occasion  to  pass  without 
making  a  speech  against  the  policy.  His  principles  were  set  forth 
in  the  Platform  Resolutions  adopted  by  the  National  Democratic 

*While  at  the  Mount  Zion  Academy,  under  the  direction  of  the  Rev.  Nathan  S. 
S.  Beeman,  Mr.  Lewis  was  considered  a  bright  youth,  of,  great  intellectual  prom 
ise,  but  not  a  very  close  student.  He  seemed  to  acquire  knowledge  as  if  by  intu 
ition.  Among  his  schoolmates  were  the  Hon.  A.  H.  Chappell,  since  a  Representa 
tive  in  Congress,  and  President  of  the  Georgia  Senate;  the  Hon.  Charles  J.  Mc 
Donald,  Governor  of  Georgia,  and  Judge  of  the  Supreme  Court ;  the  Hon.  Walter 
T.  Colquitt,  who  served  both  in  the  House  of  Representatives  and  in  the  Senate  of 
the  United  States,  and  the  Hon.  Robert  Jemison,  who  for  many  years  was  a  prom 
inent  member  of  the  Alabama  Legislature,  and  afterward  a  Senator  of  the  Confed 
erate  States. 


472  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

Convention  at  Baltimore,  1840,  which  paper  is  here  reproduced, 
because  it  has  not  elsewhere  appeared  in  this  work : 

1.  Resolved,  That  the  Federal  Government  is  one  of  limited  powers,  derived 
solely  from  the  Constitution;  and  the  grants  of  power  shown  therein  ought  to  be 
strictly  construed  by  all  the  departments  and  agents  of  the  Government,  and  that 
it  is  inexpedient  and  dangerous  to  exercise  doubtful  Constitutional  powers. 

2.  Resoleed,  That  the  Constitution  does  not  confer  upon  the  General  Government 
the  power  to  commence  and  carry  on  a  general  system  of  internal  improvements. 

3.  Resolved,  That  the  Constitution  does  not  confer  authority  upon  the  Federal 
Government,  directly  or  indirectly,  to  assume  the  debts  of  the  several  States,  con 
tracted  for  local  internal  improvements,  or  other  State  purposes ;  nor  would  such 
an  assumption  be  just  or  expedient. 

4.  Resolved,  That  justice  and  sound  policy  forbid  the  Federal  Government  to 
foster  one  branch  of  industry  to  the  detriment  of  another,  or  to  cherish  the  interest 
of  one  portion  to  the  injury  of  another  portion  of   our  common  country — that 
every  citizen  and  every  section  of  the  country  has  a  right  to  demand  and  insist 
upon  an  equality  of  rights  and  privileges,  and  to  complete  and  ample  protection  of 
person  and  property  from  domestic  violence  or  foreign  aggression. 

5.  Resolved,  That  it  is  the  duty  of  every  branch  of  the  Government  to  enforce 
and  practice  the  most  rigid  economy  in  conducting  our  public  affairs,  and  that  no 
more  revenue  ought  to  be  raised  than  is  required  to  defray  the  necessary  expenses 
of  the  Government. 

6.  Resolved,  That  Congress  has  no  power  to  charter  a  National  Bank ;  that  we 
believe  such  an  institution  one  of  deadly  hostility  to  the  best  interests  of  the 
country,  dangerous  to  our  republican  institutions  and  the  liberties  of  the  people, 
and  calculated  to  place  the  business  of  the  country  within  the  control  of  a  con 
centrated  money  power,  and  above  the  laws  and  the  will  of  the  people. 

7.  Resolved,  That  Congress  has  no  power  under  the  Constitution,  to  interfere 
with  or  control  the  domestic  institutions  of  the  several  States,  and  that  said  States 
are  the  sole  and  proper  judges  of  everything  appertaining  to  their  own  affairs, 
not  prohibited  by  the  Constitution ;  that  all  efforts  of  the  abolitionists  or  others, 
made  to  induce  Congress  to  interfere  with  questions  of  slavery,  or  to  take  incipi 
ent  steps  in  relation  thereto,  are  calculated  to  lead  to  the  most  alarming  and  dan 
gerous  consequences,  and  that  all  such  efforts  have  an  inevitable  tendency  to  di 
minish  the  happiness  of  the  people  and  endanger  the  stability  and  permanency  of 
the  Union,  and  ought  not  to  be  countenanced  by  any  friend  to  our  political  insti 
tutions. 

8.  Resolved,  That  the  separation  of  the  moneys  of  the  Government  from  bank 
ing  institutions  is  indispensable  for  the  safety  of  the  funds  of  the  Government, 
and  the  rights  of  the  people. 

9.  Resolved,  That  the  liberal  principles  embodied  by  Jefferson  in  the  Declaration 
of  Independence,  and  sanctioned  in  the  Constitution,  which  makes  ours  the  land  of 
liberty,  and  the  asylum  of  the  oppressed  of  every  nation,  have  ever  been  cardinal 
principles  in  the  Democratic  faith ;  and  every  attempt  to   abridge   the  present 
privilege  of  becoming  citizens,  and  the  owners  of  soil  among  us,  ought  to  be  resisted 
with  the  same  spirit  that  swept  the  alien  and  sedition  laws  from  our  statute  book. 

Standing  on  this  platform,  and  carrying  out  its  policy,  Mr.  Lewis 
made  a  speech  on  the  tariff,  "in  Committee  of  the  Whole  on  the 
State  of  the  Union,"  on  the  llth  of  July,  1842,  which  fills  a  pam 
phlet  of  sixteen  pages,  of  arguments  founded  on  a  most  elaborate 
analysis  of  the  statistical  returns  of  manufactures  and  agriculture, 
in  the  census  of  1840.  The  speech  is  somewhat  in  the  nature  of 
an  indictment  against  the  Whig  party,  for  alleged  National  crimes 
in  legislation,  and  for  grave  misdemeanors  generally.  To  show 
the  compactness  and  force  with  which  Mr.  Lewis  expressed  him- 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  473 

self,  and  the  manner  in  which  he  arraigned  the  Whig  party  before 
the  people,  a  few  extracts  are  given : 

MR.  CHAIRMAN  :  I  seldom  address  this  House,  nor  should  I  do  so  on  the  present 
occasion,  but  for  the  paramount  importance  which  in  my  estimation,  justly  attaches 
to  the  bill. 

Sir,  I  look  upon  this  not  only  as  the  leading  measure  of  the  session,  but  the 
leading  measure  of  the  Whig  party ;  that  to  which  all  other  measures  have  been 
directed,  arid  which,  if  successful,  will  be  the  consummation  of  their  whole  policy. 
I  look  upon  it  as  a  return  to  that  disastrous  system  of  measures,  under  which  the 
country  is  now  prostrated,  and  suffering  with  an  intensity  and  protraction  un 
paralleled  in  its  past  history.  I  hesitate  not  to  say,  the  pecuniary  distress  in 
flicted  on  the  country,  ujider  the  joint  action  of  Banks,  Taritfs,  Internal  Improve 
ments,  and  other  Whig  measures,  is  infinitely  beyond  that  produced  by  the  last 
war  with  Great  Britain. 

Sir,  that  system  commenced  with  an  United  States  Bank,  then  followed 'the 
Tariff's  of  1824  and  1828 — then  the  system  of  Internal  Improvement  prosecuted 
with  so  much  vigor  and  with  so  much  injustice,  under  the  administration  of  the 
gentleman  from  Massachusetts  [Mr.  Adams]  ;  then  in  an  immense  surplus  revenue, 
which,  after  the  payment  of  the  public  debt,  through  an  union  first  with  the  United 
States  Bank,  and.  afterward  with  the  State  banks,  gave  an  inflation  to  the  paper 
system,  unequalled  since  the  days  of  John  Law,  and  finally  terminated,  as  every 
such  inflation  must  terminate,  in  a  condition  of  general  indebtedness,  but  little 
short  of  the  universal  bankruptcy  both  of  States  and  of  individuals. 

And  now,  sir,  while  the  country  is  yet  prostrated  under  these  measures,  before 
a  wound  is  closed  or  the  blood  is  staunched,  the  great  object  of  Whig  policy,  is  to 
precipitate  us  into  the  same  system.  As  a  pretext  for  inordinate  taxation,  the 
Whig  party  have,  within  the  last  two  years  created  a  public  debt — not  a  debt  like 
the  former  one,  incurred  in  the  prosecution  of  a  war  in  defense  of  our  rights — but 
one  designedly  created  by  the  most  willful  extravagance.  To  throw  the  whole 
burthens  of  revenue  on  imposts,  the  proceeds  of  the  public  lands  are  to  be  distrib 
uted  among  the  States ;  and  thus  the  old  system  of  Internal  Improvement  by  the 
Federal  Government,  so  much  reprobated  by  the  people,  is  to  be  superseded  by 
the  more  recent  and  more  profligate  system  of  distribution. 

After  pursuing  the  argument  at  considerable  length,  Mr.  Lewis 
then  examined  the  census  returns  of  1840,  showing  that  the  num 
ber  of  persons  engaged  in  agriculture  was  3,717,756,  and  the 
value  of  agricultural  products  was  $794,453,071,  equal  to  $213.71 
for  the  labor  of  each  individual  for  one  year.  The  amount  of 
capital  invested  in  agriculture,  and  its  yield  as  above-stated,  was 
then  compared  with  the  amount  of  capital  engaged  in  manufac 
tures  with  its  product,  and  the  conclusion  arrived  at  was  thus 
stated : 

The  result  of  both  these  tables  is,  that  a  laborer  engaged  in  agriculture, 
with  a  capital  of  $500,  the  product  of  his  year's  labor  and  capital 
would  be  $  474.81 

A  laborer  engaged  in  manufactures,  with  a  capital  of  $500,  the  product 

of  his  year's  labor  and  capital  would  be $1,239.44 

Deduct  from  this  the  product  of  agricultural  labor  as  above $    474.81 

It  shows  a  difference  in  favor  of  manufacturing  labor  and  capital,  over 

agricultural,  of $    764.63 

Being  about  three  to  one. 

Now,  Mr.  Chairman,  CAPITAL  AND  LABOR  are  the  only  ELEMENTS  OF  PROFIT,  jud 
from  a  comparison  of  both  these  elements,  drawn  from  a  source  which  cannot  be 
questioned,  the  result  is,  that  ONE  MAN  with  a  CAPITAL  OF  FIVE  HUNDRED  DOLLARS, 


474  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

performing  manufacturing  labor,  makes  $289.82  MOKE  than  TWO  MEN  with  a  CAPITAL 
OF  ONE  THOUSAND  DOLLARS,  performing  agricultural  labor. 

The  predicate  of  Mr.  Lewis  for  political  effect,  however  justi 
fied  by  the  facts,  is  not  here  introduced  by  the  writer  of  this  work 
in  the  form  of  an  indorsement,  but  it  is  merely  intended  to  show 
the  views  then  taken  by  a  distinguished  Democratic  statesman,  to 
weaken  before  the  people  the  scheme  of  government  which  he 
attributed  to  the  Whig  party,  in  the  issue  before  the  country. 

When  Mr.  Lewis  resigned  his  seat  in  the  House  of  Representa 
tives  in  1844,  he  was  chairman  of  the  Committee  of  Ways  and 
Means,  and  after  he  went  into  the  Senate  he  was  made  chairman 
of  the  Committee  on  Finance,  a  position  corresponding  with  his 
former  position  in  the  House,  always  considered  the  first  honor  on 
the'  floor.  He  was  actively  connected  with  the  Tariff  of  1846, 
recommended  by  the  Secretary  of  the  Treasury,  and  known  as  the 
Walker  Tariff.  Never  did  any  State  or  any  people  have  a  more 
faithful,  a  more  devoted  representative  than  Mr.  Lewis.  Even 
in  early  life,  he  seems  to  have  been  inspired  with  a  sense  of  the 
rights  and  wrongs  of  his  native  South,  and  his  vast  intellectual 
powers  were  exerted  for  the  defense  of  the  one,  and  the  preven 
tion  and  redress  of  the  other. 

Mr.  Lewis  married  a  daughter  of  Gen.  John  Elmore,  of  Au- 
tauga  county.  His  domestic  and  social  qualities  were  all  that  his 
many  friends  could  desire.  It  was  his  misfortune,  physically, 
to  be  encumbered  with  an  enormous  quantity  of  flesh,  (430 
pounds)  which  rendered  walking  rather  disagreeable,  and  always 
attended  with  fatigue.  Before  the  day  of  railroads,  he  traveled 
to  Washington  City  in  the  public  mail  coaches,  and  as  a  passenger 
he  always  paid  for  two  seats,  a  space  which  he  entirely  filled.  A 
chair  of  very  large  dimensions,  and  of  the  strongest  manufacture, 
was  provided  for  him  on  the  floor  of  the  two  Houses  of  Congress. 
His  size  and  weight  considered,  it  is  extraordinary  how  well  he 
could  move  about,  and  what  vast  labor  he  could  perform  in  the 
public"  service.  While  on  a  visit  to  the  city  of  New  York,  Mr. 
Lewis  died  there  in  1848,  in  the  vigor  of  his  days,  at  the  age  of 
forty-six  years.  He  was  buried  in  Greenwood  Cemetery,  near 
the  city,  where  all  that  is  mortal  of  him  now  reposes,  while  his 
fame  belongs  to  the  whole  country,  whose  interests  and  honor  he 
nobly  sustained  through  a  successful  legislative  course  of  more 
than  twenty  years. 

In  looking  over  some  old  letters  in  his  possession  since  the  fore 
going  sketch  was  written,  the  author  of  this  work  found  one 
addressed  to  him  by  Mr.  Lewis,  dated  Washington  City,  March 
24,  1846,  of  which  the  following  is  an  extract: 

I  am  most  anxious,  I  assure  you,  to  preserve  the  peace  of  this  country.  The 
prospects  of  Free  Trade  at  both  ends  of  the  line,  now  for  the  first  time  offered  to 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Aten  in  Alabama.  4*75 

Us,  constitute  with  me  the  strongest  inducement  to  avoid  a  war,  which  would  per 
petuate  the  Tariff,  restore  the  Banking  System,  and  engulph  us  in  a  Public  debt 
which  would  mortgage  all  the  exporting  States  of  the  South. 

Still  believing  the  President  is  anxious,  like  myself,  to  preserve  the  peace  of 
the  country,  I  am  most  desirous  to  sustain  him,  particularly  against  those  extreme 
men  who  are  for  committing  him,  uncompromisingly,  to  54-40.  I  know  the  Presi 
dent  is  willing  to  compromise  on  the  49th  degree,  but  I  do  know  that  every  effort 
has  been  made,  and  is  now  making,  to  prevent  all  compromise.  Forty-two  out  of 
the  fifty-four  Senators  are  also  for  compromising  on  49,  and  if  a  Treaty  was  made 
on  49,  not  more  than  six  or  seven  Senators  at  least  would  oppose  it. 

Under  these  circumstances,  I  have  come  to  the  conclusion  to  vote  for  the  Notice, 
[to  Great  Britain  respecting  the  joint  occupancy  of  Oregon]  unless  something 
occurs  to  change  that  determination.  I  shall  vote  for  notice  in  the  mildest  form  I 
can  get  it,  and  I  am  particular  about  the  form  only  for  the  reason  that  a  studied 
effort  has  been  made  by  the  war  men  to  make  notice  a  war  measure,  and  in  ad 
vance  to  censure  any  attempt  on  the  part  of  the  President  to  compromise  the  mat 
ter.  I  wish  by  the  notice  to  leave  the  President  free  to  do  whatever  he  can,  con 
sistently  with  the  honor  of  the  country,  to  adjust  this  question  peaceably. 

SUPREME  COURT  VACANCY. 

At  the  session  of  1847  the  Legislature  had  to  fill  vacancies 
which  had  occurred  on  the  bench  of  the  Supreme  Court,  and  on 
the  Chancery  bench.  Other  Judicial  elections  also  took  place, 
which  will  })Q  noticed  in  connection  with  these  officers.  This 
opportunity*  is^  embraced  to  refer  in  a  special  manner  to  a  very 
distinguished  jurist,  who  died  of  yellow  fever  in  Mobile,  in  the 
fall  of  1847. 

HON.  HENRY  GOLDTHWAITE  was  a  native  of  Boston,  Massa 
chusetts,  where  he  was  liberally  educated,  and  came  to  Alabama 
when  a  young  man,  in  the  earlier  years  of  the  State.  He  settled 
in  Montgomery,  where  he  was  for  some  time  the  editor  of  a  news 
paper,  displaying  the  abilities  which  afterward  became  so  conspic 
uous  at  the  bar,  in  the  Legislature,  and  on  the  bench  of  the  Su 
preme  Court.  He  was  for  awhile  the  law-partner  of  Governor 
Fitzpatrick,  who  was  then  a  young  man,  carving  his  way  into 
public  notice- 
In  1829,  Mr.  Goldthwaite  was  elected  a  Representative  in  the 
Legislature  from  Montgomery  county,  and  became  active  and  effi 
cient  as  a  member,  establishing  a  high  character  for  talents  and 
business  qualifications.  The  next  year  he  was  defeated.  Not 
long  afterward,  he  removed  to  Mobile,  as  a  more  extensive  open 
ing  in  the  line  of  his  profession.  He  there  formed  a  partnership 
with  Robert  G.  Gordon,  Esq.,  which  continued  until  the  death  of 
the  latter  gentleman,  in  1835.  In  the  meantime,  Mr.  Gold 
thwaite  practiced  extensively  on  the  Circuit,  and  was  acknowl 
edged  the  foremost  lawyer  in  all  the  courts,  .for  shrewdness  and 
legal  acumen.  His  mental  capacity,  and  his  logical  powers,  made 
him  a  formidable  competitor  before  any  tribunal.  He  prospered 
both  in  reputation  and  in  his  finances. 


476  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

In  1838,  he  was  elected  an  Associate  Justice  of  the  Supreme 
'Court.  His  opinions  in  the  several  volumes  of  the  Reports,  em 
bracing  the  period  of  his  service  until  he  resigned  in  1843,  afford 
the  best  evidence  of  his  great  legal  acquirements.  The  Demo 
cratic  party  in  the  Mobile  District,  being  very  anxious  to  defeat 
Mr.  Dellet,  the  Whig  candidate  for  Congress,  held  a  convention 
in  1843,  and  nominated  Judge  Goldthwaite  as  the  most  popular 
and  effective  man  to  compete  with  Mr.  Dellet  on  the  stump,  or 
elsewhere.  The  character  of  that  contest  has  been  described  in 
another  chapter  of  this  work.  Judge  Goldthwaite,  with  his  gigan 
tic  mind,  great  research,  his  superior  reasoning  faculties,  and  his 
cutting  style  of  speech,  failed  to  conquer  his  rival,  after  resigning 
his  high  office  to  enter  the  political  arena.  At  the  next  session  of 
the  Legislature,  he  was  replaced  on  the  bench,  where  he  continued 
until  cut  down  in  the  meridian  of  life,  with  bright  prospects  of 
future  advancement  in  the  honors  of  the  State. 

Judge  Goldthwaite  had  broad  shoulders,  and  was  quite  corpu 
lent.  Being  near-sighted,  he  wore  glasses  to  strengthen  his 
vision,  which  gave  him  the  appearance  of  looking  at  a  high  angle 
of  the  horizon,  to  the  neglect  of  obstacles  in  his  foot-path.  He 
was  remarkably  active  for  one  of  his  weight,  by  which  means  he 
preserved  his  equilibrium  in  walking  under  difficulties. 

He  was  bordering  on  the  age  of  an  old  bachelor  when  he  mar 
ried  Miss  Witherspoon,  of  Greene,  who  greatly  contributed  to  his 
happiness.  At  the  time  of  his  death,  and  for  many  years  pre 
viously,  he  was  a  -member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 
And  here  it  may  be  added,  what  has  rarely  happened  before  in 
the  religious  character  of  men,  that  Chief  Justice  Collier,  and 
Associate  Justices  Goldthwaite  and  Ormond,  who  presided  to 
gether  with  distinguished  ability  on  the  bench  of  the  Supreme 
Court  for  many  years,  were  all  members  of  the  same  church. 

JOSEPH  W.  LESSENE,  of  Mobile,  was  a  native  of  South  Caro 
lina,  and  educated  at  Columbia  College  in  that  State.  He  married 
a  daughter  of  Dr.  William  Cooper,  President  of  the  Institution. 
He  settled  in  Mobile  to  pursue  the  practice  of  the  law  previous 
to  1840,  as  he  that  year  participated  in  the  Whig  Conventions, 
and  in  April,  1841,  was  selected  to  deliver  a  eulogy  on  President 
Harrison,  a  task  which  he  handsomely  performed,  as  the  published 
address  will  show.  Mr.  Lessene  was  a  gentleman  of  fine  literary 
taste  and  cultivation. 

At  the  session  of  1847,  he  was  elected  Chancellor  of  the  South 
ern  Division,  to  succeed  Chancellor  Crenshaw,  deceased.  A  few 
years  thereafter,  he  aspired  to  a  seat  on  the  bench  of  the  Supreme 
Court,  but  was  defeated.  He  then  resigned  his  seat  on  the  Chan 
cery  Bench.  While  on  a  fishing  excursion,  he  and  others  were 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  477 

drowned  in  Mobile  Bay.  Chancellor  Lessene  was  an  accom 
plished  gentleman,  somewhat  reserved  in  manner,  yet,  when  bet 
ter  known,  quite  social  and  agreeable.  His  melancholly  fate  was 
much  regretted  by  the  public.  He  was  a  State  Rights  Democrat. 

JOHN  EDMUND  MOORE,  a  member  of  the  House  from  Lauder- 
dale,  in  1847,  was  defeated  for  Judge  of  the  Fifth  Circuit,  by 
Judge  S.  C.  Posey.  He  was  a  native,  of  North-Alabama,  and  a 
son  of  Dr.  Alfred  Moore,  of  Madison  county.  He  served  through 
the  session  with  activity  and  intelligence  in  the  dispatch  of  public 
business,  and  was  elected  to  the  Circuit  Bench  in  1854.  He  was 
an  aspirant  for  the  nomination  for  Governor,  but  the  choice  of  the 
Democratic  Convention  fell  on  Gov.  A.  B.  Moore.  He  occupied 
some  position  of  trust  during  the  war;  but  his  health  declined, 
and  he  died  about  its  close.  He  possessed  a  good  deal  of  energy 
in  the  prosecution  of  his  plans,  and  was  an  affable  and  companion 
able  gentleman. 

OTHER   ELECTIONS. 

At  the  session  of  1847,  Gen.  Thomas  A.  Walker  was  elected 
Judge  of  the  'Fourth  Circuit,  over  the  Hon.  George  W.  Lane. 
Both  of  these  gentlemen  have  been  sketched  on  a  different  oc 
casion. 

For  Solicitor-General  of  the  Sixth  Circuit,  Mr.  Platt,  received 
66  votes,  which  elected  him  over  Mr.  Ralston,  who  received  44 
votes,  and  Mr.  Jarnigan,  who  received  12  votes. 

William  S.  Mudd,  of  Jefferson,  was  elected  Solicitor  of  the 
Third  Circuit,  and  Alexander  B.  Forney,  of  Lowndes,  was  elected 
Solicitor  of  the  Second  Circuit. 

Samuel  G.  Frierson,  Esq.,  and  Jefferson  C.  Van  Dyke,  Esq., 
having,  for  many  years,  held  tlje  respective  offices  of  State  Treas 
urer  and  Comptroller  of  Public  Accounts,  were  not  candidates  in 
1847  for  reelection.  Jtel  Riggs  was  elected  Comptroller,  after  a 
stubborn  contest;  and  William  Graham,  of  Autanga,  was  elected 
State  Treasurer.  Upon  the  recommendation  of  Gov.  Martin, 
these  offices  had  been  reorganized  upon  an  improved  footing,  and 
the  salaries  increased. 

Col.  Marion  A.  Baldwin  was  elected  Attorney-General,  over 
Henry  C.  Semple  and  George  Taylor,  Esqrs.,  his  competitors. 

WILLIAM  E.  CLARKE  was  elected  Solicitor  of  the  Second  Cir 
cuit,  over  several  competitors.  He  had  previously  held  the  office 
some  months  under  Executive  appointment,  and  at  the  Fall  riding 
proved  himself  a  vigilant  and  effective  prosecuting  officer.  He 
subsequently  added  to  his  reputation  in  this  respect,  and  contrib 
uted,  by  his  zeal  and  ability,  to  the  faithful  administration  of  public 


478  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

justice.  After  his  term  of  office  expired,  he  declined  a  reelection, 
and  devoted  himself  more  exclusively  to  the  practice  of  law  in 
Marengo  and  the  adjoining  counties,  until  the  events  of  1860, 
connected  with  the  Presidential  election,  interrupted  his  engage 
ments. 

He  was  elected  a  delegate  of  the  Convention  of  1861,  and  voted 
for  the  Ordinance  of  Secession.  In  the  same  year  he  was  elected 
a  Senator  from  Marengo  and  Greene  counties,  which  place  he  con 
tinued  to  hold  until  the  last  session  under  the  Confederate  Gov 
ernment.  When  Mr.  Jemison  was  elected,  in  1863,  to  the  Con 
federate  Senate,  Mr.  Clarke  succeeded  him  as  Chairman  of  the 
Committee  on  Finance  and  Taxation,  to  which  responsible  position 
he  brought  ability  and  business  qualities  of  no  ordinary  grade. 
His  speeches  were  always  brief  and  to  the  point — never  for  dis 
play — and  for  that  reason  had  more  influence. 

Mr.  Clarke  is  a  native  of  Virginia,  and  came  to  Alabama  when 
a  young  man,  and  now  resides  in  Demopolis,  pursuing  his  profes 
sion  earnestly  and  successfully.  In  politics,  he  has  always  been  a 
Democrat.  His  uncle,  Robert  Clarke,  Esq.,  a  gentleman  of  great 
worth  and  popularity,  represented  Marengo  in  183*8  and  1839. 

JOHN  M.  JARNIGAN  was  a  son  of  the  Hon.  Spencer  Jarnigan, 
a  Senator  in  Congress  from  Tennessee,  in  1843-'47,  who  was  re 
garded  as  one  of  the  strong  men  of  his  day  in  that  State,  in  the 
Whig  party.  I  saw  the  father  and  son  in  Tuskaloosa,  about  the 
year  1845,  prospecting  for  a  location  for  the  latter.  Mobile  was 
selected  as  the  point  at  which  he  settled  in  the  practice  of  the  law. 
But  his  eifort,  if  he  made  any,  was  a  failure,  resulting,  no  little, 
from  unsteady  habits.  He  left  Alabama,  and  joined  the  expedi 
tion  to  Sonora,  on  the  Pacific  coast,  and  was  a  member  of  the 
paper-  Cabinet  of  President  Walker  of  filibustering  celebrity — 
perhaps  Secretary  of  *War.  Since  this  movement,  I  lost  all  traces 
of  Mr.  Jarnigan. 

WILLIAM  S.  MUDD,  of  Jefferson,  entered  the  House  as  a  mem 
ber  at  the  session  of  1843,  and  was  reflected  in  1844,  and  again 
in  1845.  He  was  elected  Solicitor  in  1847,  and  filled  the  office 
with  efficiency  for  eight  years.  In  1851,  he  was  the  candidate  of 
the  Compromise  party  for  Congress,  and  made  a  strong  canvass, 
but  was  defeated  by  S.  W.  Harris.  He  succeeded  the  Hon. 
George  D.  Shortridge  as  Judge  of  the  Third  Circuit  in  1855,  and 
has  been  on  the  bench  continually  from  that  time  to  the  present 
(1871.)  In  1865,  he  was  a  delegate  in  the  Convention  to  carry 
out  the  policy  of  President  Johnson  for  re-organizing  the  State, 
and  took  an  active  part  in  that  body. 

Judge  Mudd  was  raised  and  educated  in  Alabama,     He  was  a 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  479 

Whig  under  the  old  party  organization,  but  he  was  personally 
popular  at  home,  where  the  Democrats  had  a  majority,  and  seldom 
failed  of  an  election.  He  was  never  an  extreme  man  in  his  polit 
ical  sentiments,  but  conservative  and  cautious.  In  discharging 
the  various  public  trusts  confided  to  him,  he  has  acted  with  uni 
form  integrity  of  character.  He  is  direct,  straightforward,  and 
frank  in  his  intercourse  with  his  fellow-men,  unpretending  and 
respectful.  As  a  member  of  the  Legislature,  he  faithfully  repre 
sented  the  will  of  his  constituents,  whenever  that  will  was  known. 
He  still  resides  in  Jefferson  county,  highly  respected  among  a 
people  who  have  known  him  from  boyhood. 

ALEXANDER  B.  FORNEY,  of  Lowndes,  completed  his  educa 
tion  as  a  member  of  the  graduating  class  of  1838,  in  the  Uni 
versity  of  Alabama,  where  he  received  the  degree  of  Master  of 
Arts.  He  Avas  a  son  of  the  Hon.  Daniel  M.  Forney,  who  was  a 
Representative  in  Congress  from  North  Carolina,  1815-'18. 

Mr.  A.  B.  Forney  was  elected  to  the  House  in  1847,  which  was 
his  first  and  only  session.  Being  a  new  member,  and  promoted 
to  an  office  which  would  likely  engross  his  thoughts  and  labors  in 
the  future,  he  did  not  participate  to  much  extent  in  the  business 
of  the  House  beyond  voting.  He  possessed  a  well-balanced  mind, 
a  good  personal  figure,  and  was  a  gentleman  in  his  deportment. 
He  made  a  faithful  and  efficient  representative  of  the  State  in 
the  prosecution  of  crime.  While  his  friends  looked  forward  to 
still  higher  advancement  for  him,  and  to  many  days  of  enjoyment 
and  usefulness,  he  was  cut  off  in  the  morning  of  life,  just  as  his 
faculties  began  to  expand  ill  a  public  career. 

JOEL  RIGGS.  the  new  Comptroller  of  Public  Accounts,  con 
tinued  in  office,  by  successive  elections,  until  1855,  when  his  polit 
ical  principles  or  prejudices  led  him  into  an  alliance  with  the 
Know-Nothing  party,  and  occasioned  his  defeat  for*  a  still  further 
reelection. 

Mr.  Riggs  was  a  Tennesseean  by  birth,  but  came  to  Alabama 
when  young,  and  was  sent  to  the  Military  Academy  at  West- 
Point,  where  he  received  his  education.  For  several  years  he 
was  Teller  in  the  State  Bank,  and  was  noted  for  the  accuracy  with 
which  he  kept  his  accounts.  As  Comptroller,  he  managed  the 
affairs  of  his  office  with  great  regularity,  bringing  order  out  of 
confusion,  and  introducing  system,  of  which  very  little  had  been 
practiced  for  years.  He  opened  an  entirely  new  set  of  books,  and 
digested  the  tax  returns  with  little  or  no  help.  As  the  head  of 
his  department,  he  stood  at  his  desk  from  morn  till  night,  render 
ing  to  the  State  honest  services  for  the  compensation  he  received. 
His  official  reports  showed  the  results,  in  the  information  they  fur- 


480  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

nished  as  a  basis  for  estimating  the  public  revenue  from  taxation, 
and  other  sources,  to  replenish  the  Treasury.  Clerks  had  little  to 
do  in  preparing  these  statements,  as  in  later  days. 

After  leaving  the  office  of  Comptroller,  Mr.  Riggs  became  con 
nected  with  the  "  Mail/'  a  newspaper,  of  which  he  was  one  of  the 
editors.  His  health  had  been  feeble  for  many  years,  rendering 
him  somewhat  unsocial;  but  with  his  bookstand  business  he  was 
always  on  good  terms.  He  died  in  1865,  after  a  lingering  illness. 

Before  he  removed  from  Tuskaloosa,  Mr.  Riggs  married  a 
daughter  of  Junius  A.  Moore,  Esq.,  and  niece  of  Judge  Alexan 
der  B.  Clitherall.  Mrs.  Clitherall,  the  mother  of  the*  Judge,  was 
an  English  lady,  and  for  many  years  a  correspondent  of  Hannah 
More,  the  celebrated  authoress. 

WILLIAM  GKAHAM,  of  Autauga,  was  a  native  of  North  Caro 
lina,  and  a  brother  of  Daniel  Graham,  who  was  many  years  Sec 
retary  of  State  of  Tennessee.  He  was  also  a  brother  of  John  G. 
Graham,  formerly  of  Alabama,  but  now  a  citizen  of  Texas,  and 
of  Mr.  Samuel  S.  Graham,  of  Coosa  county. 

Mr.  Graham,  the  new  State  Treasurer,  was  so  competent  and 
faithful  in  office,  that  he  retained  it  for  a  period  of  ten  years,  with 
out  opposition,  and  then  declined  a  reelection.  His  business 
habits,  and  his  skill  in  accounts,  his  fidelity,  his  scrupulous  neat 
ness  in  keeping  his  books,  all  in  the  finest  lines  and  figures,  yet 
all  intelligible  and  all  exact  to  the  fraction  of  a  cent,  made  him  a 
valuable  officer  to  the  State,  and  the  loss  of  his  services,  by  retire 
ment,  was  a  subject  of  much  public  regret. 

For  many  years  he  had  been  clerk  of  the  Circuit  Court  of 
Montgomery  county,  was  always  popular,  and  yet  always  quiet 
and  taciturn,  without  ever  using  any  art  at  electioneering,  as  the 
term  is  generally  understood.  He  had  fixed  principles  of  recti 
tude,,  and  a  method  of  managing  his  affairs,  from  which  he  never 
departed.  Even  his  personal  movements  were  under  the  same 
rigid  discipline.  I  have  seen  him  walk  a  great  deal,  but  never 
in  a  hurry  beyond  a  regular  gait.  I  have  seen  him  ride  much, 
but  he  never  put  his  horse  beyond  a  walk.  He  was  firm  and 
patient  in  adhering  to  his  rules  of  action.  The  night  before  his 
first  election,  when  his  friends  thought  he  had  strong  opposition, 
they  asked  him  to  meet  them  in  consultation  as  to  the  best  means 
of  success.  He  replied  that  it  was  his  night  for  going  to  church, 
and  that  he  would  leave  the  election  to  the  chapter  of  accidents. 

After  a  long  life  of  faithful  public  service,  and  suffering  at 
times  the  antagonisms  of  fortune,  this  good  member  of  the  Pres 
byterian  Church  descended  to  his  grave  several  years  ago,  leaving 
a  spotless  name  as  a  heritage  to  his  family  and  numerous  de 
scendants. 


Reminiscences  of  PMic  Men  in  Alabama.  481 

HENRY  C.  SEMPLE  was  born  and  educated  in  Virginia,  and  is 
descended  from  an  old,  and  a  long  line  of  ancestors  distinguished 
for  talent  and  high-toned  bearing.  He  married  a  daughter  of 
Lorenzo  James,  and  has  mingled  prominently  in  the  highest  so 
cial  circles  of  Montgomery,  and  is  highly  esteemed  for  his  intelli 
gence  and  his  virtues. 

In  the  reconstruction  measures,  he  first  acted  in  favor  of  organ 
ization  under  the  programme  of  Congress,  and  was  a  member  of 
the  Convention  which  formed  the  present  Constitution  of  Ala 
bama,  though  it  is  not  such  an  instrument  as  he  tried  to  make  it, 
and  against  it  he  protested.  Soon  after  the  Convention  adjourned, 
he  separated  himself  from  all  connection  (whatever  it  may  have 
been)  with  that  party,  and  has  since  maintained  a  firm  opposition 
to  the  measures  of  the  party  of  reconstruction.  Those  who  knew 
Mr.  Sample  had  confidence  in  his  good  intentions,  and  in  his  de 
sire  to  promote  the  interests  of  the  people,  and  to  avert  a  greater 
calamity  to  his  State. 

Mr.  Sample  came  to  Montgomery  as  a  young  lawyer  a  few  years 
before  he  ran  for  the  office  of  Attorney-General,  in  1847,  and  still 
resides  in  the  city,  engaged  in  his  profession,  in  the  prime  of  life. 

GEORGE  TAYLOR,  who  was  defeated  for  Attorney-General  in 
1847,  was  a  member  of  the  bar  of  Alabama  for  a  few  years,  first 
settling  at  Wetumpka,  and  afterward  removing  to  Montgomery. 
Soon  after  his  unsuccessful  attempt  to  obtain  office  at  the  hands  of 
the  Legislature,  he  left  the  State,  and  fixed  his  residence  in 
Brooklyn,  New  York,  where  he  took  strong  position  in  the  Dem- 
cratic  party,  and  was  elected  to  Congress  where  he  served  one  or 
two  terms,  throughout  which  he  closely  adhered  to  that  organiza 
tion. 

ALBERT  G.  GOOCH,  although  not  a  member  of  the  Legislature, 
held  important  positions  Avhich  justly  entitle  him  to  a  place  in  this 
volume.  He  came  from  Virginia  to  Alabama,  and  in  1835  was  a 
clerk  in  the  store  of  Thomas  H.  Herndon,  a  large  merchant  at 
Erie,  then  the  county-site  of  Greene  county.  An  offer  having 
been  made  him  by  Henry  Minor,  Esq.,  Clerk  of  the  Supreme 
Court,  Mr.  Gooch  accepted  it,  and  changed  his  residence  to  Tns- 
kaloosa  in  1836.  When  the  author  first  became  acquainted  with 
him  he  was  Secretary  to  Gov.  McVay  in  1837,  and  for  a  while  he 
continued  as  Secretary  in  the  Executive  Department  after  the 
accession  of  Gov.  Bagby.  But  a  more  lucrative  situation  awaited 
him  from  Judge  Crawford,  who  appointed  him  Clerk  of  the 
United  States  Court  for  the  Middle  District  of  Alabama,  in  which 
office  he  realized  probably  not  less  than  twenty  thousand  dollars 
as  his  regular  fees  in  bankruptcy,  during  the  operation  of  the 
31 


482  jReminiacences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

bankrupt  law  of  1841.     Mr.  Gooch  was  a  competent  and  faithful 
clerk,  and  very  prudent  in  the  management  of  his  affairs. 

His  circumstances  being  independent,  he  married  Miss  Mar 
garet  Barr,  a  lady  of  fine  literary  culture,  and  of  great  personal 
worth,  a  sister  of  John  G.  Barr,  Esq.  He  was  next  appointed 
by  Mr.  Lyon,  Assistant  Commissioner  in  charge  of  the  assets  of 
the  State  Bank,  and  performed  the  duties  devolving  on  him  with 
marked  integrity.  In  the  prime  of  life,  Mr.  Gooch  died  at  Tus- 
kaloosa,  about  1st  of  January,  1858,  to  the  grief  of  friends  and 
the  regret  of  the  entire  community.  He  was  the  model  of  an 
upright  gentleman — quiet,  dignified  and  courteous;  and  his  mem 
ory  will  be  held  in  the  highest  respect  by  those  who  knew  him, 
including  the  best  men  of  the  State,  many  of  whom  were  his  per 
sonal  friends. 

COL.  CHARLES  T.  POLLARD  has  wielded  so  large  an  influence, 
and  has  been  so  long  connected  with  railroads,  with  finance  and 
public  improvements  generally,  that  his  name  ought  to  appear 
among  the  leading  men  of  Alabama.  A  Virginian  by  birth,  he 
came  to  Montgomery  more  than  thirty  years  ago,  and  engaged  in 
commercial  pursuits,  in  which  he  was  successful.  At  a  time  of 
great  disaster,  when  merchants  and  business  men  generally  were 
swept  overboard  by  the  hurricane  which  prostrated  most  of  the 
Banks,  Col.  Pollard  weathered  the  storm,  and  his  march  has  ever 
been  onward,  until  he  has  reached  the  very  pinnacle,  which  gives 
command  in  society  and  in  the  transactions  of  men. 

With  the  West-Point  and  Montgemery  Railroad  he  became 
identified  at  a  period  when  its  affairs  languished,  and  by  his  skill 
and  enterprise,  as  President,  he  gave  it  new  life,  and  brought  it 
to  completion.  He  has  been  at  the  head  of  other  enterprises  of 
the  kind,  always  providing  the  means,  in  Europe  and  in  this 
country,  to  carry  out  his  plans.  His  integrity  of  character  has 
been  the  foundation  of  success.  His  accumulations  have  been 
legitimate  and  ample.  In  hospitality,  and  in  the  splendor  of  his 
household;  in  his  large  family  connection,  and  in  all  that  consti 
tutes  a  true  man,  crowned  with  enjoyments  in  social  life,  his 
example  has  been  a  triumph.  Montgomery  is  indebted  to  him 
for  much  of  her  prosperity.  He  still  resides  there  in  the  midst 
of  his  usefulness,  actively  occupied  in  promoting  good  works. 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama,  483 


CHAPTER  XXVII. 

Session  of  1847  Adjourned — Leading  Measures — Gov.    Clay  and 
other  Public  Characters  Noticed. 

The  leading  measures  at  the  session  of  1847  related  to  the 
Banks,  and  the  establishment  of  a  system  of  revenue  that  should 
defray  the  expenses  of  the  Government,  and  maintain  the  public 
faith.  To  these  questions  the  members  applied  themselves  earn 
estly,  through  the  action  of  Committees,  and  otherwise. 

A  new  revenue  bill  was  reported  by  Mr.  Jemison,  Chairman  of 
the  Committee  on  Ways  and  Means,  intended  to  raise  a  fund  suffi 
cient  to  pay  the  expenses  of  the  State  Government,  the  interest 
upon  the  trust  funds,  (16th  Section  and  University,)  and  interest 
on  the  State  bonds,  leaving  the  remaining  assets  of  the  Banks  to 
be  used  for  the  redemption  of  the  outstanding  indebtedness.  The 
16th  Section  Fund  was  taken  charge  of  by  the  State,  and  the 
public  faith  pledged  for  the  payment  of  the  interest  annually,  to 
the  trustees  of  the  proper  townships,  for  school  purposes*. 

BANK   COMMISSIONERS. 

The  liquidation  of  the  State  Bank  and  Branches  had  progressed 
by  regular  steps,  one  leading  to  another,  and  at  each  session  since 
1842  additional  legislation  was  necessary,  from  a  new  stand-point  in 
the  status  of  these  institutions,  to  meet  the  existing  state  of  things. 
At  the  session  of  1845,  the  whole  assets  of  the  Banks  were 
placed  in  the  hands  of  three  Commissioners,  clothed  with  large 
and  delicate  powers  in  their  management.  The  manner  in  which 
they  discharged  the  trust,  fully  justified  the  confidence  reposed  in 
them,  and  the  policy  of  the  legislation  under  which  they  acted. 
They  came  forth  at  this  session  with  an  exhibit  of  their  actings 
and  doings  under  the  commission,  which  wras  clear  and  satisfactory, 
and  a  formal  recognition  of  the  able  and  faithful  manner  in  which 
the  Commissioners  had  proceeded  from  first  to  last,  was  made  by 
the  Legislature;  and  one  step  further  was  taken,  by  constituting 
Francis  S.  Lyon,  Esq.,  sole  Commissioner  and  Trustee  to  apply 
the  remaining  assets  of  the  Banks,  with  power  and  discretion  as 
to  settlements  with  debtors,  in  buying  exchange,  and  taking  up 
the  indebtedness  of  the  State,  as  he  thought  best  for  the  public 
interest.  No  higher  proof  of  confidence  could  be  given  by  the 
Legislature,  and  no  man  in  the  State  more  deserved  it. 


484  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

After  retiring  from  the  Bank  Commission,  Mr.  Clay  and  Mr. 
Cooper  have  not  been  connected  with  public  affairs.  Deeming 
the  present  occasion  suitable,  a  personal  notice  of  these  gentlemen 
is  here  given. 

CLEMENT  C.  CLAY  was  born  and  educated  in  Virginia,  settled 
in  Alabama  while  it  was  in  a  Territorial  condition,  making  Hunts- 
ville  his  place  of  residence.  In  1819,  he  was  a  delegate  from 
Madison  county,  in  the  Convention  which  formed  the  Constitution, 
under  which  Alabama  was  admitted  as  a  State. 

With  great  energy  of  character,  and  with  a  laudable  ambition, 
he  pushed  himself  forward  at  the  bar  and  in  the  public  service, 
until  his  success  was  fully  established.  In  those  days  a  resort  to 
the  code  of  honor  was  quite  common  between  gentlemen  who  had 
controversies  of  a  personal  nature  to  settle.  An  affair  of  this 
kind,  in  his  early  life,  led  to  a  hostile  meeting  with  Dr.  Waddy 
Tate,  of  Limestone,  in  which  both  were  severely  wounded,  though 
with  no  permanent  injury. 

Positions  of  honor  and  trust  seemed  to  be  at  his  command.  In 
1819,  he  was  elected  Judge  of  the  Circuit  Court,  of  the  Fifth 
Circuit;  in  1827,  was  elected  a  Representative  in  the  Legislature; 
and  in  1829,  he  was  elected  to  Congress  from  the  Huntsville  Dis 
trict,  and  Was  reflected  in  1831  and  1833.  In  1835  he  canvassed 
the  State,  and  was  elected  Governor  by  a  large  majority  over  Gen. 
Enoch  Parsons,  of  Monroe  county.  Upon  the  resignation  of  the 
Hon.  John  McKinley,  he  was  elected  a  Senator  in  Congress  at 
the  called  session  of  the  Legislature,  in  June  1837,  in  which  ca 
pacity  he  served  until  the  Fall  of  1841,  when  he  resigned.  Sub 
sequently  he  was  but  little  engaged  in  public  life,  except  in  1843, 
when  he  served  a  few  months  on  the  Bench  of  the  Supreme  Court, 
under  the  appointment  of  Gov.  Fitzpatrick. 

A  new  Digest  of  the  Laws  of  Alabama  having  been  authorized 
by  the  Legislature,  since  that  by  John  G.  Aikin,  Esq.,  Gov.  Clay 
was  appointed  to  prepare  the  work,  and  at  the  session  of  1842  he 
reported  the  manuscript,  which,  after  examination  by  the  Judiciary 
Committee,  was  accepted  and  approved  by  the  Legislature.  In 
1843  it  was  published,  and  has  been  used  as  authority  in  the 
Courts  ever  since. 

During  his  administration  as  Governor,  in  1836,  the  Creek  In 
dians  within  the  limits  of  Alabama  became  hostile.  As  Com 
mander-in-chief  of  the  State,  Gov.  Clay  ordered  out  troops  and 
took  the  field  in  person,  in  active  cooperation  with  Major-General 
Scott,  and  Major-General  Jesup,  of  the  United  States  army,  who 
subsequently  took  command  of  the  volunteers  from  Alabama  and 
the  adjoining  States,  to  operate  against  the  Indians.  From  May 
iintil  about  the  first  of  August  the  disturbances  continued  to  pre- 


Iteminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  485 

Vail,  and  many  skirmishes  and  a  few  battles  took  place,  as  the  In 
dian  mode  of  warfare,  laying  in  ambush,  dodging  behind  trees, 
and  then  hiding  in  thickets  and  swamps,  so  that  they  could  not  be 
pursued  by  artillery,  cavalry,  or  even  infantry,  evaded  open  con 
tact  with  the  troops.  At  length  the  Indians  submitted,  and  were 
removed  west  of  the  Mississippi,  thus  relieving  Alabama  of  a 
most  impracticable  and  dangerous  population. 

From  the  time  he  entered  public  life  until  its  close,  embracing 
a  period  of  about  twenty-five  years,  in  the  Legislature,  on  the 
bench,  in  both  branches  of  Congress,  and  in  the  State  Executive, 
no  man  was  more  zealous,  more  active,  and  more  efficient  in  ad 
vancing  the  interests  of  the  people  of  Alabama,  than  Gov.  Clay. 
Through  his  exertions  in  Congress,  for  the  passage  of  the  preem- 
tion  laws  discriminating  in  favor  of  settlers,  thousands  and  per 
haps  tens  of  thousands  have  secured  homes  on  the  public  domain, 
which  otherwise  they  would  have  been  unable  to  obtain.  His 
industry  knew  no  limit,  and  throughout  his  whole  career,  he  care 
fully  investigated  all  matters  in  hand,  and  then,  with  a  resolution 
which  never  faltered,  he  marched  directly  to  his  object.  While 
toiling  for  the  good  of  others,  he  was  not  wholly  indifferent  to 
reward,  that  honorable  reward  which  a  manly  ambition  covets,  the 
approbation  and  support  of  the  people  in  his  public  measures. 
This  he  received  to  an  extent  which  few  men  have  been  per 
mitted  to  enjoy.  As  a  patriot,  he  was  jealous  of  the  honor  of  his 
country,  as  his  speeches  in  Congress,  and  communications  to  the 
General  Assembly,  afford  evidence.  From  youth  to  old  age,  he 
contended  for  liberty  in  the  broadest  and  best  sense  of  the  term — 
liberty  of  speech  and  of  the  press,  and  the  rights  of  the  States 
and  of  individuals,  all  guaranteed  by  the  Constitution  which  he 
had  assisted  in  framing  for  the  government  of  Alabama,  and  by 
the  Federal  Constitution,  which  he  had  sworn  to  support. 

But  a  change  came  over  the  land.  North-Alabama  was  in 
vaded  by  Federal  troops,  and  his  home  in  Huntsville  was  seized, 
and  he  himself  put  under  military  arrest.  Indignities  were 
heaped  upon  this  venerable  public  servant  and  Christian  gentle 
man.  Soon  after  the  fall  of  Nashville,  in  February,  1862,  the 
so-called  Union  army  occupied  North-Alabama,  spreading  devas 
tation  everywhere  in  their  march.  No  attempt  will  be  made  here 
to  describe  the  atrocities  committed  under  the  United  States  flag 
which  was  raised  at  the  headquarters  of  that  most  hateful  of  all 
tyrants,  Gen.  O.  M.  Mitchell,  the  post  commander  at  Huntsville. 
When  he  relinguished  the  chair  of  Astronomy,  at  Cincinnati,  for 
the  epaulettes  of  a  field  officer,  he  became  at  once  transformed 
into  a  ferocious  monster,  insulting  helpless  women,  and  domineer 
ing  over  all  classes  subject  to  his  rule.  A  few  months  thereafter 
it  pleased  Heaven  to  remove  him  to  another  world,  and  Hilton 


486  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

Head,  in  South  Carolina,  where  he  had  renewed  his  abominations, 
witnessed  his  last  agony  on  earth. 

But  there  was  a  master-spirit  behind  the  scenes,  who  will  now 
be  brought  to  view  in  the  following  precious  document : 

TREATMENT  OF  THE  INHABITANTS  OF  THE  SOUTH— IMPORTANT  LETTER 
FROM  GENERAL  SHERMAN. 

From  the  Nashville  Times.] 

We  have  gained  possession  of  the  important  letter  published  below,  and  give  it 
to  our  readers  who,  after  perusing  it,  will  know  more  of  the  temper  and  charac 
ter  of  the  commander  of  the  grand  military  division  of  the  Mississippi  than  they 
have  known  heretofore..  The  letter  was  not  designed  for  publication,  having 
been  addressed  to  his  Adjutant-General,  in  reply  to  certain  interrogatories  relative 
to  the  course  to  be  pursued  by  subordinate  commanders  of  military  districts  to 
ward  disloyal  inhabitants.  We  will  add  that  as  we  consider  our  readers  sensible 
men  and  women,  no  comments  are  necessary: 

HEADQ'  RS  DEPARTMENT  OF  TENNESSEE,  1 
VICKSBURG,  January  1,  1863.      / 

Major  R.  M.  Sawyer,  A.  A.  G.  Army  of  Tennessee,  Huntsville: 

DEAR  SAWYER — In  my  former  letter*  I  have  answered  all  your  questions  save 
one,  and  that  relates  to  the  treatment  of  inhabitants  known,  or  suspected  to  be, 
hostile  or  "secesh."  This  is,  in  truth,  the  most  difficult  business  of  our  army,  as 
it  advances  and  occupies  the  Southern  country.  It  is  almost  impossible  to  lay 
down  rules,  and  I  invariably  leave  this  subject  to  local  commanders,  but  am  wil 
ling  to  give  them  the  benefit  of  my  acquired  knowledge  and  experience.  In  Eu 
rope,  whence  we  derive  our  principles  of  war,  as  developed  by  their  histories, 
wars  are  between  kings  and  rulers,  through  hired  armies,  and  not  between 
peoples.  These  remain,  as  it  were,  neutral,  and  sell  their  produce  to  whatever 
army  is  in  possession. 

Napoleon,  when  at  war  with  Prussia,  Austria,  and  Russia,  bought  forage  and 
provisions  of  the  inhabitants,  and  consequently  had  an  interest  to  protect  farms 
and  factories,  which  ministered  to  his  wants.  In  like  manner,  the  allied  armies 
in  France  could  buy  of  the  French  whatever  they  needed,  the  produce  of  the  soil 
or  manufactures  of  the  country.  Therefore,  the  rule  was  and  is,  that  wars  are 
confined  to  the  armies,  and  should  not  visit  the  homes  of  families  or  private 
interests. 

But  in  other  examples,  a  different  rule  obtained  the  sanction  of  historical 
authority.  I  will  only  instance  that,  when  in  the  reign  of  William  and  Mary,  the 
English  army  occupied  Ireland,  then  in  a  state  of  revolt,  the  inhabitants  were 
actually  driven  into  foreign  lands,  and  were  actually  dispossessed  of  their  poperty 
and  a  new  population  introduced.  To  this  day,  a  large  part  of  the  north  of  Ire 
land  is  held  by  the  descendants  of  the  Scotch  emigrants  sent  there  by  William's 
order,  and  an  act  of  Parliament. 

The  war  which  prevails  in  our  land  is  essentially  a  war  of  races.  The  South 
ern  people  entered  into  a  clear  compact  of  government,  but  still  maintained  a  spe 
cies  of  separate  interests,  history  and  prejudices.  These  latter  became  stronger 
and  stronger,  till  they  have  led  to  a  war,  which  has  developed  the  fruits  of  the 
bitterest  kind. 

We  of  the  North  are,  beyond  all  question,  right  in  our  lawful  cause,  but  we  are 
not  bound  to  ignore  the  fact  that  the  people  of  the  South  have  prejudices  which 
form  part  of  their  nature,  and  which  they  cannot  throw  off  without  an  effort  of 
reason  or  the  slower  process  of  natural  change.  Now,  the  question  arises,  should 
we  treat  as  absolute  enemies  all  in  the  South  who  differ  with  us  in  opinions  or 
prejudices — kill  or  banish  them?  Or  should  we  give  them  time  to  think,  and 
gradually  change  their  conduct  so  as  to  conform  to  the  new  order  of  things  which 
is  slowly  and  gradually  creeping  into  their  country? 


l&ininiseences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  487 

When  men  take  arms  to  resist  our  rightful  authority,  we  are  compelled  to  use 
force,  because  all  reason  and  argument  ceases  when  arms  are  resorted  to.  When 
the  provisions,  forage,  horses,  mules,  wagons,  etc.,  are  used  by  our  enemy,  it  is 
clearly  our  duty  and  right  to  take  them,  because,  otherwise,  they  might  be  used 
against  us. 

In  like  manner,  all  houses  left  vacant  by  an  inimical  people  are  clearly  our 
right,  or  such  as  are  needed  as  store-houses,  hospitals,  and  quarters.  But  a  ques 
tion  arises  as  to  dwellings  used  by  women,  children,  and  non-combatants.  So 
long  as  non-combatants  remain  in  their  houses,  and  keep  to  their  accustomed 
business,  their  opinions  and  prejudices  can  in  nowise  influence  the  war,  and, 
therefore,  should  not  be  noticed.  But  if  any  one  comes  out  in  the  public  streets 
and  creates  disorder,  he  or  she  should  be  punished,  restrained,  or  banished,  either 
to  the  rear  or  front,  as  the  officer  in  command  adjudges.  If  the  people,  or  any  of 
them,  keep  up  a  correspondence  with  parties  in  hostility,  they  are  spies,  and  can 
be  punished  with  death  or  minor  punishment. 

These  are  well  established  principles  of  war,  and  the  people  of  the  South  having 
appealed  to  war,  are  barred  from  appealing  to  our  Constitution,  which  they  have 
practically  and  publicly  defied.  They  have  appealed  to  war,  and  must  abide  its 
rules  and  laws.  The  United  States,  as  a  belligerent  party  claiming  right  in  the 
soil  as  the  ultimate5  sovereign,  have  a  right  to  change  the  population,  and  it  may 
be  and  is,  both  politic  and  best,  that  we  should  do  so  in  certain  districts.  When 
the  inhabitants  persist  too  long  in  hostility,  it  may  be  both  politic  and  right  that 
we  should  banish  them  and  appropriate  their  lands  to  a  more  loyal  and  useful 
population.  No  man  will  deny  that  the  United  States  would  be  benefited  by  dis 
possessing  a  single  prejudiced,  hard-headed  and  disloyal  planter  and  substitute  in 
his  place  a  dozen  or  more  patient,  industrious,  good  families,  even  if  they  be  of 
foreign  birth.  I  think  it  does  good  to  present  this  view  of  the  case  to  many  South 
ern  gentlemen,  who  grow  rich  and  wealthy,  not  by  virtue  alone  of  their  industry 
and  skill,  but  by  reason  of  the  protection  and  impetus  to  prosperity  given  by  our 
hitherto  moderate  and  magnanimous  Government.  It  is  all  idle  nonsense  for  these 
Southern  planters  to  say  that  they  made  the  South,  that  they  own  it,  and  that  they 
can  do  as  they  please — even  to  break  up  our  Government,  and  to  shut  up  the  natural 
avenues  of  trade,  intercourse  and  commerce. 

We  know,  angl  they  know  if  they  are  intelligent  beings,  that,  as  compared  witli 
the  whole  world,  they  are  but  as  five  millions  are  to  one  thousand  millions — that 
they  did  not  create  the  land — that  their  only  title  to  its  use  and  enjoyment  is  the 
deed  of  the  United  States,  and  if  they  appeal  to  war  they  hold  their  all  by  a  very 
insecure  tenure. 

For  my  part,  I  believe  that  this  war  is  the  result  of  false  political  doctrine,  for 
which  we  are  all  as  a  people  responsible,  viz :  that  any  and  every  people  has  a  right 
to  self-government;  and  I  would  give  to  all  a  chance  to  reflect,  and  when  in  error 
to  recant.  I  know  slave-owners  finding  themselves  in  possession  of  a  species  of 
property  in  opposition  to  the  growing  sentiment  of  the  civilized  world,  conceived 
their  property  in  danger,  and  foolishly  appealed  to  war;  and  by  skillful  political 
handling  involved  with  themselves  the  whole  South  on  the  doctrine  of  error  and 
prejudice.  I  believe  that  some  of  the  rich  and  slave-holding  are  prejudiced  to  an 
extent  that  nothing  but  deatli  and  ruin  will  extinguish ;  but  hope  that  as  the  poorer 
and  industrial  classes  of  the  South  realize  their  relative  weakness,  and  their  de 
pendence  upon  the  fruits  of  the  earth  and  good  will  of  their  fellow-inen,  they  will 
not  only  discover  the  error  of  their  ways,  and  repent  of  their  hasty  action,  but 
bless  those  who  persistently  maintained  a  constitutional  Government,  strong 
enough  to  sustain  itself,  protect  its  citizens,  and  promise  peaceful  homes  to  mil 
lions  yet  unborn. 

In  this  belief,  while  I  assert  for  our  Government  the  highest  military  preroga 
tives,  I  am  willing  to  bear  in  patience  that  political  nonsense  of  slave  rights,  State 
Rights,  freedom  of  conscience,  freedom  of  press,  and  such  other  trash  as  have  de 
luded  the  Southern  people  into  war,  anarchy,  bloodshed,  and  the  foulest  crimes 
that  have  disgraced  any  time  or  any  people. 

I  would  advise  the  commanding  officers  at  Huntsville  and  such  other  towns  as 
are  occupied  by  our  troops,  to  assemble  the  inhabitants  and  explain  to  them  these, 


488  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabamd. 

plain,  self-evident  propositions,  and  tell  them  that  it  is  for  them  now  to  say  whether 
they  and  their  children  shall  inherit  their  share.  The  Government  of  the  United 
States  has  in  North-Alabama  any  and  all  rights  which  they  choose  to  enforce  in 
-war — to  take  their  lives,  their  homes,  their  lands,  their  everything,  because  they 
can  not  deny  that  war  does  exists  there,  and  war  is  simply  power  unrestrained  by 
constitution  or  compact.  If  they  want  eternal  warfare,  well  and  good;  we  will 
accept  the  issue  and  dispossess  them,  and  put  our  friends  in  possession.  I  know 
thousands  and  millions  of  good  people  who,  at  simple  notice,  would  come  to  North- 
Alabama  and  accept  the  elegant  houses  and  plantations  there.  If  the  people  of 
Huntsville  think  different,  let  them  persist  in  war  three  years  longer,  and  they 
will  not  be  consulted.  Three  years  ago,  by  a  little  reflection  and  patience,  they 
could  have  had  a  hundred  years  of  peace  and  prosperity,  but  they  preferred  war. 
Very  well,  last  year  they  could  have  saved  their  slaves,  but  now  it  is  too  late — all 
the  powers  of  earth  can  not  restore  to  them  their  slaves  any  more  than  their  dead 
grandfathers.  Next  year  their  lands  will  be  taken,  for  in  war  we  can  take  them, 
and  rightfully  too,  and  another  year  they  may  beg  in  vain  for  their  lives.  A  peo 
ple  who  will  persevere  in  war  beyond  a  certain  limit  ought  to  know  the  conse 
quence:  Many,  many  people,  with  less  pertinacity  than  the  South,  have  been 
wiped  out  of  national  existence.  „ 

My  own  belief  is,  that  even  now  the  non-slave-holding  classes  of  the  South  are 
alienating  from  their  associates  in  war.  Already  I  hear  crimination.  Those  who 
have  property  left  should  take  warning  in  time. 

Since  I  have  come  down  here  I  have  seen  many  Southern  planters  who  now  hire 
their  negroes,  and  acknowledge  they  knew  not  the  earthquake  they  were  to  make 
by  appealing  to  secession.  They  thought  the  politicians  had  prepared  the  way 
and  they  could  depart  in  peace.  They  now  see  that  we  are  bound  together  as  one 
nation  by  indissoluble  ties,  and  that  any  interest  or  any  people  that  set  themselves 
up  in  antagonism  to  the  nation  must  perish. 

While  I  would  not  remit  one  jot  or  tittle  of  our  national  rights  in  peace  or  war, 
I  do  not  make  allowances  for  past  political  errors  and  false  prejudices.  Our  na 
tional  Congress  and  Supreme  Courts  are  the  proper  arenas  in  which  to  discuss  con 
flicting  opinions,  and  not  the  battle  field. 

You  may  not  hear  from  me  again,  and  if  you  think  it  will  do  any  good,  call 
some  of  the  people  together  and  explain  these,  my  views.  You  may  even  read  to 
them  this  letter,  and  let  them  use  it,  so  as  to  prepare  them  for  my  coming. 

To  those  who  submit  to  the  rightful  law  and  authority,  all  gentleness  and  for 
bearance;  but  to  the  petulant  and  persistent  secessionists,  why,  death  is  mercy, 
and  the  quicker  he  or  she  is  disposed  of  the  better.  Satan  and  the  rebellious 
saints  of  heaven  were  allowed  a  continuance  of  existence  in  hell  merely  to  swell 
their  just  punishment.  To  such  as  would  rebel  against  a  Government  so  mild  and 
just  as  ours  was  in  peace,  a  punishment  equal  would  not  be  unjust. 

We  are  progressing  well  in  this  quarter.  Though  I  have  not  changed  my  opin 
ion  that  we  soon  may  assume  the  existence  of  our  National  Government,  yet  years 
will  pass  before  ruffianism,  murder,  and  robbery  will  cease  to  afflict  this  region  of 
our  country.  Truly  your  friend, 

W.  T.  SHERMAN,  Maj.  Gen.  Commanding. 

What  must  have  been  the  sad  feelings  of  Gov.  Clay  on  perusing 
this  manifesto,  setting  forth  doctrines  and  ideas  repugnant  to  hu 
manity,  to  be  enforced  by  the  bayonet,  may  be  easily  imagined, 
but  not  expressed.  All  the  principles  of  free  government  and  of 
personal  liberty,  to  the  assertion  and  maintenance  of  which  he 
had  devoted  a  long  and  active  life,  were  at  once  swept  away  by 
a  stroke  of  the  pen  and  a  flourish  of  the  sword.  No  wonder  that 
his  strong  spirit  and  his  feeble  body,  bent  by  age,  could  not  sur 
vive  the  shock  of  subjugation !  He  lived  to  see  his  large  posses 
sions  and  his  beautiful  fields  trodden  down  by  the  invader,  and 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  489 

all  that  was  dear  to  him  involved  in  the  common  ruin.  He  had 
no  sanctuary  but  that  of  Religion  in  which  to  take  refuge  from  the 
storm,  and  that  sheltered  him  in  his  last  moments.  Gov.  Clay 
died  in  Huntsville,  September  7,  1866,  in  the  seventy-seventh 
year  of  his  age. 

WILLIAM  COOPER  was  a  distinguished  member  of  the  bar  in 
North-Alabama,  residing  in  the  town  of  Tuscumbia.  He  was  a 
Whig  while  that  organization  lasted,  and  in  1841  was  a  candidate 
for  Congress  on  the  general  ticket.  In  several  Presidential  con 
tests  he  has  been  on  the  Whig  Electoral  ticket;  but  the  large 
Democratic  majority  in  Alabama,  of  course,  defeated  him  and  his 
political  associates  in  their  attempts  generally  to  obtain  office. 
Personally,  his  character  was  so  much  respected  by  men  of  all 
parties,  that  he  received  many  tokens  of  confidence  in  the  midst 
of  a  Democratic  community.  His  known  probity,  talents  and 
competency  at  the  bar,  and  his  fidelity  in  all  trusts  committed  to 
him,  always  secured  him  a  place  in  the  front  rank  of  those  who 
shared  the  public  confidence.  His  election  as  a  Bank  Commis 
sioner  is  evidence  to  this  effect.  With  his  colleagues,  Mr.  Lyon 
and  Gov.  Clay,  the  task  of  winding  up  the  Banks  was  in  a  great 
measure  accomplished,  and  then,  with  the  latter  gentleman,  he 
retired  to  private  life. 

Mr.  Cooper  was  appointed  by  Gov.  Moore,  in  December,  1860, 
as  a  Commissioner  from  Alabama  to  the  State  of  Missouri,  to  con 
sult  on  the  best  measures  for  the  Southern  States  to  adopt  for  the 
preservation  of  their  rights.  He  performed  that  mission  and  made 
his  report.  The  troubles  that  followed  came  from  no  agency  of 
his;  but  throughout  the  war,  and  since,  he  has  been  the  same 
honest,  upright  gentleman,  never  deserting  his  State  in  the  hour 
of  her  need. 

THE   ADJOURNMENT. 

After  a  session  of  three  months,  the  Legislature  adjourned  on 
the  6th  of  March,  1848.  There  was  much  business  introduced  in 
various  shapes,  a  large  portion  of  which  was  incomplete.  A  good 
deal  of  the  session  was  consumed  in  debate  on  important  measures 
which  were  not  matured  at  the  close. 

Of  the  prominent  men  who  entered  the  Senate  this  session  for 
the  first  time,  several  will  be  noticed,  while  those  holding  over, 
or  most  of  them,  have  already  received  attention  of  this  kind. 

DR.  JAMES  M.  BECKETT,  of  Pickens,  was  elected  a  Trustee  of 
the  University  in  1840,  and  was  a  State  Rights  Democrat  of  high 
culture  and  general  reading,  often  sharing  in  debate  with  consid 
erable  reputation.  His  voice  was  rich  and  sonorous;  his  ideas  on 


490  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama/ 

political  questions  and  constitutional  law  enabled  him  to  throw  in 
terest  around  any  topic  he  might  discuss. 

Dr.  Beckett  was  a  native  of  South  Carolina,  where  he  received 
his  literary  and  medical  education.  He  had  an  intellectual  face. 
His  public  life  closed  with  the  session  of  1849.  To  one  acquainted 
with  the  Senate  Chamber  in  those  days,  when  such  men  as  Wil 
liam  M.  Murphy,  George  N.  Stewart,  Thomas  J.  Judge  and  Dr. 
Beckett  were  compeers  in  discussion,  and  who  now  (in  1871)  takes 
a  look  on  the  scene,  will  be  forcibly  impressed  by  the  contrast,  of 
what  remains  in  the  mere  name,  but  utterly  without  the  substance 
which  composed  that  body,  with  the  solitary  exception  of  one 
member  out  of  thirty-three. 

CHARLES  G.  EDWARDS,  of  Dallas,  elected  for  a  term  of  four 
years,  was  a  Whig  lawyer  in  good  practice.  He  was  sometimes 
very  bitter  in  his  denunciations  of  political  opponents.  Possessed 
of  an  easy  fortune,  and  a  standing  in  society  to  aiford  happiness,  he 
was  still  morose  in  his  disposition,  and  had  very  little  relish  for 
social  enjoyments.  He  had  quite  a  good  business  capacity,  but 
was  not  gifted  as  a  speaker.  Being  childless,  and  laboring  under 
some  disease  which  cast  a  gloom  over  his  spirits,  habitual  cheer 
fulness  could  hardly  be  expected  of  him.  He  appeared  to  be  an 
unhappy  man. 

During  his  Senatorial  career,  he  became  involved  in  a  personal 
difficulty  with  a  gentleman  of  Dallas,  who  struck  him  a  blow. 
The  disparity  in  their  physical  strength  induced  Mr.  Edwards  to 
demand  satisfaction  in  the  field  of  single  combat,  which  was  readily 
accorded.  As  the  parties  with  their  friends,  respectively,  passed 
through  Montgomery  for  West-Point,  where  the  hostile  meeting 
was  to  take  place,  the  affair  leaked  out,  and  the  Supreme  Court 
being  then  in  Summer  session,  the  Judges,  headed  by  Chief  Jus 
tice  Collier,  made  a  written  appeal  to  the  gentlemen  to  submit  the 
case  to  a  board  of  honor  which  they  had  selected.  Pursuit  was 
made,  the  paper  delivered,  and,  after  a  negotiation  of  two  or  three 
days,  the  question  was  referred  and  the  difficulty  adjusted. 

But  the  circumstance  so  prayed  upon  the  mind  of  Mr.  Edwards 
that  he  never  recovered  from  the  effect,  as  he  believed  the  insult 
was  of  such  a  nature  that  nothing  but  a  fight  could  remove  the 
stigma.  His  habitual  gloom  increased,  and  in  a  few  years  there 
after  he  died,  while  a  comparatively  young  man. 

THOMAS  J.  JUDGE  was  appointed^  Solicitor  in  1843  by  Gov. 
Fitzpatrick,  and  held  the  office  for  'the  Fall  ridings.  Being  a 
Whig,  he  was  beaten  before  the  Legislature.  I  have  heard  him 
say  in  after-years  that  this  appointment  of  Solicitor  was  of  more 
service  to  him  than  any  benefaction  ever  conferred,  by  introducing 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  49 1 

him,  a  young  man  without  patrimony,  to  the  bar  and  into  practice. 

In  1844,  and  again  in  1845,  he  was  elected  to  the  House  from 
Lowndes  county,  and  in  1847  he  was  returned  to  the  Senate, 
where  he  served  four  years.  Soon  thereafter  he  removed  to 
Montgomery,  and  established  himself  in  the  practice  of  his  profes 
sion,  as  a  law  partner  of  Gov.  Watts,  and  in  1853  he  was  again 
elected  to  the  House,  where  I  had  the  pleasure  of  serving  with 
him  through  a  long,  laborious  session,  in  which  he  bore  a  conspic 
uous  part. 

In  1857,  he  was  the  candidate  of  the  Whig  party  for  Congress 
in  the  Montgomery  District,  in  opposition  to  the  Hon.  J.  F.  Dow- 
dell.  The  canvass  was  conducted  by  these  gentlemen,  as  the 
representatives  of  their  respective  principles  and  parties,  with 
singular  ability,  but  Mr.  Judge  was  defeated.  In  the  next  can 
vass  he  was  brought  forward  against  Mr.  David  Clopton,  the  can 
didate  of  the  Democratic  party,  and  after  another  hard-fought 
battle,  the  decision  at  the  ballot  box  was  adverse  to  his  claims. 
But  in  the  discussions  which  these  two  contests  evolved,  Mr.  Judge 
established  a  reputation  for  ability  and  eloquence  which  gave  him 
an  enviable  prominence  among  the  public  men  of  the  State. 

In  1860,  he  supported  for  President  the  ticket  headed  by  Mr. 
Breckinridge,  and  upon  the  secession  of  Alabama,  he  was  sent  by 
Gov.  Moore,  in  February,  1861,  a  Commissioner  from  the  State 
to  the  Government  of  the  United  States,  at  Washington  City,  to 
negotiate  with  that  Government  in  reference  to  the  forts,  arsenals 
and  custom-houses  in  Alabama,  and  the  public  debt  of  the  United 
States — also  as  to  the  future  relations  of  the  State  with  the  Gen 
eral  Government — and  immediately  repaired  to  Washington  City 
in  fulfillment  of  his  mission.  But  President  Buchanan  refused 
to  receive  him  in  any  other  character  than  that  of  a  distinguished 
citizen  of  Alabama,  and  so  his  mission  was  fruitless. 

On  his  return  from  Washington,  Mr.  Judge  nyide  a  report  of 
his  action  as  Commissioner,  which  deserves  to  be  incorporated  in 
the  public  annals : 

MONTGOMERY,  ALA.,  February  18,  1861. 
To  His  Excellency,  A.  B.  Moore,  Governor  of  the  State  of  Alabama: 

SIR — On  the  25th  of  January,  1861, 1  had  the  honor  to  receive  from  your  Excel 
lency  the  appointment  of  Commissioner  from  the  State  of  Alabama  to  the  Govern 
ment  of  the  United  States  at  Washington  City,  "to  negotiate  with  the  said  Govern 
ment,  in  reference  to  the  forts,  arsenals,  and  custom-houses  within  this  State, 
and  the  public  debt  of  the  United  States;  also  as  to  the  future  relations  of  the 
State  of  Alabama,  now  a  sovereign,  independent  State,  wTith  the  Government  of 
the  United  States." 

On  receiving  my  commission,  I  forthwith  repaired  to  the  City  of  Washington 
to  enter  upon  the  duties  of  the  trust  which  had  been  confided  to  me.  The  day 
after  my  arrival,  I  applied,  through  the  Hon.  C.  C.  Clay,  Jr.,  for  an  audience  with 
the  President  of  the  United  States,  to  present  my  credentials,  and  enter  upon  the 
proposed  negotiations.  I  herewith  submit  to  your  Excellency  a  copy  of  the  entire 


\ 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama,. 


correspondence  between  Mr.  Clay  and  the  President,  and  Mr.  Clay  and  myself, 
relating  to  the  mission.  By  it  your  Excellency  will  perceive  that  the  President 
refused  to  recognize  me  in  the  only  character  in  which  I  was  authorized  to  repre 
sent  the  State.  This,  of  course,  ended  my  duty  as  Commissioner. 

Trusting  my  action,  as  shown  by  the  correspondence,  may  meet  with  the 
approval  of  your  Excellency,  I  have  the  honor  to  be,  with  the  highest  considera 
tion,  your  Excellency's  most  obedient  servant, 

THOMAS  J.  JUDGE,  Commissioner,  etc. 

[MR.  CLAY  TO  THE  PRESIDENT.] 

BROWN'S  HOTEL,  WASHINGTON  CITY,  Feb.  1,  1861. 
His  Excellency,  James  Buchanan,  President  of  the*  United  States  of  America  : 

SIR — I  have  the  honor  to  inform  you  that  the  Hon.  Thomas  J.  Judge,  of  Ala 
bama,  duly  commissioned  to  negotiate  with  the  Government  of  the  United  States 
in  reference  to  the  forts,  arsenals,  and  custom-houses  in  that  State,  and  the  debt 
of  the  United  States,  is  in  this  city,  and  desires  to  present  his  credentials,  and 
enter  upon  the  proposed  negotiation. 

Will  you  be  pleased  to  inform  me  when  it  will  suit  your  convenience  to  give 
him  an  audience,  and  oblige,  with  high  consideration,  your  Excellency's  most  obe 
dient  servant,  C.  C.  CLAY,  JR. 

[THE  PRESIDENT  TO  MR.  CLAY.] 

WASHINGTON,  February  2,  1861. 

DEAR  SIR — In  answer  to  your  note  of  yesterday,  I  shall  be  happy  to  receive 
the  Hon.  Thomas  J.  Judge,  as  a  distinguished  citizen  of  Alabama,  either  at  12  or 
3  o'clock  on  Monday,  as  may  suit  his  convenience. 

You  are  doubtless  aware,  from  my  several  messages,  that,  in  my  judgment,  I 
have  no  power  to  recognize  him  in  the  character  ascribed  to  him  in  your  letter. 
Yours,  very  respectfully, 

JAMES  BUCHANAN. 
Hon.  Clement  C.  Clay,  etc.,  etc.,  etc. 

[MR.  CLAY  TO  MR.  JUDGE.] 

BROWN'S  HOTEL,  WASHINGTON  CITY,  Feb.  2,  1861. 
Hon.  T.  J.  Judge: 

DEAR  SIR — I  send  you  a  copy  of  my  note  in  your  behalf,  as  Commissioner,  etc., 
to  the  President,  and  his  reply,  which  reached  me  since  7  o'clock  p.  M.  Please 
read,  and  advise  me  of  your  wishes  and  purposes  in  the  premises,  by  Monday 
next. 

I  will  defer  my  departure  for  a  few  days  longer  if  I  can  serve  you  by  remain 
ing.  I'am,  respectfully  and  truly,  yours,  etc., 

C.  C.  CLAY,  JR. 

WASHINGTOP  CITY,  February  4,  1861. 
Hon.  C.  C.  Clay,  Jr.  : 

I  acknowledge  the  receipt'of  your  note  of  the  2d  instant,  inclosing  the  corres 
pondence  between  yourself  and  his  Excellency  James  Buchanan,  President  of  the 
United  States,  relating  to  my  mission  as  Commissioner  for  the  State  of  Alabama. 

The  President  declines  to  give  me  an  audience  in  the  only  character  in  which  I 
sought  it,  as  Commissioner  for  the  State  of  Alabama,  and  thereby  refuses  to  re 
ceive  any  proposals  from  that  State  for  a  settlement  relating  to  the  public  debt  of 
the  United  States,  contracted  while  Alabama  was  a  member  of  that  .confederacy, 
and  relating  to  the  property  in  the  possession  of  Alabama,  which  belonged  to  the 
United  States  of  America  before  the  withdrawal  of  Alabama  from  that  Union. 

From  this  course  of  the  President,  it  is  to  be  presumed  that  he  has  abandoned 
all  claim,  or  resolved  not  to  make  any  in  his  official  character,  to  that  property  in 
behalf  of  his  Government;  or  that,  by  repelling  any  offer  of  amicable  adjustment, 
he  desires  that  it  should  be  retaken  by  the  sword. 

But  no  matter  what  motive  has  prompted  his  unexpected  treatment  of  me,  I 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  493 

should  be  wanting  in  reverence  for  my  State,  and  proper  appreciation  of  my  pres 
ent  relations  to  her,  to  sue  for  peaceful  negotiations,  since  the  right  of  Alabama 
to  send  me,  and  my  right,  to  speak  for  her,  have  been  denied.  And  if  negotia 
tion  is  to  settle  our  difficulties  touching  these  forts  and  arsenals,  it  must  be  pro 
posed  by  the  President  to  the  Governor  at  her  Capitol,  whither  I  shall  go  and  re 
port  the  result  of  my  mission. 

Whilst  I  regret  this  action  of  the  President,  it  is  gratifying  to  know  that  the 
State  of  Alabama,  by  her  prompt  efforts  to  do  that  justice  in  the  premises  which 
has  been  thwarted  by  him,  will  stand  justified  before  the  world. 

That  State  having  now  been  placed  right  upon  the  record,  and,  under  the  cir 
cumstances,  nothing  more  remaining  for  me  to  accomplish  as  her  Commissioner, 
my  mission  ceases  with  this  letter. 

Permit  me  to  return  you  my  thanks  for  the  valuable  aid  you  have  rendered,  in 
endeavoring  to  advance  the  objects  of  my  mission,  and  believe  me  to  be  very  truly 
your  friend  and  obedient  servant,  THOMAS  J.  JUDGE. 

[MR.   CLAY  TO  THE  PRESIDENT.] 

BROWN'S  HOTEL,  WASHINGTON,  Feb.  5,  1861. 
Hon.  James  Buchanan,  President  of  the  United  States  of  America: 

SIR — I  submitted  my  note  and  your  reply,  touching  the  mission  of  the  Hon. 
T.  J.  Judge,  to  him  for  his  consideration,  and  send  you  herewith  a  copy  of  his  re 
sponse.  You  will  see  that  he  declines  to  address  you  on  the  subject  matter  of  his 
mission,  because  he  regards  your  note  to  me  as  closing  the  door  against  him  as 
the  representative  of  Alabama,  and  repelling  any  offers  she  may  have  to  make  at 
the  very  threshold. 

I  am  sure  that  you  desire  peace  with  all  the  world,  and  especially  with  those 
States  which  have  seceded  from  the  Union.  You  profess  to  claim,  or  hold  forts 
and  arsenals  in  those  States  only  as  property  of  the  United  States,  that  you  are 
bound  to  take  care  of.  It  is  therefore  matter  of  surprise  and  regret,  that  you  not 
only  refuse  to  trust  the  people  of  those  States  with  such  property  in  their  limits, 
and  intended  for  their  benefit,  but  pursue  a  course  tending  to  destroy  that  prop 
erty,  and  to  break  the  peace  between  your  Government  and  those  States.  If, 
recognizing  the  right  of  secession,  you  had  received  Mr.  Judge  as  Commissioner 
from  a  foreign  State,  and  had  sent  his  proposals  to  the  Senate,  with  your  approval 
or  objection;  or,  denying  that  right  you  had  submitted  his  proposals  to  Congress, 
as  those  of  a  Commissioner  from  a  State  of  the  Union,  possibly  the  independence  of 
the  State  might  have  been  acknowledged,  and  a  treaty  with  it,  formed;  or,  denying 
its  independence,  Congress  might  have  agreed  to  the  sale  and  retrocession  of  the 
disputed  places.  At  all  events,  it  would  have  relieved  you  of  the  responsibility 
you  have  assumed,  of  not  only  refusing  to  entertain  a  peaceful  proposition  from  a 
seceding  State,  but  of  preventing  Congress  from  receiving  it.  I  see  nothing  in  the 
Constitution  forbidding  the  course  1  suggest,  either  on  your  part  or  that  of  Con 
gress.  It  would  not  have  compromised  your  duty  or  the  rights  of  the  United 
States. 

Certainly  the  lands  of  Forts  Morgan  and  Gaines,  and  for  Mount  Vernon  Arsenal, 
were  ceded  to  the  United  States  for  the  erection  of  such  "needful  buildings"  for 
the  defense  and  protection  of  the  people  of  Alabama.  For  what  other  purpose 
should  the  Government  of  the  United  States  hold  them?  But  it  is  too  late,  if  not 
improper,  to  pursue  the  argument. 

Alabama  has  vindicated  her  integrity  to  the  world.  She  sends  her  Commis 
sioner  here  to  purchase  the  property  which  her  people  prefer  to  hold  in  their  own 
defense.  It  is  now  useless  to  your  Government,  except  to  injure  them  or  their 
allies  or  friends.  Knowing  these  facts,  they  were  right  to  seize  it,  and  are  mag 
nanimous  to  offer  to  pay  your  Government  the  amount  it  cost.  They  can  not  mis 
understand  your  course  in  refusing  to  receive  their  Commissioner;  that  you  deny 
their  right  to  take  their  destiny  into  their  own  hands,  or  to  defend  themselves 
against  the  Government  of  the  United  States,  or  to  resist  its  authority,  and  that 
you  mean  to  control  their  action  by  military  force. 

Their  Governor  advised  you  as  soon  as  possible  of  the  seizure  of  the  forts  and 
arsenals,  "that  it  was  done  by  his  orders  to  make  the  secession  of  Alabama^peace- 


494  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

ful,  and  to  prevent  your  reinforcing  those  places,  and  shedding  the  blood,  and 
sacrificing  the  lives  of  her  people  in  endeavoring  to  maintain  the  authority  of 
your  Government  over  them."  Subsequent  events  have  proved  his  wisdom  and 
forecast.  Your  transfer  of  troops  from  Northern  and  Western  posts  to  this  city, 
and  to  all  Southern  forts  where  you  apprehend  that  the  people  might  take  them 
for  their  defense,  to  secure  peaceful  secession,  show  your  inclination  to  keep  them 
for  their  coercion,  and  to  prevent  peaceful  secession.  The  frowning  artillery  and 
armed  men  brought  to  the  unaccustomed  view  of  the  people  of  Maryland  and  Vir 
ginia,  of  Charleston  and  Pensacola,  are  just  causes  of  offense  to  those  who  esteem 
themselves  free  citizens — not  subjects,  masters  or  servants  of  Government. 

The  people  of  Alabama  will  not  consent  that  places  of  power  granted  by  them 
to  Government  for  their  defense  against  insurrection  and  invasion,  shall  be  used 
in  aid  of  their  invasion  and  subjugation.  They  regard  the  uses  now  made  of 
Forts  Pickens,  Sumter,  McHenry,  and  others  in  Southern  States,  as  a  gross  abuse 
of  the  people  and  trust — a  plain  usurpation  of  ungranted  power.  And  be  assured 
that  the  men  of  the  South  will  not  long  endure  this  constant  menace  of  the  power 
of  your  Government,  or  suffer  it  to  stand  sentinel  over  their  doorways,  with  pre 
sented  arms,  ready  to  challenge  themselves  or  their  friends,  or  to  dispute  their  in 
gress  or  egress.  The  instincts  of  mere  brute  force,  no  less  than  the  noblest  senti 
ments  of  humanity — self-preservation,  patriotism,  honor  and  pride  of  independ 
ence — conspire  against  such  deliberate  insult,  and  persistent  menace  of  injury. 
If  not  surrendered  for  the  defense  of  the  people  against  your  standing  army,  they 
must  and  will  take  them  at  any  hazard  and  at  any  sacrifice. 

Those  States  that  have  seceded  will  never  unite  with  the  Northern  States  under 
a  common  Government.  The  idea  is  preposterous — the  ground  is  hopeless.  There 
has  been  constant  and  increasing  strife  between  them  for  more  than  a  quarter  of 
a  century.  They  differ  so  widely  in  principles  and  sentiments,  in  morals  and 
manners,  religion  and  politics,  as  well  as  social  institutions  and  habits,  that  the 
world  knows  they  are  different  and  uncongenial  types  of  civilization. 

They  have  long  seen  and  felt  it,  and  can  not  have  a  motive  for  living  together 
that  is  not  purely  selfish  and  mercenary.  I  trust  and  believe  they  will  hereafter 
form  separate  aud  distinct  Governments,  in  which  they  can  not  love  each  other 
less,  or  harm  each  other  more,  than  under  a  common  Government.  The  people  of 
Alabama  believe  their  rights  will  be  better  respected  by  the  New  England  and 
other  Northern  States,  when  out  of  this  Union,  than  they  have  been  in  it.  The 
common  prevalence  in  the  South  of  this  opinion  will  forever  prevent  the  rebuild- 
infi  of  the  old  Union. 

With  your  knowledge  of  the  history  of  the  United  Stases,  and  the  unhomoge- 
neous  characters  of  the  Northern  and  Southern  peoples,  you  must  agree  with  me 
that  man  will  never  witness  the  reconstruction  of  the  Union.  Then,  why  hold 
forts  and  keep  troops  in  the  seceded  States,  if  not  to  disturb  us  ?  Why  not  take 
the  purchase  money  offered  for  them  ?  Left  to  yourself,  I  think  you  would  with 
draw  your  garrisons  and  sell  us  the  forts ;  for  you  pray  for  peace,  and  protest 
against  coercion.  Take  care  that  your  councils  do  not  compromise  your  honor  or 
your  character  by  evincing  uses  of  these  strongholds  at  variance  with  your  prayers 
and  protests. 

A  superannuated  soldier,  whose  vanity  and  ignorance  have  never  failed  to  pro 
voke  contempt  whenever  he  essays  to  play  the  statesman,  is  not  competent  to  ad 
vise  you.  Neither  is  a  mere  jurist  and  scholar,  who  has  lived  a  recluse,  and  knows 
less  of  living  and  feeling  men  than  of  dead  languages  and  abstract  sciences.  Trust 
your  own  judgment,  and  I  think  you  will  correct  the  errors  they  have  committed 
by  transferring  your  troops  from  Southern  States — where  they  can  only  excite 
suspicion  and  heart-burnings,  and  make  enemies  of  those  who  should  be  friends — 
to  the  Western  frontier,  where  war  is  being  carried  on  against  citizens  of  the 
United  States. 

Hoping  that  you  may  come  out  of  seeming  evil,  and  that  we  may  not  be  precip 
itated  into  war  by  your  preparations  to  prevent  it,  and  wishing  you  the  peace  and 
tranquility  in  your  retirement  that  follows  good  deeds,  I  have  the  honor  to  be, 
respectfully  and  truly,  your  friend  and  obedient  servant, 

C.  C.  CLAY,  JE. 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  495 

Finding  that  his  services  in  a  diplomatic  character,  owing  to  the 
circumstances  which  have  been  stated  in  an  official  shape,  had 
availed  nothing,  Mr.  Judge  entered  the  military  service.  His 
war  record  may  be  briefly  summed  up : 

1.  As  a  volunteer  private,  in  which  capacity  he  served  a  short 
time  at  Pensacola,  early  in  1861. 

"2.  Soon  after  leaving  Pensacola  (in  1861),  he  was  appointed 
by  President  Davis  Colonel  of  the  Fourteenth  Alabama  Regiment, 
which  was  organized  and  mustered  into  service  at  Auburn.  The 
late  lamented  D.  W.  Baine  was  appointed  Lieutenant-Colonel, 
and  O.  K.  McLemore,  a  son  of  the  late  Col.  Charles  McLemore, 
was  appointed  Major  of  the  Regiment. 

3.  The  Regiment  was  removed  to  Virginia  in  the  Fall  of  1861, 
and  did  service  during  a  portion  of  the  ensuirg  Winter  at  Evans- 
port,  on  the  Potomac,  supporting  the  important  Confederate  bat 
teries  there,  which  for\  a  considerable  time  blockaded  the  Potomac. 
In  the  meantime,  the  regiment  performed  arduous  picket  duty, 
with  a  considerable  force  of  the  Yankee  army  in  front,  under  the 
command  of  Gen.  Sickles. 

4.  In  the  Spring  of  1862,  the  regiment  was  ordered  to  York- 
town,  and  there  served  until  the  retreat  under  Gen.  Johnston, 
during  which  retreat,  the  battle  of  Williamsburg  was  fought. 

5.  In  consequence  of  some  injuries  from  a  collision  of  railroad 
cars,  among  which  injuries  was  the  fracture  of  his  right  leg,  Col. 
Judge  resigned  his  command  of  the  regiment.     He  also  suffered 
from  rheumatism,  contracted  by  severe  exposure  on  the  Peninsula 
of  Virginia. 

6.  Soon  after  his  resignation,  President  Davis  tendered  him  the 
position  of  presiding  Judge  of  a  Military  Court  in  the  Army  of 
Virginia,  with  the  i\i"k  of  a  colonel  of  cavalry.     This  appoint 
ment  he  declined,  principally  on  account  of  his  rheumatism,  as  it 
would  subject  him  to  further  exposure  in  the  cold  climate  of 
Northern  Virginia. 

7.  Without  solicitation  by  him,  President  Davis  then  tendered 
Col.  Judge  the   same  appointment  to  serve   with  the  army   in 
Mobile,  which  he  accepted,  and  served  until  the  close  of  the  war. 

Upon  the  reorganization  of  the  State  Government  in  1865,  he 
was  elected  one  of  the  Judges  of  the  Supreme  Conrt,  which  posi 
tion  he  held  until  he  was  superseded  by  the  Reconstruction  meas 
ures  of  Congress.  He  now  resides  at  Greenville,  engaged  in  the 
practice  of  the  law. 

Throughout  his  public  life,  and  in  every  trust  committed  to 
him,  Mr.  Judge  has  displayed  talents  of  a  high  order,  with  a  fidel 
ity  which  has  never  been  questioned,  and  he  is  now  enjoying  the 
fruits  in  the  universal  respect  entertained  for  him.  His  mind  acts 
like  electricity  in  taking  hold  of  a  subject,  in  speaking  and  in 


496  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

repartee.  I  have  thought  that  he  had  as  clear  a  mind  as  I  ever 
knew,  joined  with  a  prompt  decision  of  character  in  the  perform 
ance  of  duty,  equal  to  any  demand  or  any  occasion. 

At  the  close  of  the  session  of  1853-74,  the  last  active  business 
day,  a  large  proportion  of  the  House  became  convivial,  and  threw 
the  House  into  great  confusion.  Having  many  accounts  and  bills 
to  sign,  it  became  necessary  for  the  Speaker  to  retire  into  one  of 
the  Clerk's  rooms.  The  question  with  him  was,  who  could  govern 
the  House,  and  dispatch  the  necessary  business  ?  Mr.  Judge  was 
selected  and  sent  for,  and  asked  if  he  thought  he  could  control  the 
House  ?  His  reply  was  "  I'll  try/7  and  he  took  the  gavel  and 
Chair,  and  I  never  witnessed  a  better  performance.  He  held  the 
reins  as  though  he  had  the  management  of  restive  animals,  and 
directed  the  business  with  decision  and  rapid  dispatch,  never  balk 
ing  or  blundering  once.  Remarking  on  this  to  a  gentleman — a 
Judge  of  the  Supreme  Court — he  said  that  Mr.  Judge  was  the 
clearest  man  in  his  arguments  of  any  lawyer  at  that  bar. 

He  is  a  native  Alabamian ;  has  grown  to  his  present  status  in 
reputation  within  the  limits  of  this  State,  and  has  devoted  his 
energies  to  her  advancement  in  prosperity,  and  to  the  interests  of 
her  citizens.  He  is  yet  in  the  vigor  of  life  and  usefulness,  and  it 
is  hoped  that  many  days  of  happiness  are  yet  in  store,  as  a  reward 
for  his  exertions  to  promote  the  good  of  his  fellow-men. 

JAMES  M.  NABORS  returned  to  the  Senate  in  1847  from  Shelby 
and  Bibb.  The  journals  show  a  long  term  of  service  by  this  gen 
tleman,  in  one  or  the  other  branch  of  the  Legislature,  during  all 
of  which  time  he  was  a  faithful,  active,  intelligent,  working  mem 
ber.  A  planter  of  respectable  means,  fair  education  and  intelli 
gence,  and,  with  honest  purposes,  he  devoted  himself  to  the  work 
of  legislation  with  an  eye  single  to  the  public  good.  He  filled 
the  measure  of  a  good  citizen  and  faithful  representative.  His 
views  of  public  policy  were  consistent,  and  maintained  by  sound 
reasons,  well  expressed  in  debate,  giving  him  at  all  times  a  marked 
influence  in  the  councils  of  the  State. 

Mr.  Nabors  was  a  Democrat,  and  it  is  saying  much  for  his  posi 
tion  in  his  party,  that  he  was  selected  to  place  in  nomination  the 
name  of  Dixon  H.  Lewis  for  the  United  States  Senatorship,  at 
this  session.  He  died  many  years  ago,  and  in  the  onward  course 
of  events  his  name  and  services  have  been  forgotten;  but  he  be 
longed  to  a  class  of  men  whose  example  should  be  cherished  and 
followed  in  the  faithfulness,  the  rigid  accountability,  an'd  the  econ 
omy  of  a  representative  of  the  people.  He  was  a  worthy,  unpre 
tending  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  497 

GEORGE  N.  STEWART,  of  Mobile,  a  lawyer  of  distinguished  rank, 
is  well  known  to  the  country  as  the  first  Reporter  of  the  Decisions 
of  the  Supreme  Court.  His  information  was  extensive,  and  his 
capacity  for  labor  seemed  to  have  no  limit,  with  a  degree  of  neat 
ness  in  details  and  a  simplicity  of  statement,  peculiar  to  himself. 
His  mind  was  original  in  its  conceptions,  and  well  disciplined,  so 
that  he  could  bring  forward  in  an  intelligible  shape  any  measure 
which  he  deemed  necessary  for  the  public  good.  He  stated  his 
premises,  gave  the  argument  which  influenced  his  conclusions,  in 
a  brief  and  lucid  manner,  and  generally  carried  along  with  him 
the  minds  of  others  to  the  same  point.  Although  a  Whig  in  poli 
tics,  he  was  free  from  bitterness,  and  his  course  was  often  liberal, 
thereby  gaining  the  respect  and  confidence  of  his  Democratic  op 
ponents. 

His  term  of  service  in  the  Senate,  commencing  with  the  session 
of  1847,  was  four  years,  and  was  the  only  connection  he  ever  had 
with  the  Legislature;  but  during  this  brief  period,  he  brought  for 
ward  measures  of  such  magnitude  in  the  conception,  as  to  identify 
his  name  favorably  with  the  strong  men  of  Alabama  in  the  halls 
of  legislation.  Mr.  Stewart  is  in  all  respects  a  business  man,  sys 
tematic  in  his  plans,  and  persevering  in  their  execution.  He  has 
little  or  no  imagination  as  a  speaker,  and  never  aims  at  mere  orna 
ment.  His  object  is  higher,  never  deviating  from  the  line  of 
thought  until  he  has  demonstrated  his  proposition,  or  thoroughly 
analyzed  the  matter  in  hand.  This  accomplished,  he  resumes  his 
seat. 

Mr.  Stewart  still  resides  in  Mobile,  pursuing  his  profession  with 
the  same  earnestness,  assiduity,  and  method,  which  marked  his 
early  life  when  struggling  for  excellence.  He  is  one  of  the  genial 
landmarks  of  society,  and  never  suifers  an  occasion  to  pass  unim 
proved,  when  he  can  advance  the  interests  of  the  city  of  his  resi 
dence. 

SETH  P.  STORRS  was  elected  to  the  Senate  in  1847,  as  the  suc 
cessor  of  S.  W.  Harris,  from  Coosa  and  Autauga,  and  was  elected 
again  in  1849.  In  the  latter  canvass,  his  competitor  was  William 
S.  Kyle,  Esq.,  a  lawyer  of  much  personal  popularity  and  weight 
of  character  with  the  people,  who  died  many  years  ago,  leaving  a 
son,  Col.  Osceola  Kyle,  a  lawyer  of  Wetumpka,  as  the  representa 
tive  of  his  family.  It  is  only  justice  to  say,  in  this  connection, 
that  Col.  Kyle  proved  his  devotion  to  his  principles  in  the  late 
war  between  the  States,  in  command  of  a  regiment  from  Alabama. 
He  is  much  respected  for  his  intellgence  and  chivalrous  bearing. 

Mr.  Storrs  served  in  the  Senate  until  the  close  of  the  session  of 
1 851-%  in  which  time  he  established  a  high  character  for  intelli 
gence  and  business  qualities,  combined  with  great  industry  in 
32 


498  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

legislation.  He  was  a  native  of  the  North,  where  he  was  well 
educated,  and  settled  in  Wetumpka  about  the  year  1834,  where 
he  succeeded  well  in  his  profession  of  the  law.  His  dignity,  social 
bearing,  and  pleasant  hospitality  added  to  the  society  of  the  place. 
In  person,  he  was  well  formed  and  developed,  and  was  an  agree 
able  companion  in  the  line  of  anecdotes  and  innocent  amusements. 
Col.  Storrs  reared  an  intelligent  family,  most  of  whom  have  fol 
lowed  him  and  his  wife  to  the  silent  resting  place;  but  he  has  yet 
living  a  daughter,  Miss  Charlotte  Storrs,  who  in  the  beautiful  en 
dowments  of  character — dignity,  intelligence,  modesty,  and  refine 
ment — is  an  honor  to  her  name,  and  the  State  which  gave  her 
birth.  Col.  Storrs  died  in  1854,  and  if  I  mistake  not  he  was  a 
member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church.  He  also  left  a  son,  now  of 
the  firm  of  Gibson  &  Storrs,  publishers  at  Montgomery. 

MEMBERS   OF   THE   HOUSE. 

A  number  of  Representatives  who  had  not  previously  served 
in  the  Legislature,  took  their  seats  at  the  session  of  1847.  Some 
of  them  will  be  here  noticed,  including  a  few  of  more  experience 
in  public  life,  not  heretofore  sketched. 

GEORGE  AMASON,  of  Sumter,  was  a  planter,  a  bachelor,  rather 
young  on  the  list,  had  a  well  set  figure,  a  pleasant  face,  and  was 
always  ready  for  fun  and  waggery.  He  did  not  legislate  a  great 
deal — that  is,  he  did  not  go  much  into  the  details  of  business;  but 
was  generally  on  hand  when  voting  was  to  be  done.  He  was  a 
Democrat  of  the  old  stripe,  without  disguise,  although  he  made 
no  noise  about  his  politics.  He  was  a  genial  companion  with  those 
of  kindred  taste,  and  a  little  bluff  for  some  circles;  so  between 
the  two  he  circulated  out-doors,  and  at  the  corners,  and  in  the 
offices  of  the  Capitol.  * 

I  heard  an  amusing  incident  connected  with  one  of  his  visits  to 
Mobile,  which  illustrates  his  character.  Being  in  the  city  to  dis 
pose  of  his  crop  of  cotton,  he  visited  the  theater,  and  noticed, 
among  other  things  new  to  him,  the  quizzing  (opera)  glasses  that 
were  used  from  different  parts  of  the  house,  and  they  all  seemed 
to  center  upon  him.  He  was  somewhat  annoyed,  and  returning 
the  next  night,  it  was  repeated  quite  extensively,  so  much  so  that 
he  determined  to  take  a  part  in  the  business.  The  third  night  he 
returned,  carrying  with  him  a  tin  trumpet  about  six  feet  long, 
bought  for  the  purpose ;  and  when  the  quizzing  glasses  were  used 
to  improve  the  vision  of  their  owners,  Mr.  Amason  deliberately 
raised  his  long  trumpet,  and  placing  the  small  end  to  his  eye,  he 
turned  it  about  on  the  audience,  especially  on  the  quarter  where 
the.  glasses  were  most  abundant,  and  completely  vanquished  the 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  499 

crowd  of  quizzers.     He  died  in  the  zenith  of  his  manhood  many 
years  ago. 

JAMES  F.  BAILEY,  of  Perry,  served  only  through  the  session 
of  1847.  He  was  a  young  man  raised  in  the  State,  and  educated 
at  the  University,  and  settled  at  Marion  in  the  practice  of  the  law. 
He  was  a  Democrat,  and  was  elected  on  a  split  ticket,  with  Messrs. 
Garrott  and  John,  his  Whig  colleagues. 

Mr.  Bailey  came  into  the  House  with  a  good  deal  of  prestige, 
for  he  was  made  Chairman  of  the  Committee  on  Military  Affairs, 
a  post  rendered  the  more  conspicuous,  because  the  profession  of 
arms  had  received  a  new  impulse  from  the  war  in  Mexico.  He 
discharged  the  duties  of  his  place  in  a  competent  manner,  and 
was  regarded  as  quite  an  accession  to  the  membership  of  the 
House,  in  his  sprightly  social  qualities*  and  ready  attention  to 
business. 

Towards  the  close  of  the  session,  Mr.  Bailey  was  unanimously 
elected  Judge  of  the  County  Court  of  Perry  county,  which,  of 
course,  cut  short  his  legislative  career.  When  Probate  Courts 
were  established,  and  the  election  of  Judges  given  to  the  people 
in  1850,  Judge  Bailey  was  elected,  and  continued  in  the  office,  if 
I  mistake  not,  until  the  surrender.  Tn  the  meantime  he  was 
elected,  in  1860,  as  the  colleague  of  the  Hon.  William  M.  Brooks, 
to  the  Convention  of  January,  1861,  and  voted  for  the  Ordinance 
of  Secession,  and  gave  to  the  cause  of  the  Southern  Confederacy 
his  earnest  support  during  the  war. 

Judge  Bailey  still  resides  in  Perry  county,  in  the  practice  of 
the  law,  where  he  maintains  a  very  respectable  rank.  He  com 
menced  public  life  at  an  early  age,  and  has  had  a  long  lease,  which, 
no  doubt,  he  turned  to  his  profit  in  public  favor  and  in  substantial 
rewards. 

JAMES  W.  DAVIS,  of  Bibb,  was  a  Representative  in  the  Leg 
islature  .as  far  back  as  1832,  and  was  a  member  of  the  House 
when  I  first  knew  him,  in  1837.  With  slight  intervals,  he  has 
been  in  one  branch  of  the  General  Assembly  or  the  other  con 
tinuously,  up  to  the  close  of  the  session  of  1866-'7,  the  last  white 
man's  Legislature  that  sat  in  Alabama.  His  public  career  has 
extended  through  more  than  thirty  years.  He  has  also  been 
Sheriff  of  Bibb  county;  and  take  him  from  the  beginning  to  the 
end,  he  has  seen  as  much  of  public  service  as  rarely  falls  to  the 
lot  of  one  man.  From  his  popularity,  and  the  acceptable  manner 
in  which  he  has  always  represented  his  constituents,  I  venture  the 
opinion  that  he  would  still  be  a  member  of  the  Legislature,  were 
it  not  for  his  disqualification  under  the  Fourteenth  Amendment. 

Few  men  have  retained  the  confidence  of  the  people  among 


500  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

whom  they  lived  so  long  as  Mr.  Davis,  and  this  proves  that  he 
has  not  only  been  faithful  to  his  public  trusts,  but  that  he  has  been 
a  good  citizen,  a  neighborly,  kind  man.  To  this  record  he  is 
fairly  entitled,  and  his  example  in  this  respect  is  worthy  of  note 
and  imitation.  During  his  long  service,  he  seldom,  if  ever,  de 
tained  the  House  with  a  speech.  That  is  certainly  a  merit,  and 
yet  few  men  have  acted  and  voted  with  a  better  understanding  of 
questions  than  Mr.  Davis.  He  was  unpretending,  though  jealous 
of  his  rights  and  privileges,  and  would  resist  any  encroachment 
upon  them,  and  intimated,  by  his  correct  course  as  a  Representa 
tive,  that  he  knew  the  philosophy  of  having  two  ears  and  one 
tongue. 

He  was  a  Democrat,  and  is,  and  will  be  one  as  long  as  he  lives. 
He  was  for  Judge  Douglas,  the  National  nominee  for  Presi 
dent,  in  1860,  and  was  opposed  to  secession ;  but  he  gave  his  only 
son  to  the  cause  of  the  South,  and  long  before  the  war  closed,  he 
was  childless.  He  is  a  faithful,  true  man  in  his  friendships,  and 
like  all  such  men,  fixed  in  his  prejudices,  yet  quiet  about  either. 

Mr.  Davis  is  a  modest  man,  and  will  no  doubt  be  surprised  to  find 
himself  noticed  in  these  sketches;  but  I  could  not  pass  him  by,  for 
there  are  points  in  his  character  that  commend  themselves  to  the 
men  who  are  to  come  after  him.  He  must  have  commenced  life 


at  a  very  early  a 

he  appeared  to 

slender,  and  abont  six  feet  six  inches  in  height. 


.  very  early  age,  as  the  last  time  we  served  together,  1865— ?66, 
he  appeared  to  be  but  little  past  the  meridian.     His  person  is 


JAMES  G.  GILCHRIST,  of  Lowndes,  a  lawyer,  planter,  and  Whig, 
was  elected  to  the  House  in  1847.  Although  very  decided  in  his 
political  principles,  he  was  liberal  in  his  discriminations,  in  voting 
for  men  and  measures;  and  in  this  respect  he  was  sometimes 
eccentric,  an  instance  of  which  may  be  given : 

While  exchanging  opinions  with  a  fellow-member  about  the 
candidates  for  Judge  of  the  Fourth  Circuit,  among  whom  was  Mr. 
Posey,  a  Democrat,  Mr.  Gilchrist  said  he  thought  he  should  vote 
for  Judge  Posey;  that,  while  he  never  saw  him  before,  and  knew 
but  little  of  him,  he  liked  the  make  and  wear  of  his  boots,  and 
should  vote  for  him  on  that  account;  and  he  did  so  vote.  Mr. 
Posey  was  remarkable  for  the  fit  and  neatness  of  his  boots,  and 
Mr.  Gilchrist  judged  his  character  by  this  specimen  of  good  taste. 

Mr.  Gilchrist  was  a  working,  active  member  of  the  House 
through  the  session,  but  seldom  engaged  in  debate.  After  this, 
he  remained  in  private  life  until  the  stirring  scenes  of  1860-'61. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  Convention,  and  voted  for  the  Ordi 
nance  of  Secession,  and  favored  extreme  measures.  He  indorsed 
his  vote  by  entering  the  service  of  the  Confederate  States,  and 
scrying  faithfully  to  the  surrender. 


of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  501 

Mr.  Gilchrist  is  a  North  Carolinian,  well  educated,  and  a jSouth- 
ern  gentleman  in  every  feeling  of  his  nature.  He  possesses  a 
fund  of  humor  in  his  personal  associations,  and  is  philosophical  in 
his  turn  of  mind.  He  now  resides  in  the  city  of  Montgomery. 

PHILLIP  S.  GLOVER,  of  Sumter,  was  returned  to  the  House 
from  Sumter.  He  was  a  lawyer  by  profession,  and  for  several 
years  had  been  a  partner  in  the  practice  with  Henry  F.  Scruggs, 
Esq.,  formerly  Judge  of  the  County  Court.  He  belonged  to  a 
class  of  jovial,  clever  young  men  who  resided  at  Livingston;  and 
while  he  was  not  extensively  occupied  at  the  bar,  he  held  a  court 
of  his  own  as  a  Justice  of  the  Peace,  and  rendered  judgment  as 
appeared  to  him  right  and  proper.  In  politics  he  was  a  Dem 
ocrat. 

At  the  session  of  1847,  he  was  a  candidate  for  Judge  of  the 
County  Court,  having  for  one  of  his  competitors  Samuel  A.  Hale, 
Esq.,  formerly  editor  of  the  "Flag  of  the  Union/'  at  Tuskaloosa. 
Mr.  Glover  was  defeated  before  the  Legislature,  soon  after  which 
he  died  of  pneumonia.  At  pages  349  and  350  of  the  Journal  of 
the  House,  the  following  proceedings  appear : 

SATURDAY,  February  12,  1848. 

The  House  met  pursuant  to  adjournment. 

Mr.  Amason  announced  to  the  House  the  death  of  Mr.  Philip  S.  Glover,  one  of 
the  Representatives  in  this  House  from  the  county  of  Sumter,  and  offered  the  fol 
lowing  resolutions,  which  were  unanimously  adopted: 

Resolved,  That  this  House  has  heard,  with  profound  regret,  of  the  death,  on 
yesterday,  of  Philip  S.  Glover,  Esq.,  one  of  its  members  from  the  county  of  Sumter. 

Resolved,  That  a  committee  of  ten  be  appointed  to  make  such  arrangements  as 
may  be  deemed  necessary  or  proper  in  regard  to  the  obsequies  of  the  deceased,  in 
connection  with  his  friends  or  brethren. 

Resolved,  That  the  members  of  this  House  will  wear  the  usual  badge  of  mourn 
ing  for  thirty  days. 

Resolved,  That  this  House  will  adjourn  until  Monday,  at  the  usual  hour,  for  the 
purpose  of  attending  the  funeral  ceremonies  of  the  deceased. 

Resolved,  That  this  House  does  sincerely  condole  with  the  friends  of  the  deceased 
in  this  afflicting  bereavement,  and  that  the  Clerk  forward  a  copy  of  these  resolu 
tions  to  the  widow  of  our  late  highly-esteemed  friend  and  colleague. 

Mr.  Speaker  appointed  Messrs.  Amazon,  Storrs,  Stallworth,  Pearson,  Tate, 
Malone,  Jackson,  Walton,  Wynn  and  Gunter,  the  Committee  of  Arrangement. 

Mr.  Young  offered  the  following  resolution,  which  was  adopted: 

Resolved,  That  the  Door-Keeper  be  instructed  to  procure  the  necessary  scarfs 
and  badges  of  mourning  for  the  members  of  the  two  Houses. 

And  then  the  House  adjourned  until  this  afternoon,  at  2J  o'clock  r.M. 

FEBRUARY  12,  2}  o'clock  P.M. 
Mr.  Speaker  called  the  House  to  order. 

Mr.  Storrs,  from  the  Committee  appointed  to  make  arrangements  for  the  funeral 
services  of  Mr.  Glover,  reported  the  following: 

ORDER  OF  PROCESSION  FOR  ^HE  FUNERAL  OBSEQUIES  OF  HON.  PHILIP  S.  GLOVER. 

The  two  Houses  will  assemble  at  the  Capitol  at  1\  o'clock,  and  form  procession 
in  front  of  the  Capitol  in  the  following  order: 
1.  The  Joint  Committee  of  Arrangements. 


502  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

2.  The  Officers  and  Members  of  the  House. 

3.  Th«  Officers  and  Members  of  the  Senate. 

4.  The  Governor. 

6.  The  Judges  of  the  Supreme  Court. 

6.  The  Secretary  of  State,  Comptroller,  and  Treasurer. 

7.  Municipal  Officers  of  the  City  of  Montgomery. 

8.  Citizens  generally. 

The  procession  will  move  in  the  above  order  to  the  Exchange,  and  meet  the 
Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows. 

They  will  proceed  to  the  House;  then  the  relations  of  the  deceased,  and  the 
procession  in  the  above  order,  will  move  to  the  Baptist  Church,  where  a  discourse 
will  be  delivered  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Talbird ;  after  which  the  procession  will  move 
to  the  burying  ground. 

A  space  will  be  reserved  at  the  grave  for  the  funeral  services,  under  the  con 
duct  of  the  I.  0.  0.  F. 

Marshals — Messrs.  Jackson  and  Bailey,  of  the  House;  Messrs.  Dent  and  Fra- 
zier,  of  the  Senate. 

Pall-Bearers — Messrs.  Stallworth  and  Pearson,  of  the  House;  Messrs.  Cocke 
snd  Storrs,  of  the  Senate;  Messrs.  J.  W.  Gordon  and  H.  H.  Smith,  of  the  I.O.O.F. 

And  then  the  House  adjourned  to  take  its  appropriate  place  in  the  procession. 

The  fact  is  stated,  with  no  feeling  of  disrespect  to  the  memory 
of  Mr.  Glover,  that,  although  he  was  not  habitually  intemperate, 
his  buoyant  and  lively  nature  led  him  at  times,  when  social  oppor 
tunities  were  very  tempting,  to  indulge  too  freely  in  champagne 
and  o&ier  fine  drinks.  Late  hours  in  this  participation  led  to  ex 
posure,  and  cold  was  the  consequence,  which  produced  the  fatal 
disease  that  terminated  his  life  just  as  its  political  future  seemed 
the  most  auspicious.  He  was,  perhaps,  not  exceeding  thirty  years 
of  age. 

Mr.  Glover  was  a  nephew  of  Allen  Glover,  Esq.,  a  rich  planter 
in  Marengo  county,  the  father-in-law  of  the  Hon.  F.  S.  Lyon. 
His  family  connections  were  large  and  influential.  A  few  years 
before  his  death  he  married  Miss  Frances  Torrey,  of  Monroe 
county.  The  proceedings  of  the  Legislature  constitute  a  hand 
some  memorial  to  perpetuate  his  memory.  Tkose  who  knew  the 
gentleness  and  suavity  of  his  manners,  and  his  friendly  disposi 
tion,  will  think  of  him  with  tender  attachment. 

PETER  HAMILTON,  of  Mobile,  .served  his  only  session  in  1847. 
His  ability  as  a  lawyer  was  evidenced  by  the  extensive  practice 
which  he  commanded,  and  in  the  House,  as  a  member,  by  his 
being  appointed  on  the  Committee  of  Ways  and  Means,  and  also 
on  that  of  Education.  His  attainments  were  considerable,  and 
his  character  solid,  as  his  course,  during  the  session,  in  debate  and 
by  his  votes,  conclusively  proved.  He  was  thoroughly  identified 
in  feelings  and  in  action  with  Mobile,  the  city  of  his  residence, 
and  lost  no  opportunity  of  contributing  to  its  prosperity  by  legis 
lation. 

Mr.  Hamilton  was  a  Whig  in  his  principles,  and  would  no  doubt 
be  one  again,  if  the  old  party,  with  Henry-Clay  at  its  head,  was 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  503 

still  extant;  and  who  would  not,  that  was  at  any  time  a  Whig? 
In  social  life,  Mr.  Hamilton  was  refined  and  companionable,  and 
left  the  House  with  many  warm  friends  acquired  during  his  short 
service. 

J.  D.  JENKINS,  of  Wilcox,  was  a  native  Alabamian,  and  a  grad 
uate  of  the  State  University.  His  only  service  in  the  Legislature 
was  at  the  session  of  1847.  He  had  entered  upon  the  practice  of 
the  law,  with  flattering  prospects  of  usefulness,  when  that  insidi 
ous  disease,  consumption,  began  to  show  itself.  Such  was  the  case 
at  this  session.  Though  perhaps  not  in  si  very  advanced  stage,  the 
disease  cast  a  gloom  over  his  feelings,  and  rendered  it  somewhat 
imprudent  to  share  in  debate,  or  even  to  indulge  much  in  conver 
sation.  Hence,  he  was  generally  silent;  and  those  who  know  his 
ability,  and  his  speaking  powers,  but  did  not  understand  the  cause 
of  his  silence,  were  at  a  loss  to  account  for  it. 

Mr.  Jenkins  had  a  strong  emotional  nature,  and  his  mind  dwelt  \ 
much  upon  the  wrongs  inflicted  on  the  South  by  the  Northern  \ 
people,  in  their  aggressions  on  slavery,  with  which  they  had  no  t 
power,  under  the  Constitution,  to  interfere  in  the  smallest  degree. 
Yet  he  saw  the  trouble  that  was  coming  from  this  quarter,  and  his 
tinhappiness  was  increased  by  his  physical  disability,  to  expose 
these  wrongs,  and  to  vindicate  his  native  South  in  the  halls  of 
legislation,  and  elsewhere,  as  opportunity  might  allow.  He  was 
attentive  to  the  proceedings  of  the  House,  and,  to  some  extent, 
shared  in  the  debates;  but  always  with  restricted  measure.  The 
injustice  heaped  upon  the  South  by  the  Northern  majority  in  Con 
gress,  and  the  constant  efforts  made  to  embitter  one  section  against 
the  other,  by  petitions  from  the  Abolitionists,  to  degrade  the  South 
ern  people  from  an  equal  participation  of  rights,  constantly  preyed 
upon  his  mind  by  day,  and  disturbed  his  dreams  by  night.  Every 
fibre  of  his  nature  was  enlisted,  and  yet  he  dared  not  give  full  ut 
terance  to  his  convictions  and  his  sensibilities,  lest  the  task  should 
prove  too  much  for  his  physical  endurance.  Thus  he  felt  as  a  pat 
riot,  and  thus  he  suffered  as  a  victim.  In  this  condition  he  con 
tinued  to  struggle,  his  friends  hoping  at  times  that  his  symptoms 
of  decay  were  not  so  alarming,  and  he  himself  would  seem  to  rally, 
as  if  in  hope.  In  1849,  he  was  elected  a  Trustee  of  the  Uni 
versity. 

In  one  of  these  favorable  moods  he  came  to  Montgomery  to  at 
tend  the  Supreme  Court,  in  1851,  if  I  mistake  not.  A  political 
meeting  was  held,  many  stirring  addresses  were  made,  and  he  at 
last  yielded  to  the  calls  upon  him,  and  delivered  a  short  speech,  in 
which  he  dwelt  feelingly  on  the  injustice  that  was  perpetrated 
against  the  South,  and  of  the  evil  consequences,  unless  the  ag 
gressions  were  at  once  arrested.  Though  his  remarks  were  brief; 


504  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

he  had  to  pause  for  breath ;  but  the  inspiration  was  upon  him,  and 
he  made  a  last  effort,  closing  with  this  quotation : 

"Yet,  though  destruction  sweep  these  lovely  plains, 
Rise,  fellow-men  !  our  country  yet  remains  ! 
By  that  dread  name,  we  wave  the  sword  on  high, 
And  swear  for  her  to  live,  with  her  to  die  !" 

The  look,  the  manner,  the  tone  of  the  speaker  in  this  conclusion 
was  all  eloquence,  and  electrified  the  assembly.  Poor  Jenkins ! 
How  warm  his  devotion  to  his  beloved  South,  and  how  sadly  he 
was  prevented,  by  physical  weakness,  from  serving  her  as  he 
desired.  His  great  soul  consumed  his  feeble  body,  in  its  strug 
gles  for  deliverance. 

A  vacancy  having  occurred  on  the  Circuit  Court  bench,  Gov. 
Collier  esteemed  it  a  privilege  to  tender  him  a  commission  to  fill 
it.  Judge  Jenkins  held  the  office  but  a  short  time,  and  died — 
closing  his  eyes  upon  his  country  before  the  ploughshare  of  ruin 
had  passed  over  it.  I  know  not  where  his  remains  are  buried; 
but  his  resting  place  should  be  an  object  of  interest  to  all  who  ad 
mire  genius  and  patriotism. 

J.  R.  JOHN,  of  Perry,  was  elected  to  the  House  in  1847,  and 
served  only  that  session.  He  was  a  lawyer  in  good  practice,  and 
a  faithful,  working,  and  investigating  legislator,  without  consuming 
much  time  in  debate.  He  certainly  could  have  been  returned  as 
a  Representative,  had  he  sought  political  life,  but  he  had  no  aspi 
rations  that  way.  He  was  a  Whig,  and  firm  to  his  principles, 
without  much  ado  about  it. 

In  1864,  upon  the  resignation  of  Chancellor  Byrd,  Mr.  John 
was  elected  to  the  bench;  and  at  the  session  of  1865-76,  under 
the  reorganization,  he  was  again  elected,  and  continued  his  admin 
istration  in  Chancery  until  1868,  when  he  was  superseded  by  the 
Reconstruction  programme.  He  now  resides  in  Selma,  engaged 
in  the  practice  of  the  law.  He  is  a  quiet,  unpretending  gentle 
man,  of  fine  moral  character,  and  good  legal  standing;  and  also  a 
leading  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  South. 

ELIIIU  LOCKWOOD,  of  Mobile,  was  returned  to  the  House  in 
1847.  He  was  a  lawyer  of  considerable  ability,  and  applied  him 
self  closely  to  the  work  of  legislation  with  the  industry  and  care 
which  distinguished  his  professional  life.  He  at  once  took  a  very 
respectable  rank  in  the  proceedings  of  the  House,  while  at  the 
same  time  rendering  efficient  service  as  a  member  of  the  Judi 
ciary  Committee.  To  the  interests  of  the  people  of  the  county 
and  city  of  Mobile,  he  was  much  devoted,  and  it  is  saying  no  little 
for  him  that  he  introduced  the  first  charter  of  the  Mobile  and 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  505 

Ohio  Railroad,  a  work  which  has  long  since  been  completed,  ad 
ding  greatly  to  the  commercial  prestige  of  Mobile  and  interven 
ing  country.  In  1849,  he  was  reflected  to  the  House,  and  served 
the  public  interest  with  increased  efficiency. 

In  1853,  Mr.  Lockwood  was  the  nominee  of  the  Whig  party 
for  Congress,  in  opposition  to  Col.  Phillip  Phillips,  and  was  de 
feated;  since  which  time  he  has  been  in  private  life,  pursuing  his 
profession,  and  looking  after  his  accumulated  gains  as  the  just  re 
ward  of  his  industry  and  frugality  in  tho  past.  When  I  knew 
him,  Mr.  Lockwood  was  a  bachelor.  He  had  a  pleasant  address, 
and  seemed  so  much  engrossed  in  business  as  to  have  but  little 
leisure  for  social  relaxation. 

RICHARD  H.  RICKS,  of  Franklin,  graduated  at  the  University 
of  Alabama,  in  the  class  of  1839,  with  the  degree  of  M.A.,  as 
shown  by  the  catalogue,  which  degree  is  also  annexed  to  the  names 
of  live  others,  out  of  the  ten  who  composed  the  class.  He  was 
elected  to  the  House  in  1847,  and  was  noted  for  his  eccentricities 
and  his  waggery.  His  faculties  for  imitation  and  mimicry  were 
good.  Ho  sang  well,  and  played  finely  upon  the  piano  and  violin. 
He  wore  his  hair  and  beard  long,  and  a  blouse  coat,  which  drew 
much  attention  upon  him.  His  vest  was  of  a  flashy  color,  and  his 
whole  dress  was  striking. 

At  a  party  one  night,  in  the  eariy  stage  of  the  session,  he  seated 
himself  at  the  piano,  and  commenced  singing,  "Oh,  carry  me  back 
to  old  Virginia."  As  the  sound  of  his  voice  went  out  into  the 
other  apartments  occupied  by  the  guests,  there  was  a  rush  to  the 
room,  which  was  soon  filled,  and  then  he  stopped  short,  and  could 
not  be  induced  to  resume.  This  was  owing  to  his  odd  conceits  and 
his  love  of  fun.  He  enjoyed  the  consciousness  of  being  able  to 
entertain  the  company,  and  at  the  same  time  disappointing  them 
by  his  abruptness. 

On  the  floor  of  the  House,  he  indulged  his  waggish  disposition 
too  freely.  He  was  a  Whig  in  his  political  alliance,  but  was  so 
addicted  to  sport  that,  on  joint  ballot  of  the  two  Houses,  lie  was 
apt  to  vote  for  "John  Smith," -his  favorite  candidate. 

The  close  of  the  Mexican  war,  with  the  acquisition  of  territory, 
afforded  work  for  the  Committee  on  Federal  Relations,  and  in  due 
time  their  report  \vas  brought  in.  Amendments  were  proposed, 
some  of  which  clamored  for  the  whole  of  Mexico,  and  that  the 
American  eagle  should  extend  his  wings  over  all  the  territory  of 
that  country.  While  the  report  and  amendments  were  under  con 
sideration,  Mr.  Ricks  rose  in  his  place,  and  offered  an  amendment 
which  he  had  written  out,  and  sent  to  the  Clerk's  table,  and  read 
as  follows: 


506  tlemintscences  of  Public  Men  in  Atabamd. 

WIIERKAS,  The  American  Eagle  designs  stretching  his  wings  over  the  Mexicai 
Republic — 

Be  it  resolved,  That  in  the  opinion  of  the  Legislature  of  the  State  of  Alabama 
fears  are  entertained  that  the  said  Eagle  will  stretch  his  wings  so  wide  as  to  spli 
his  tail  all  to  pieces. 

This  amendment  was  pronounced  out  of  order,  but  he  insiste< 
that  it  was  not,  and  appealed  from  the  decision  of  the  Chair.  '. 
give  the  resolution  from  the  Journal,  leaving  the  reader  to  deter 
mine  whether  it  was  the  sagacity  of  Mr.  Ricks'  mind,  looking  t 
the  future,  or  his  drollery  that  directed  it. 

In  his  way,  he  was  the  lion  of  the  House;  for  in  all  his  eccen 
tricities  he  had  genius.  In  1849,  he  was  elected  to  the  Senate- 
had  married,  was  clean  shaved,  dressed  as  a  Senator,  arid  laid  asid< 
many  of  his  oddities — was  attentive,  and  engaged  largely  in  dis 
cussion,  for  which  he  was  well  qualified.  Still,  there  was  more  o 
less  of  the  old  humor  and  peculiarities  running  through  his  man 
ner,  his  speeches  and  sayings,  that  reminded  one,  who  knew  hin 
as  a  member  of  the  House,  of  his  former  course.  He  was  beatei 
at  the  next  election,  and  died  soon  thereafter. 

HODGE  L.  STEPHENSON,  of  Lawrence,  was-  returned  to  th« 
House  in  1847.  I  first  knew  him  in  1837,  when  he  was  then  ; 
member  of  the  same  body.  He  was  repeatedly  elected,  and  ii 
1849,  was  the  Senator  from  Lawrence  and  Walker  counties,  ii 
which  capacity  he  served  four  years/ 

His  early  opportunities  were  limited,  except  in  the  -school  o 
experience.  There  he  had  learned  much,  and  among  other  les 
sons,  the  first  thing  he  learned  was  to  be  honest.  He  was  a  quiet 
watchful  member,  voting  from  honest  convictions,  founded  upoi 
such  knowledge  of  men  and  measures  as  he  was  able  to  obtain 
In  his  undertakings,  while  slow  to  promise,  he  was  faithful  to  th< 
last.  He  was  a  man  of  few  words,  except  in  intercourse  wit! 
friends,  and  then  he  was  likely  to  ask  questions  by  way  of  obtain 
ing  proper  information. 

His  habits  of  life,  when  at  the  Legislature,  were  well-regulated 
In  the  capitol,  and  then  at  his  lodgings,  he  could  be  found,  am 
was  seen  regularly  at  church.  He  was  a  Whig,  but  was  liberal  ii 
his  opinions,  and  faithful  in  his  representative  capacity,  being  in 
debted  for  his  election  to  the  favor  of  Democrats,  who  constitutcc 
a  large  majority  of  his  constituents.  His  retaining  their  confi 
dence  so  long  was  a  proof  of  the  integrity  of  his  character.  Hii 
purity  as  a  man  of  business  is  illustrated  by  the  following  incident 

In  the  flush  times,  when  everybody  seemed  to  be  getting  rich 
Mr.  Stephenson  concluded  to  try  his  hand  in  the  race,  and  selectee 
the  pursuit  of  merchandising  as  likely  to  advance  his  fortunes 
most  rapidly.  Like  almost  everybody  else  in  that  business,  h( 


Reminiscences  of  PuWic  Men  in  Alabama,.  50? 

[led;  but  in  one  respect,  as  a  broken  merchant,  he  differed  from 
hers,  in  surrendering  up  the  whole  of  his  property  and  effects 
his  creditors,  retaining  nothing  for  himself. 
Col.  McClung  came  to  Tuskaloosa  in  the  Summer  of  1841, 
bile  canvassing  for  Governor,  and  was  telling  some  of  his  friends 
bat  he  had  seen  on  the  route  frcm  Huntsville.  He  had  passed 
rough  Lawrence,  and  had  made  a  speech  at  Mount  Hope  to  a 
rge  concourse  of  people  who  hac1  attended  a  sale,  "and  there," 
id  he  emphatically,  "I  witnessed  the  first  honest,  old-fashioned 
indue  sale  that  I  have  seen  for  many  years.  Hodge  Stephenson 
[led,  and  surrended  up  to  his  creditors,  to  be  sold,  every  item  of 
operty  that  he  had,  even  to  his  soap-trough."  In  this  matter 
5  stood  pretty  much  alone,  as  the  practice  was  in  that  day  to  hide 
it  or  run  off  property,  without  regard  to  moral  or  legal  obli- 
,tion. 

Mr.  Stephenson  quietly  commenced  life  anew,  and  no  doubt 
and  much  safer  reliance  on  old  mother  earth  for  solid  prosperity 
an  on  the  uncertainties  of  trade  and  speculation.  By  honest 
il,  he  has  succeeded  in  rearing  a  respectable  family,  and  still 
<res,  a  representative  of  other  days,  through  vicissitudes  that  have 
ade  him  indulgent  to  the  foibles  of  others,  while  his  happiness 
is,  in  a  great  measure,  no  doubt,  been  augmented  by  his  hard 
iperience. 

GEN.  LEROY  POPE  WALKER,  a  native  Alabamian,  made  his 
st  appearance  in  public  life  as  a  Representative  from  Lawrence 
unty,  in  1843.  He  had  been  previously  elected  a  Brigadier 
Bneral.  In  184i,  he  was  reflected  to  the  House,  and  took  an 
tive  part  in  the  deliberations  of  that  session. 
In  1847,  he  represented  Lauderdale  county,  having  removed 
Florence,  and  was  elected  Speaker  of  the  House  of  Represent- 
ives,  and  in  1849,  he  was  reflected  Speaker,  which  is  the  best 
ridence  of  qualification  as  a  presiding  officer,  in  a  body  of  men 
ntaining  a  large  amount  of  talent  and  character.  His  adminis- 
ition  of  parliamentary  law  was  at  once  dignified,  prompt,  firm 
id  impartial,  which  secured  him  the  respect  and  confidence  of 
e  House. 

At  the  first  election  of  Judges  by  the  people,  in  1850,  he  was 
ected  Judge  of  the  Fourth  Circuit.  In  the  same  year,  being  a 
idower,  he  married  Miss  Eliza  Pickett,  an  accomplished  lady  of 
'ontgomery,  daughter  of  Judge  William  Dickson  Pickett,  of 'the 
ircuit  Court  bench,  a  rising  man  of  his  day,  who  died  young,  in 
$37.  In  1853,  Judge  Walker  resigned  his  seat  on  the  bench, 
id  returned  to  the  Legislature.  He  was  one  of  the  prominent, 
lading  men  of  that  session,  sharing  largely  in  the  important  de- 
ates,  especially  upon  the  engrossing  measure  of  the  session, 


508  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

internal  improvement.     On  the  25th  of  November,  1853,  Mr. 
"Walker  submitted  to  the  House  the  following  resolution : 

Resolved,  That  the  Committee  on  Internal  Improvement  be  instructed  to  enquire* 
into  the  expediency  of  affording  State  aid  to  a  railroad  company,  connecting  the« 
navigable  waters  of  the  Mobile  Bay  and  the  Tennessee  River,  and  report,  shoulcU 
it  be  deemed  expedient,  some  plan,  by  bill  or  otherwise,  having  this  object  in 
view ;  but  in  no  event  is  said  Committee  to  designate  the  termini  of  the  road. 

This  resolution,  with  several  amendments,  was  the  occasion  ofl 
the  debate,  in  which  the  strength  of  the  House  for  talent,  elo-^ 
quence  and  research  touching  the  interests  of  Alabama,  was  finely 
exhibited  to  a  crowded  lobby  and  gallery  of  listening  and  ad 
miring  auditors,  and  to  attentive  members  in  their  places.  Gen.. 
Walker  opened  the  discussion  in  a  speech  of  very  great  ability 
and  research,  which  showed  that  he  had  thought  much  and  deeply 
upon  the  subject  of  Internal  Improvement,  especially  as  connected! 
with  the  resources  and  interests  of  Alabama.  A  copy  of  the^ 
speech  was  requested  for  publication,  by  many  gentlemen  whoi 
heard  it,  and  furnished  by  the  author.  It  was  published  in  ai 
pamphlet  of  sixteen  pages,  and  had  great  influence  on  public- 
opinion.  The  discussion  was  continued  by  Messrs.  J.  E.  Belser,. 
D.  C.  Humphreys,  Percy  Walker,  T.  J.  Judge,  John  Cochran,  J., 
L.  M.  Curry,  Joshua  L.  Martin,  A.  B.  Meek,  and  others,  consti 
tuting  an  array  of  talent  seldom  exhibited  upon  any  one  question,, 
at  any  session  of  the  Legislature. 

After  the  session  of  1853,  Gen.  Walker  resumed  the  practice  ofl 
the  law,  and  remained  in  private  life  for  some  time.  In  1860,  he1 
was  a  delegate  to  the  Charleston  and  Richmond  Conventions,  the1 
latter  adjourning  to  Baltimore.  In  these  Conventions  he  identified  I 
himself  fully  with  the  Southern  movement,  as  it  was  called,  and! 
supported  Mr.  Breckinridge  for  President. 

Upon  the  secession  of  Alabama,  Judge  Walker  was  appointed! 
by  Governor  Moore,  a  Commissioner  to  Tennessee,  to  corifer  withi 
the  authorities  of  that  State  as  to  the  best  policy  for  the  slave-- 
States,  and  he  at  once  visited  Nashville,  where  he  executed  his< 
mission,  and  reported  to  the  Governor  formally  on  the  prospect  of! 
the  cooperation  of  Tennessee. 

When  the  Confederate  Government  was  organized,  in  February, , 
1861,  President  Davis  invited  Mr.  Walker  to  a  seat  in  his  Cabinet, , 
which  he  accepted  as  Secretary  of  War.     As  matters  hastened  ten 
a  crisis,  in  relation  to  Fort  Sumter,  in  April,  1861,  Gen.  Walker- 
exchanged  telegrams  with  Gen.  Beauregard  several  times  a  day, , 
and  at  last,  when  the  Confederate  guns  opened  on  the  Fort,  and, 
after  a  heroic  resistance  of  thirty  hours  or  more,  Major  Anderson 
capitulated,  intelligence  of  the  victory  was  flashed  in  a  moment  to 
Montgomery,  where  it  caused  great  enthusiasm,  and  wild  demon 
strations  of  joy.     The  Secretary  of  War  was  called  upon  for  a 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  509 

peech,  when,  having  very  little  time  for  reflection,  or  to  weigh  in 
rery  nice  scales  the  significance  which  his  official  character  would 
ive  to  words  otherwise  harmless,  he  replied  to  the  multitude  in 
ubstance  that  the  Confederate  flag  would  wave  in  victory  over 
independence  Hall,  in  Philadelphia,  and  over  Faneuil  Hall,  in 
Boston,  before  our  armies  retired  from  the  field.  The  North  had 
tithcrto  been  divided,  and  with  great  reluctance  a  large  portion 
f  the  people,  including  the  most  intelligent  classes,  contemplated 
,  war  of  invasion  against  the  South ;  but  when  the  Secretary  of 
^ar,  supposed  to  represent  the  feelings  and  designs  of  the  people 
f  the  South,  declared  that  the  North  would  be  invaded  and  con- 
uered,  then  there  was  unanimity — perfect,  aggressive — men,  cnp- 
tal,  everything  for  self-preservation.  Then  it  was  that  Edward 
Dverett,  whose  influence  had  hitherto  held  in  check  th'3  passions 
>f  the  people,  advised  them  to  take  up  arms  in  defense  of  their 
tomes — all  from  that  speech  of  twenty  words,  more  or  less,  on  the 
pur  of  the  moment.  However  unfortunate  for  the  country,  the 
ion  or  or  the  patriotism  of  the  Secretary  has  never  been  impeached 
or  tills  gigantic  conception,  although  the  Southern  people  have 
lad  to  answer  sorely  for  it.  It  was  a  beautiful  flourish,  directed 
>y  a  brave  spirit,  and  made  by  eloquent  lips,  with  no  mischief  in 
he  purpose;  but  it  unhappily  took  an  evil  direction,  from  its  offi- 
iial  origin. 

Gen.  Walker  remained  in  the  Cabinet  a  year,  or  thereabout, 
>erforming  his  onerous  and  responsible  duties,  amid  scenes  and 
ransactions  of  vast  importance,  when  he  resigned,  and  accepted 
rom  President  Davis  the  commission  of  Brigadier  General  in 
he  Confederate  army.  Throughout  his  connection  with  the  South 
ern  Government,  in  high  positions,  he  maintained  the  same  lofty 
)rinciples,  the  same  undeviating  rectitude  of  purpose,  the  same  pol- 
shed  address  as  a  gentleman,  for  which  he  was  always  distin 
guished.  His  public  services  are  before  the  country. 

Gen.  -Walker  now  resides  at  Huntsville,  with  mature  qualifica- 
ions  as  a  lawyer  and  jurist,  to  make  his  legal  course  successful. 
rle  has  had  the  benefit  of  family  influences  and  prestige,  which  no 
loubt  contributed  to  render  him  popular  with  the  masses  when  he 
irst  came  forward;  but  he  has  since  worked  his  way  to  high  places, 
ind  into  public  favor,  on  his  own  merits.  He  is  still  in  the  merid- 
an  of  life;  but  it  can  not  be  claimed  for  him,  or  for  any  other 
;rue  Southern  gentleman,  during  the  present  Federal  misrule,  that 
lis  political  future  is  without  gloom  and  without  embarrassment. 
Fhe  chances  are  against  virtue  and  intelligence. 

JAMES  WILLIAMS,  of  Jackson,  served  his  first  session  in  1838, 
and  up  to  1847,  when  he  was  again  returned,  he  was  several  times 
elected  to  the  House.  After  1847,  he  took  a  long  resting  spell, 


510  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

and  devoted  himself  more  closely  to  his  agricultural  pursuits,  and  I 
in  raising  his  family  with  that  care  and  attention  so  essential  toi 
happiness. 

In  1860,  he  was  a  delegate  in  the  National  Democratic  Conven-i 
tion  at  Baltimore,  and  voted  for  Mr.  Douglas,  and  was  conserva-i- 
tive.  He  was  also  a  member  of  the  Convention  that  prepared  the; 
Constitution  of  1865,  and  was  elected  that  year  to  the  Legislature,, 
serving  through  the  session  of  1866—7.  Mr.  Williams  was  a  good] 
average  member,  and  attentive  to  business,  and  generally  quieti 
upon  the  floor  of  the  House.  Occasionally,  he  would  deliver  hisj 
sentiments,  and  was  apt  to  be  heard  with  attention,  as  he  spoke* 
good  common  sense,  interspersed  with  wit  and  anecdote,  Avhichi 
made  his  efforts  spicy  and  entertaining.  He  was  a  Democrat,  and^ 
like  Mr.  James  W.  Davis,  of  Bibb,  will,  I  presume,  always  be] 
.  one  as  long  as  he  lives.  He  was  somewhat  eccentric,  and  what 
the  world  calls  curious,  but  it  was  his  way,  and  he  meant  nothing 
by  it.  In  his  friendships,  he  was  sincere  and  constant,  with  aj 
warm,  generous  nature,  which,  if  not  guarded,  may  prove  his  worst 
enemy. 

Louis  WYETH,  of  Marshall,  took  his  seat  in  the  House  for  the 
onjy  time  at  the  session  cf  1847.  For  a  number  of  years,  he  had 
filled  the  office  of.  Judge  of  the  County  Court,  and  was  esteemed- 
for  the  probity  and  uprightness  of  his  administration.  His  char 
acter,  as  a  citizen  and  lawyer,  commanded  general  respect.  He 
possessed  a  warm,  sympathizing  heart,  and  was  moved  to  action 
by  the  wants  and  sufferings  of  the  people,  both  during  the  wall 
and  after  the  surrender. 

The  presence  of  hostile  armies  had  been  peculiarly  wasteful  in 
his  section  of  country,  and  despite  the  efforts  of  (Jol.  Sheffield  in 
the  Legislature,  a  famine  of  bread  and  starvation  was  imminent. 
In  this  terrible  emergency,  Judge  Wyeth  left  his  office  and  busi 
ness,  and  visited  several  towns  on  the  Ohio,  where  he  presented 
the  condition  of  the  people  in  so  simple  and  earnest  a  manner, 
that  liberal  contributions  were  made  for  their  relief,  and  arrange 
ments  for  shipping  supplies  free  of  charge.  His  announcement 
by  telegram  of  the  result  was  characteristic  and  expressive.  It 
ran  in  these  simple  words:  "My  people  are  saved."  It  was  enough; 
it  meant  bread  and  meat  for  a  starving  people. 

Judge  Wyeth  still  lives  in  Marshall — a  gentleman  of  fair  lit 
erary  attainments,  of  extensive  reading  and  reflection;  and  better 
than  all,  he  has  the  consciousness  of  having  acted  well  his  part  in 
life,  which  will  redound  to  his  happiness  in  time  and  in  eternity. 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  511 


CHAPTER  XXVIII. 

Session  of  1849 — Burning  of  the   Capitol — Inauguration  of  Gov.. 
Collier — Candidates  and  Sketches. 

The  year  1848  brought  another  Presidential  election.  The 
contest  between  Gen.  Cass,  the  Democratic,  and  Gen.  Taylor,  the 
"Whig  candidate,  was  quite  animated,  and  the  result  showed  a  giv 
ing  way  of  party  strength  on  the  side  of  the  former.  The  friends 
of  Gen.  Taylor,  within  a  few  months  of  the  election,  conceived 
the  idea  of  carrying  the  State  for  their  candidate,  and  their  opera 
tions  were  very  effective  toward  accomplishing  the  end.  They 
failed,  however,  in  the  main  chance,  but  succeeded  in  reducing 
the  majority  to  the  lowest  figure  at  which  the  ballots  have  ever 
ranged  in  contests  between  the  parties  in  Alabama.  The  vote  was, 
for  Cass,  31,363;  for  Taylor,  30,482 — a  majority  of  less  than  one 
thousand.  This  lessening  of  the  majority  was  caused,  in  a  great 
measure,  by  the  support  which  Gen.  Taylor  received  from  Col. 
Belser  and  Judge  Rice,  and  the  neutral  position  of  Mr.  Yancey, 
Judge  Heydenfeldt,  and  others  of  the  extreme  Southern  wing. 
Col.  Richard  B.  Walthall,  as  an  Elector  for  the  State  at  large,  pre 
sided  in  the  College  of  Electors,  when  the  vote  of  Alabama  was 
cast  for  Lewis  Cass  for  President,  and  AVilliam  O.  Butler,  of  Ken 
tucky,  for  Vice-Presideut.  I  believe  it  was  his  last  public  act. 
He  was  then  in  bad  health  and  declining. 

VISIT   OF    EX-PRESIDENT    POIJv. 

In  March,  1849,  ex-President  James  K.  Polk  took  the  South 
ern  route  in  returning  from  Washington  to  his  home  in  Nashville. 
Measures  were  taken  to  give  him  a  reception  at  Montgomery. 
About  one  hundred  gentlemen  got  up  a  private  entertainment  at 
the  Montgomery  Hall.  A  public  meeting  was  held,  and  a  com 
mittee  appointed  to  meet  him  at  Opelika,  and  escort  him  in  a 
special  train  to  the  city.  Col.  John  J.  Seibles  was  chairman  of 
the  committee,  and  was  accompanied  by  several  gentlemen,  to- 
wit :  Col.  Howell  Rose,  Seth  P.  Storrs,  Col.  Reuben  C.  Shorter, 
Jr.,  Gen.  Rush  Elmore,  Col.  Robert  E.  Co*e,  I>r.  Charles  S. 
Lucas,  and  the  writer,  besides  others  whose  names  have  escaped 
recollection,  The  route  of  Mr,  Polk  from  Opelika  was  crowded 


512  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

at  every  station  with  multitudes  of  people  anxious  to  see  him,  and 
hear  him  say  something.  After  partaking  of  a  very  fine  dinner, 
prepared  by  Mr.  John  Gindrat  at  Franklin,  the  party,  consisting 
of  Mr.  Polk  and  his  lady,  Miss  Rucker  and  Miss  Hays,  and  the 
official  escort,  arrived  at  Montgomery  in  good  time,  and  was  re 
ceived  at  the  Montgomery  Hall,  in  presence  of  a  large  concourse 
of  citizens,  by  Mr.  Yancey,  on  behalf  of  the  city  and  State,  in  a 
short  and  pointed  speech,  to  which  the  ex-President  replied. 

The  dinner  was  given  after  night,  in  the  large  dining-room  of 
the  Hall,  and  was  attended  by  about  one  hundred  gentlemen. 
Col.  John  A.  Elrnore  presided,  assisted  by  several  Vice-Presi- 
dents.  In  due  time,  the  toasting  and  speaking  commenced,  and 
Mr.  Polk,  in  reply  to  the  toast  of  the  occasion,  made  a  speech 
which,  of  course,  gave  satisfaction.  Col.  Reuben  C.  Shorter  was 
there,  and  a  noble,  humorous  gentleman  he  was,  too.  His  senti 
ment  was  the  most  amusing,  and  was  drank  with  great  freedom. 
It  was  this:  "Gen.  Taylor.  May  he  follow  in  the  footsteps  of  his 
illustrious  predecessor." 

The  fatigue  of  the  guest  excused  his  retiring  at  an  early  hour, 
say  midnight;  but  did  not  interfere  with  the  fun  and  wit  and 
pastime  of  the  occasion. 

Captain  Coxe,  of  the  steamer  "Empress,"  had  detained  his  fine 
boat  for  the  purpose,  and  the  distinguished  party,  at  noon  next 
day,  left  for  Mobile.  Mr.  Polk  was  in  a  low  state  of  health  when 
he  passed  through  Alabama,  and  the  continued  and  long  drafts 
made  upon  him,  by  the  popular  courtesies  on  the  trip,  no  doubt 
contributed  to  his  death  in  the  June  following. 

NOMINATION   FOE   GOVERNOR. 

The  Spring  of  1849  opened  with  a  good  deal  of  maneuvering 
in  State  circles.  The  biennial  election  was  to  be  held,  and  the 
elements  of  discord  and  rivalry  in  the  Democratic  ranks  gave  out 
the  sounds  of  an  approaching  contest  in  the  nomination  for  the 
Executive.  Gov.  Chapman,  who  was  really  entitled  to  the  posi 
tion,  had,  in  a  correspondence  with  Mr.  Philip  Woodson,  Jr.,  the 
influential  editor  of  the  "Huntsville  Democrat" — in  reference  to 
the  dissatisfaction  in  many  quarters  of  the  State,  especially  North- 
Alabama,  at  his  appointment  of  Senator  in  Congress — with  great 
magnanimity,  waived  his  right  to  a  candidacy  for  reelection  with 
out  the  formality  of  a  convention,  according  to  the  usages  of  the 
party. 

A  Convention  was  at  once  called  to  meet  in  June,  and  public 
meetings  were  held  in  most  of  the  counties.  The  solicitude  grow 
ing  out  of  the  occasion  was  increased  by  its  novelty,  and  a  very 
large  attendance  of  the  leading  men  of  the  party  was  the  conse- 


Iteminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  513 

quence.  Judge  Bridges,  of  Wilcox,  was  made  President,  and  R. 
C.  Shorter,  Jr.,  of  Montgomery,  Secretary.  Among  the  promi 
nent  members  of  the  Democratic  party  present  and  participating, 
may  be  mentioned  Mr.  Yancey,  who  had  been  selected  by  the 
friends  of  Gov.  Chapman  with  a  view  to  his  support;  John  Coch- 
ran  and  Eli  S.  Shorter,  of  Barbour;  Judge  Heydenfeldt,  of  Rus 
sell  ;  Columbus  W.  Lee  and  William  M.  Brooks,  of  Perry ;  James 
E.  Saunders,  of  Mobile;  Judge  Roach,  of  Wilcox;  John  G.  Har 
vey,  of  Greene,  besides  many  other  friends  of  Gov.  Chapman, 
were  unable  to  rally  a  two-thirds  vote,  and  when  he  fell  below  a 
majority  vote,  he  was  withdrawn.  Then  the  contest  was  between 
John  Erwin  of  Greene,  John  A.  Winston  of  Sumter,  Judge  Stone 
of  Lowndes,  and  Judge  Collier  of  Tuskaloosa.  After  balloting 
two  days,  Judge  Collier  was  nominated  unanimously,  and  was,  as 
will  be  seen,  elected  without  opposition. 

THE   LEGISLATURE. 

For  the  first  time  in  many  years  the  Whigs  had  a  majority  in 
the  Senate — the  count  standing,  Whigs,  17;  Democrats,  16.  In 
the  House  the  Democrats  had  a  majority  of  ten.  This  year  (1849) 
the  Whigs  brought  forward  their  talented,  popular  men,  and  in 
many  counties  and  districts  that  were  Democratic,  they  succeeded 
in  electing  their  candidates. 

The  General  Assembly  met  on  the  12th  of  November.  In  the 
Senate,  every  member  was  present  on  the  first  day.  Gen.  Dennis 
Dent,  of  Tuskaloosa,  was  unanimously  elected  President.  He 
was  selected  on  account  of  his  long  service  in  that  body,  where  his 
personal  relations  with  his  political  opponents  had  always  been 
friendly ;  and,  although  an  intense  Whig,  he  was  personally  pop 
ular.  Jennings  F.  Marrast  was  elected  Secretary;  W.  M.  Kidd, 
Assistant  Secretary;  and  L.  G.  Million,  Door-Keeper. 

In  the  House,  Gen.  L.  P.  Walker,  of  Lauderdale,  was  elected 
Speaker,  without  opposition;  A.  B.  Clitherall,  Principal  Clerk; 
J.  H.  Cooper,  Assistant  Clerk;  W.  J.  Greene,  Engrossing  Clerk; 
and  J.  H.  Owen,  Door-Keeper. 

Gov.  Chapman  transmitted  to  the  House,  on  the  same  day,  his 
annual  message,  which  occupies  thirty-two  pages  of  the  House 
Journal — an  able  and  business-like  document. 

The  Governor,  toward  the  close,  devotes  seven  pages  of  his 
message  to. a  topic  wwich  will  be  sufficiently  explained  by  the  first 
and  last  paragraphs  of  the  discussion,  hereto  subjoined : 

First  paragraph- 
Having  thus  placed  before  you,  for  your  consideration,  every  subject  connected 
with  the  domestic  policy  of  the  State,  and  the  immediate  interests  of  her  people 
33 


514  Reminiscences  of  Publio  Men  in  Alabama. 

I  should  feel  that  I  had  not  discharged  my  whole  duty,  if,  before  retiring  from 
office,  I  did  not  call  your  serious  altention  to  the  question  of  slavery  in  the  Terri 
tories,  and  the  action  of  Congress  on  that  subject.  A  more  important  subject 
never  presented  itself  to  the  consideration  of  a  people ;  for  it  concerns  not  merely 
our  property,  but  is  a  question  of  State  and  individual  honor — of  self-preservation. 

Last?  paragraph — 

I  recommend  that  provision  be  made  by  the  Legislature  at  once  for  the  calling 
of  a  Convention  of  the  people  of  the  State  immediately  upon  the  passage  of  the 
Wilmot  Proviso  in  Congress,  or  any  similar  measure  having  a  tendency  to  exclude 
slavery  from  the  Territories,  or  abolish  it  in  the  District  of  Columbia,  or  interfere 
with  the  removal  of  slaves  from  one  State  to  another.  I  recommend,  also,  that 
provision  be  made,  that,  in  any  such  contingency,  our  sister  States  similarly 
affected,  be  invited  to  unite  with  us  in  general  Convention,  to  consult  upon  the 
state  of  the  Union,  and  the  best  means  of  preserving  our  common  rights. 

The  two  Houses  contained  a  large  addition  of  talent  in  such 
men  as  Murphy,  McLemore,  Watrous,  Gunn,  and  others,  of  the 
Senate;  and  Robert  H.  Smith,  William  G.  Jones,  James,  Irby, 
Watts,  Ligon,  Hall  of  Autauga,  L.  M.  Stone  of  Pickens,  H.  C. 
Lea,  J.  T.  Rather,  and  others,  of  the  House.  The  leading 
men,  so  far  as  the  arrangement  would  allow,  are  signified  by  the 
Chairmanship  of  Committees; 

In  the  Senate— 

Mr.  Murphy,  on  the  Judiciary; 

Mr.  Stewart,  on  Finance; 

Mr.  Manning,  on  Banks  and  Banking; 

Mr.  Judge,  on  Federal  Relations; 

Mr.  Watrous,  on  Internal  Improvement; 

Mr.  Buford,  on  Education ; 

Mr.  Abercrombie,  on  Propositions  and  Grievances. 

In  the  House — 

Mr.  W.  G.  Jones,  on  the  Judiciary; 

Mr.  Bridges,  on  Ways  and  Means; 

Mr.  Jemison,  on  Banks  and  Banking; 

Mr.  James,  on  Federal  Relations; 

Mr.  Hill,  of  Sumter,  on  Internal  Improvement; 

Mr.  Lea,  on  Education. 

The  session  of  1849  may  be  considered  one  of  great  practical 
importance.  Much  business  was  transacted,  and  many  able,  re 
ports  made  upon  the  various  questions  referred  to  the  Committees. 

As  sole  Commissioner  for  winding  up  the  affairs  of  the  State 
Bank  and  Branches,  the  Hon.  Francis  S.  Lyon  -submitted  a  report 
of  his  management,  which  was  referred  to  a  Select  Committee,  to 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  515 

examine  the  account  and  vouchers.     That  Committee,  through 
Mr.  Jemison,  the  Chairman,  made  the  following  report : 

The  Joint  Committee  appointed  by  the  two  Houses  of  the  General  Assembly 
to  audit  and  settle  the  accounts  of  F.  S.  Lyon,  Esq.,  Commissioner  and  Trustee 
appointed  to  settle  the  affairs  of  the  State  Bank  and  Branches,  showing  the  receipts 
and  disbursements  by  said  Commissioner  and  Trustee  on  account  of  the  State,  have 
performed  the  duty  assigned  them,  and  instructed  me  to  report. 

They  were  furnished  by  the  Commissioner  with  an  account  in  detail  of  moneys 
received  by  him  since  the  passage  of  the  act  of  4th  February,  1848,  appointing 
him  as  sole  Commissioner  and  Trustee  to  settle  up  and  close  the  affairs  of  the  State 
Bank  and  Branches;  also  the  expenditures  by  him  on  account  of  the  State  during 
the  same  period,  which  account  is  herewith  submitted  for  the  information  of  the 
two  Houses. 

Your  Committee  inquired  into  the  mode  of  keeping  the  accounts  at  the  sev 
eral  Banks,  so  as  to  test  the  accuracy  of  the  several  items  with  which  the  Commis 
sioner  stands  charged,  and  to  satisfy  themselves  there  had  been  no  omission  to 
charge  moneys  for  which  he  was  accountable.  They  found  that  all  moneys  col 
lected  under  his  supervision  at  each  Bank  went  into  the  custody  of  the  Assistant 
Commissioner  of  the  Bank  where  collected,  whose  duty  it  was  to  keep  a  regular 
account  of  all  collections.  These  accounts  have  been  all  reported  to  the  General 
Assembly.  Whenever  any  money  has  been  withdrawn  from  any  Bank  on  the 
order  of  the  Commissioner,  the  amount  was  charged  to  his  account  at  the  Bank 
whence  it  was  drawn,  and  the  Assistant  Commissioners  have  rendered  accounts  of 
all  moueys  paid  by  them  to  the  order  of  the  Commissioner,  or  placed  to  his  credit, 
and  subject  to  his  order. 

On  settlement  of  accounts  of  the  former  Board  of  Commissioners  at  the  last 
session  of  the  General  Assembly,  there  was  found  to  be  on  hand  a  balance  arising 
from  Bank  collections,  the  sum  of  $1,007,019  84.  This  sum  was  charged  to  the 
present  Commissioner;  in  addition  to  which,  it  will  be  seen  from  the  debit  side  of 
the  account  herewith  submitted,  he  has  since  received  the  several  amounts  with 
which  he  is  therein  charged  from  the  State  Bank  and  Branches,  and  from  the 
State  Treasury.  Upon  a  careful  examination  of  each  item  on  the  debit  side  of 
the  account,  and  a  comparison  thereof,  with  the  entries  made  at  the  several  Banks 
by  the  Cashier  or  Assistant  Commissioner  of  each,  your  Committee  became  fully 
satisfied  with  the  correctness  of  the  debit  side  of  the  Commissioner's  account. 
They  then  proceeded  carefully  to  examine  each  item  on  the  credit  side,  growing 
out  of  payments  of  interest  on  the  foreign  debt  of  the  State,  the  reducing  the 
principal  of  the  State  debt,  and  the  purchase  of  Treasury  Notes,  as  shown  in  the 
report  of  the  Commissioner  to  the  present  General  Assembly,  made  19th  ultimo. 

The  vouchers  relating  to  each  item  of  expenditure  were  severally  and  care 
fully  examined,  and  the  result  has  been  that  every  item  was  sustained  by  a  proper 
and  satisfactory  voucher,  and  the  credit  side  throughout  found  to  be  correct,  as 
stated. 

Your  Committee  next  proceeded  to  count  the  bonds  discharged,  and  Treasury 
Notes  on  hand,  and  found,  as  stated  in  the  report  of  the  Commissioner,  the  sum 
of  $2, 476, 666  57  of  the  Bonds  of  the  State  have  been  taken  up  and  canceled,  and 
that  there  is  on  hand,  in  six  per  cent.  Treasury  Notes  and  United  States  Stocks, 
$1,100,000,  and  the  further  sum  of  $564,314  64  in  specie  funds  unexpended,  and 
on  deposit  in  the  Bank  of  Mobile,  and  Merchants'  Bank,  New  York. 

Your  Committee,  moreover,  inquired  into  the  outstanding  circulation  of  the 
several  Banks,  as  reported  by  the  Commissioner,  and  find  the  same  correct,  accord 
ing  to  the  returns  from  the  respective  Banks.  They  also  find  his  report  of  collec 
tions  made  at  the  several  Banks  sustained  and  verified  by  the  detailed  statements 
from  each. 

Your  Committee  have  likewise  examined  with  care  the  profit  and  loss  account 
presented  by  the  Commissioner,  and  find  the  same  correct. 

Finally,  your  Commitee  are,  from  their  investigation,  fully  satisfied  of  the  cor 
rectness  of  the  statement  of  receipts  and  expenditures  of  the  Commissioner,  as 
stated  in  the  account  which  accompanies  this  report,  and  they  are  likewise  sat- 


516  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

isfied  of  the  correctness  of  the  statement  of  receipts  and  expenditures  of  the  Com 
missioner,  as  stated  in  the  account  which  accompanies  this  report,  and  they  are 
likewise  satisfied  that  the  several  statements  and  results  shown  by  the  report  of 
the  Commissioner  to  the  present  General  Assembly  are  correct. 

In  the  opinion  of  your  Committee,  the  very  arduous  and  responsible  duties 
devolved  upon  the  Commissioner  have  been  discharged  with  ability,  fidelity,  and 
untiring  industry,  and  with  most  decided  bene.fit  and  advantage  to  the  State.  The 
office  has  been  one  difficult  to  execute,  and  by  no  means  free  from  risk  and  danger 
to  any  incumbent,  however  cautious  and  prudent  in  performing  its  delicate  and 
responsible  duties.  In  the  performance  of  these  duties  by  the  present  incumbent, 
we  have  seen  nothing  to  condemn,  but  much  to  admire  and  approve.  Under  his 
conduct  and  management  of  the  affairs  of  our  hitherto  miserably  mismanaged 
State  Bank  and  Branches,  and  the  other  funds  of  the  State  placed  under  his  con 
trol,  a  new  era  has  occurred  in  our  finances,  a  brighter  sun  has  shone  on  our  pros 
pects  ;  it  is,  therefore,  with  regret  that  your  Committee  have  learned  that  he 
desires  to  retire  from  his  present  position  as  Commissioner  and  Trustee,  and  that 
this  desire  has,  in  a  great  degree,  arisen  from  the  insufficiency  of  his  compensa 
tion,  which  has  been  mostly  paid  out  in  traveling  and  other  unavoidable  expenses, 
leaving  a  mere  pittance  to  remunerate  him  for  his  exclusive  and  entire  attention 
to  the  business  of  his  office,  to  say  nothing  of  the  constant  and  unceasing  anxiety 
attendant  upon  the  discharge  of  its  duties.  We  can  not  believe  that,  for  reasons 
of  this  sort,  the  State  will  consent  to  part  with  the  services  of  the  first  public 
functionary  who  has  shed  a  ray  of  light  and  hope  upon  the  deep  and  discouraging 
gloom  that  for  years  past  has  cast  its  impenetrable  shadow  over  her  financial 
prospects. 

The  present  Commissioner  has  performed  more  than  three-fourths  of  the  labor 
necessary  to  bring  to  a  close  the  affairs  of  the  State  Bank  and  Branches,  and  has, 
from  his  experience,  acquired  a  knowledge  of  its  complicated  duties,  which  could 
not  soon  or  readily  be  acquired  by  any  other,  however  able  or  apt ;  added  to  which 
the  very  unexpected  and  gratifying  results  of  his  past  labors  having  given  him  so 
firm  a  place  in  the  confidence  and  affections  of  a  generous  and  just  people,  we  are 
satisfied  this  people  would  desire  his  continuance  on  terms  that  will,  to  some 
extent,  compensate  him  for  past  as  well  as  future  services,  and  for  the  sacrifices 
in  his  private  and  individual  business.  From  those  who  serve  them  well,  who 
serve  them  ably,  and  who  serve  them  faithfully,  the  people  of  Alabama  will  not 
withhold  a  reasonable  compensation. 

In  view  of  the  foregoing  facts  and  considerations,  your  Committee  would  deem 
themselves  wanting  in  justice  to  the  Commissioner,  and  faithless  in  their  duty  to 
their  State,  if  they  did  not  recommend  that  the  General  Assembly  make  provision 
for  adequate  compensation  to  him  for  his  past  as  well  as  his  future  services,  and 
to  insure  to  the  State  the  successful  completion  of  a  policy  so  wisely  begun  and  so 
ably  conducted  thus  far. 

Your  Committee  have  prepared,  and  most  respectfully  submit,  the  accompany- 
ino-  bill,  the  passage  of  which  they  earnestly  recommend. 

R.  JEMISON, 
On  the  part  of  the  House  of  Representatives. 

JOHN  MORRISETTE, 
On  the  part  of  the  Senate. 

This  document  is  given  entire,  as  showing  in  detail  the  process 
of  winding  up  the  commission  by  the  Trustee,  whose  conduct  was 
highly  approved. 

COUNTING  THE  VOTES  FOR  GOVERNOR. 

On  the  16th  November,  1849,  the  two  Houses  of  the  General 
Assembly  convened  in  the  Hall  of  the  House  of  Representatives, 
to  compare  and  count  the  votes  for  Governor  at  the  last  general  elec- 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  517 

tion,  when  Mr.  Speaker  presented  the  official  returns  from  forty- 
four  counties,  which  were  examined,  showing  a  total  vote  of 
37,925;  of  which  HENRY  W.  COLLIER  received  37,221,  and  the 
remaining  704  votes  were  cast  for  eight  citizens  who  were  not  can 
didates.  Chief  Justice  Collier  was  therefore  declared  duly  elected 
Governor  of  the  State  for  a  term  of  two  years. 

BURNING   OF   THE   CAPITOL. 

The  two  Houses  had  been  in  session  a  month  and  two  days,  and 
were  industriously  engaged  in  the  dispatch  of  business,  which 
promised  an  early  termination  of  the  session,  when  an  event  oc 
curred,  which  in  the  disorder  and  the  derangement  produced, 
and  the  introduction  of  new  questions,  extended  the  session  nearly 
one  month  longer.  I  allude  to  the  burning  of  the  State  Capitol 
on  the  14th  day  of  December. 

About  fifteen  minutes  after  one  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  when 
both  Houses  were  in  session,  it  was  discovered  that  the  Capitol 
was  on  fire  over  the  Representative  Hall — the  volume  of  smoke 
issuing  with  rapid  increase.  Gen.  Frazier,  of  the  Senate,  upon 
the  first  intimation  of  such  a  thing,  hurried  to  the  upper  story,  and 
into  the  room  leading,  by  a  trap-door,  to  the  top,  to  see  what  dis 
coveries  could  be  made ;  but  was  met  at  the  door  by  a  dense  vol 
ume  of  smoke,  which  arrested  his  progress. 

The  Senate  adjourned  hastily;  but  the  House  broke  up  its  sit 
ting  without  the  formality  of  an  adjournment — such  was  the  panic 
and  confusion  that  suddenly  seized  upon  the  members.  The  fire 
extended  rapidly  from  the  south  end  of  the  bnilding  against  a 
pretty  stiff  northern  breeze,  and  in  three  hours,  that  superb,  ele 
gant  structure — a  monument  of  the  liberality  of  the  citizens  of 
Montgomery,  and  the  pride  of  the  State — was  in  ruins;  nothing 
left  but  portions  of  the  blackened  Avails. 

The  combined  efforts  of  the  members  and  citizens,  with  the 
heads  of  departments,  saved  the  public  property  upon  the  base 
ment  and  second  floor.  The  State  Library  on  the  third  floor  could 
not  be  entered  without  peril.  After  the  archives  of  his  office  were 
saved,  the  writer  conducted  a  number  of  gentlemen  to  that  apart 
ment,  to  assist  in  throwing  the  contents  out  of  the  windows;  but 
the  heat  was  so  great  and  increasing,  that  they  could  not  remain, 
and  the  large  collection  of  public  documents,  law-books,  manu 
script  Journals  of  the  General  Assembly,  historical  works,  maps 
of  the  several  States,  and  valuable  papers,  with  a  variety  of  pub 
lications  presented  to  the  State  in  exchange  for  similar  courtesies, 
and  other  volumes  constituting  a  fine  collection  for  public  use — 
were  all  destroyed. 

The  archives  and  papers  of  the  Executive,  of  the  Secretary  of 


518  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

State,  the  Treasurer  and  Comptroller,  of  the  Supreme  Court,  and 
of  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives,  including  all  belong 
ing  to  the  public  offices  in  the  Capitol,  that  were  saved,  were  se 
cured  in  rooms  procured  for  the  purpose  in  the  city,  until  the 
Houses  should  determine  the  location  of  the  different  offices. 

The  day  after  the  conflagration,  the  President  of  the  Senate  laid 
before  that  body  several  communications: 

1.  From  F.  Bugbee,  C.  T.  Pollard,  and  other  citizens  of  Mont 
gomery,  a  committee  on  the  part  of  the  citizens,  tendering  the 
use  of  such  buildings  and  rooms  as  would  be  suitable  for  the  Leg 
islature  of  Alabama  to  hold  their  session  in. 

2.  From  Mr.  Talbird,  pastor  of  the  Baptist  Church,  tendering 
the  use  of  the  Church  building  to  the  Senate  or  House  of  Repre 
sentatives. 

3.  From  W.  L.  Yancey  and  others,  a  committee  on  the  part  of 
the  Presbyterian  Church,  tendering  their  edifice  of  worship  to  the 
General  Assembly. 

On  motion  of  Mr.  Ware,  of  Montgomery,  a  joini  committee 
was  appointed,  consisting  of  Messrs.  Ware,  Winston,  and  Aber- 
crombie,  on  the  part  of  the  Senate,  and  of  Messrs.  James,  Watts, 
Rather,  Hill,  and  Bridges,  on  the  part  of  the  House,  to  examine 
the  rooms  which  have  been  tendered,  and  if,  in  their  opinion,  they 
be  suitable  for  the  comfortable  accommodation  of  the  General  As 
sembly,  and  for  the  dispatch  of  public  business,  they  shall  contract 
for  said  rooms,  and  also  provide  rooms  for  the  accommodation  of 
the  departments  and  officers  of  the  Government — the  committee 
to  report  on  Monday,  17th  of  December.  Not  being  able  to  ac 
complish  their  labors  within  the  time  specified,  further  time  was 
asked,  and  granted,  for  the  committee  to  make  their  report. 

INAUGURATION   OF   GOV.    COLLIER. 

When  the  Senate  met  on  Monday,  December  17th,  Mr.  Storrs 
from  the  joint  committee  appointed  to  make  suitable  arrangements 
for  the  inauguration  of  His  Excellency  HENRY  W.  COLLIER, 
made  the  following  report : 

PROGRAMME. 


FIRST. 

The  two  Houses  will  adjourn  at  11  o'clock,  A.  M.,  on  Monday,  the  17th  instant, 
form  a  procession  at  the  Montgomery  Hall,  receive  the  Governor  elect,  and  repair 
to  the  Methodist  Church,  where  the  inauguration  will  take  place. 

SECOND. 

The  procession  will  form  in  the  following  order: 

1.  The  military. 

2.  Citizens. 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  519 

3.  Mayor  and  Aldermen. 

4.  Committee  of  Arrangements. 

5.  Governor  elect  and  the  retiring  Governor. 

6.  Chaplain. 

7.  Members  and  officers  of  the  Senate. 

8.  Members  and  officers  of  the  House  of  Representatives. 

9.  Officers  of  State. 

10.  Judges  of  the  Supreme  and  Circuit  Courts,  and  Chancellors. 

11.  Senators  of  the  United  States,  Ex-Senators  and  Ex-Governors. 

THIRD. 

The  Rev.  Dr.  Hamilton  will  act  as  Chaplain. 

FOURTH. 

Gen.  James  G.  Carroll  will  act  as  Marshal,  with  aids. 


After  the  inauguration,  the  two  Houses  will  again  form  in  procession  and  escort 
the  Governor  to  his  rooms. 

SETH  P.  STORRS, 
GEORGE  N.  STEWART, 
JAMES  M.  BECKETT, 

Committee  on  the  part  of  the  Senate. 

LEWIS  M.  STONE, 
JOHN  S.  STORRS, 
ENOCH  ALDRIDGE, 

Committee  on  the  part  of  the  House. 

The  plan  of  the  Committee  was  carried  out  in  tlie  ceremonies, 
and  the  new  Governor,  after  delivering  an  address  suited  to  the 
occasion,  took  the  oath  of  office  in  the  Sanctuary  of  the  Most 
High,  in  the  presence  of  a  great  multitude,  official  and  otherwise, 
instead  of  the  Capitol,  where  his  election  had  been  proclaimed 
one  month  previously. 

In  a  few  days,  rooms  and  offices  were  provided  and  arranged, 
and  the  two.  Houses  were  again  at  work.  But  a  new  question  was 
sprung — that  of  rebuilding  the  Capitol — and  from  the  day  of  the 
burning  to  the  end  of  the  session,  it  was  the  engrossing,  if  not  the 
controlling  one.  The  old  removal  feelings  were  kindled  anew, 
and  on  the  proposition  to  rebuild  at  the  expense  of  the  State, 
there  was  a  close  division  and  count,  while  the  Senate  hung  on  a 
balance  of  uncertainty  for  some  time.  But  the  measure  at  length 
prevailed,  money  was  voted,  and  the  Capitol  was  rebuilt  in  two 
years,  upon  the  old  foundation,  in  time  for  the  meeting  of  the 
Legislature  in  1851. 

From  various  causes,  the  session  of  1849  proved  to  be  a  long 
one,  terminating  on  the  13th  of  February,  1850.  One  of  the 
measures  of  importance,  was  a  ratificatation  of  an  amendment  of 
the  Constitution,  giving  the  election  of  Circuit  Judges  to  the  peo 
ple,  and  providing  for  a  Probate  Court  in  each  county,  the  Judge 
of  which  was  to  be  elected  by  popular  vote.  This  removed  the 


520  Reminiscences  of  Public  Mm  in  Alabama. 

election  of  these  officers  from  the  Legislature,  where  it  had  been 
lodged  since  the  organization  of  the  State.  It  showed,  too,  the 
progress  of  public  sentiment,  step  by  step,  since  that  time.  Under 
the  original  Constitution,  Judges  of  the  Circuit  Court  held  their 
offices  for  life.  Public  opinion,  in  a  few  years,  demanded  that 
they  should  be  elected  for  a  specified  term,  and  it  was  fixed  at  six 
years.  But  it  did  not  stop,  and  the  next  demand  was  to  elect 
those  officers  by  the  people,  instead  of  the  Legislature.  This  was 
accorded  them. 

MEMORIAL  OF   MISS   DIX. 

The  well  known  and  highly  respected  philanthropist,  Miss  t>. 
L.  Dix,  of  New  York,  visited  Montgomery  during  the  session, 
and  presented  a  memorial  to  each  branch  of  the  General  Assem 
bly  for  the  establishment  of  a  hospital  for  the  insane.  The  mem 
orial  was  referred  to  a  select  committee.  In  the  Senate — 

Mr.  Stewart,  from  the  Select  Committee  to  whom  was  referred  the  memorial  of 
Miss  D.  L.  Dix  on  the  subject  of  the  establishment  of  a  hospital  for  the  insane, 
reported  as  follows : 

That  they  are  very  much  gratified  in  having  the  opportunity,  by  reason  of  the 
valuable  information  communicated  to  them  by  Miss  Dix,  to  present  to  this  body 
the  means  of  performing  a  duty  so  long  neglected  and  so  sadly  delayed.  It  is  a 
stranger  who,  having  nobly  devoted  her  life  to  the  succor  of  the  afflicted,  now 
pleads  their  cause  before  us,  and  from  no 'other  motives  than  the  pure  dictates  of 
Christian  charity  and  benevolence.  She  admonishes  us,  and  we  must  admit  it  as 
a  lamentable  fact,  that  the  State  of  Alabama,  one  of  Heaven's  most  favored  social 
communities,  whose  population  claim  to  be  recognized  as  a  Christian  and  civ 
ilized  people,  alive  and  adequate  to  all  the  purposes  of  self-government,  has  ex 
isted  as  a  sovereign  State  for  ftiirty  years,  and  yet  she  has  wholly  omitted  and 
neglected  to  perform  one  of  the  first  of  her  moral,  social,  and  religious  duties — 
that  pleasing  duty  of  charity  to  the  afflicted. 

Y  our  Committee  believe  they  would  fall  far  below  the  standard  of  the  people 
themselves  now,  when  all  the  requisite  information  is  laid  before  them,  showing 
them  the  means  necessary  to  be  adopted,  by  a  person  so  well  skilled  from  expe 
rience  to  furnish  it,  with  all  the  details  necessary  to  create,  organize,  and  conduct 
such  an  institution  with  success — if  they  failed  to  act  at  once,  and  to  do,  in  the 
name  of  the  people  of  Alabama,  this  act  of  charity  and  Christian  duty. 

They  have  therefore  directed  me  to  report 

A  bill  to  be  entitled  "An  act  to  establish  a  State  hospital  for  insane  persons  in 
Alabama,"  and  of  which  they  recommend  the  passage  by  this  body. 

GEORGE  N.  STEWART,  Chairman. 

On  motion  of  Mr.  Ware,  the  bill  was  laid  upon  the  table,  and  133  copies  or 
dered  to  be  printed. 

In  the  House  of  Representatives — 

Mr.  R.  H.  Smith,  from  the  Select  Committee  to  whom  was  referred  the  memorial 
of  Miss  D.  L.  Dix,  on  the  subject  of  a  State  hospital  for  the  protection  and  cure  of 
the  insane,  reported  : 

That  the  Committee  think  no  statement  or  argument  can  be  necessary  on  the 
importance  of  such  an  institution;  no  extraordinary  appeals  are  required  to  elicit 
our  sympathies  in  behalf  of  affliction.  Increasing  legislation  throughout  the  civ 
ilized  world  for  the  protection  and  relief  of  the  unfortunate  of  every  class,  speaks 
the  tendency  of  the  age  too  plainly  to  require  comment.  The  census  of  1840  in- 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  521 

forms  us  that  there  were  then  three  hundred  and  fifty-seven  persons  within  our 
State  idiotic  and  insane.  When  it  is  remembered  that  the  computation  was  mere 
incidental  duty  to  ascertaining  the  population,  it  will  appear  that  the  number  must 
have  been  much  larger,  especially  as  the  lunatics  from  Alabama  in  the  hospitals 
of  other  States  were  probably  not  included. 

We  are  advised  by  the  touching  memorial  of  Miss  Dix,  whose  philanthropic 
life  has  been  largely  devoted  to  ascertaining  and  ameliorating  the  condition  of  this 
unfortunate  class,  that,  according  to  the  lowest  estimate,  there  are  not  fewer  than 
seven  hundred  idiots,  epileptics  and  insane  within  our  State.  Observation  teaches 
how  deplorable  and  distressing  must  be  the  condition  of  such  out  of  an  asylum. 
All  testimony  coincides  in  acknowledging  the  restorative  and  ameliorating  effects 
of  treatment  in  one. 

The  Committee,  impressed  with  the  importance  of  such  an  institution,  have 
never  felt  the  force  of  an  obje<?tion  to  its  present  establishment  on  the  ground  of 
expenditure.  The  necessity  for  prudence  and  economy  in  the  present  exigencies  of 
the  State  is  sensibly  appreciated,  but  the  Committee  think  the  object  to  be  accom 
plished  rises  above  the  objection.  A  comparison  of  the  property  and  taxes  of 
Alabama  with  the  property  and  taxes  of  some  of  the  most  nourishing  States  of 
the  Union,  will  leave  us  little  cause  to  complain  that  we  are  heavily  burdened. 

But  your  Committee  do  not  think  the  establishment  of  an  asylum  will  be  con 
sidered  as  an  ordinary  act  of  appropriation,  to  be  made  or  withheld  on  strict  rules 
of  economy.  They  look  upon  the  protection  of  our  afflicted  people  as  the  duty  of 
the  State,  as  high,  as  obligatory,  as  that  of  securing  to  her  citizens  the  enjoyment 
of  liberty  and  estate. 

The  Committee  instruct  me  to  report  the  following  bill  to  establish  a  State  hos 
pital  for  insane  persons  in  Alabama. 

Said  bill  was  read  and  ordered  to  a  second  reading. 

Miss  Dix  was  present  in  the  Legislature  when  the  bill  was 
taken  up  and  discussed.  It  would  no  doubt  have  passed  at  the 
session  of  1849,  but  for  the  burning  of  the  Capitol.  At  the  next 
session,  however,  it  was  passed,  and  the  institution  located  at  Tus- 
kaloosa,  where  it  has  received  the  fostering  care  of  Drs.  Searcy 
and  Guild,  of  that  city,  and  of  Dr.  Mabry,  of  Dallas,  who  have 
taken  much  interest  in  it. 

The  building  has  been  costly,  under  the  plans  furnished  by  Dr. 
Lopez,  of  Mobile,  the  agent  sent  North  for  the  purpose  of  procur 
ing  designs.  It  is  an  honor  to  Miss  Dix  who  proposed,  and  to 
the  Legislature  which  established  it. 

Some  three  or  four  years  before  she  presented  her  memorial  at 
Montgomery,  Miss  Dix  visited  Tuskaloosa  on  a  mission  of  the 
kind,  while  making  a  tour  through  the  States  where  no  similar 
institutions  had  been  provided,  and  collecting  information  as  to 
the  duty  and  wants  of  Alabama  in  this  respect.  While  in  the 
city  she  was  the  guest  of  Chief  Justice  Collier,  and  it  was  at  his 
house  I  formed  her  acquaintance,  and  was  enabled  to  judge  some 
what  of  her  extraordinary  purposes.  The  idea  of  devoting  her 
life  and  energies  to  the  alleviation  of  the  unfortunate  class  who 
had  been  deprived  of  their  reason,  was  inspired  by  the  condition 
of  a  dear  female  friend  of  hers,  who  had  become  deranged,  to 
whose  relief  she  for  sometime  devoted  her  powers.  Then  her 
philanthropy  took  a  wider  range,  and  embraced  the  whole  United 
States,  not  only  by  setting  on  foot  the  establishment  of  asylums 


522  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

^ 

where  the  insane  could  be  collected  and  cared  for,  but  in  visiting 
penitentiaries  and  prisons,  and  inspecting  them  with  a  view  to 
improvements  in  their  sanitary  and  moral  condition. 

She  visited  the  Penitentiary  of  Alabama,  and  turned  things 
about,  pointing  out  many  defects,  and  suggesting  improvements. 
She  furnished  the  first  library  to  that  institution  which  it  ever  had 
— the  moral  culture  of  the  convicts,  through  books,  having  been 
theretofore  wholly  neglected.  Her  efforts  were  untiring.  She 
seemed  to  feel  that  she  had  an  important  mission  to  perform,  and 
had  no  time  to  lose.  Her  object  was  information  upon,  and  coop 
eration  in  her  work.  That  she  accomplished  much  by  her  efforts, 
the  establishment  of  asylums  for  the  insane  in  evefi*y  State  where 
they  were  wanting,  fully  attests.  Not  only  so.  She  elevated  the 
character  of  prison  treatment  and  discipline,  in  all  the  States. 
Everywhere  she  went,  she  was  regarded  with  the  most  profound 
respect,  as  the  Howard  of  America. 

Miss  Dix  traveled  alone,  from  place  to  place,  in  public  convey 
ances,  without  an  apprehension.  Everybody  seemed  to  know  her, 
or  to  be  awed  into  respect  by  her  presence  and  mission.  At  the 
time  I  saw  her,  she  was  a  little  past  the  meridian  of  life — tall, 
slender,  and  dignified,  with  a  strongly  marked  intellectual  face. 
She  was  modest  as  a  lady  of  rare  intelligence  and  merit;  but  in 
the  performance  of  her  mission,  and  the  great  good  she  accom 
plished,  she  exhibited  masculine  powers  of  no  ordinary  mould. 
She  had  a  private  income,  or  annuity,  that  supplied  her  personal 
wants  and  expenses,  and  was  no  tax  upon  the  public.  She  was  a 
sister  of  Gen.  John  A.  Dix,  of  New  York,  formerly  a  Senator  in 
Congress,  and  a  man  of  great  prominence  in  the  political  world. 
Whether  she  still  lives,  or  whether  her  useful  career  has  been 
terminated  by  death,  I  am  not  prepared  to  say.  At  all  events, 
her  record  is  a  bright  one  in  the  annals  of  humanity. 

ELECTIONS. 

Several  important  elections  were  had,  the  principal  one  being 
that  of  United  States  Senator.  This  always  formed  an  animated 
occasion,  particularly  when  two  were  to  be  elected  from  among 
active  aspirants.  The  length  of  the  term,  and  the  political  influ 
ence  wielded  by  a  Senator,  and  the  advantages  that  might  accrue 
to  the  minority,  were  counted  with  vigilance,  and  frequently  over 
estimated. 

Col.  William  R.  King  was,  in  1848,  appointed  a  Senator  in  place 
of  Gov.  Bagby,  resigned,  and  Gov.  Fitzpatrick  occupied  the  place 
made  vacant  by  the  death  of  Mr.  Lewis.  The  defeat  of  Gov. 
Fitzpatrick,  in  1849,  by  Mr.  Clemens,  is  stated  in  the  notice  of  the 
latter  gentleman. 


Reminiscences  oj  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  523 

In  the  other  contest,  three  candidates  were  placed  in  nomination 
by  their  respective  friends,  when  ballotings  were  had  as  follows: 

1st  ballot.         2d  ballot.         3d  ballot. 

William  R.  King 57  59  71 

Reuben  Chapman , 15  13      withdrawn. 

Arthur  F.  Hopkins 58  59  58 

Col.  King  having  a  majority  of  the  whole,  was  declared  duly 
elected  for  a  term  of  six  years. 

For  Judge  of  the  Ninth  Circuit,  John  J.  Woodward,  Jefferson 
Falkner,  and  Robert  Baugh,  Esqrs.,  were  placed  in  nomination, 
and  upon  the  sixth  ballot — the  name  of  Mr.  Baugh  being  with 
drawn — Mr.  Woodward  was  elected. 

Of  the  candidates  not  elsewhere  noticed,  a  brief  sketch  is  here 
given,  in  observing  the  custom  of  the  writer  to  furnish  pictures 
wherever  he  happens  to  fall  in  with  the  originals. 

REUBEN  CHAPMAN,  Governor  since  1847,  until  the  inaugura 
tion  of  Gov.  Collier,  retired  from  the  Executive  with  a  spotless 
character.  Like  his  immediate  predecessor,  he  held  the  office  only 
two  years,  and  saluted  the  Legislature  with  only  one  annual  mes 
sage,  and  that  was  at  the  opening  of  this  session.  It  is  a  state  pa 
per  of  considerable  ability  in  the  discussion  of  the  political  ques 
tions  then  before  the  country,  growing  out  of  the  war  with  Mexico, 
or  rather  the  acquisition  of  Territory  from  that  Government  by 
the  treaty  of  peace.  These  questions  are  discussed  with  the  clear 
ness  and  ability  of  a  statesman  of  no  ordinary  caste,  and  this  mes 
sage  will  pass  into  history  as  a  far-seeing  exposition  of  the  danger 
to  which  the  Territorial  question  was  likely  to  subject  the  interests 
of  the  Southern  States  in  the  future  assumptions  of  the  Federal 
Government. 

In  the  administration  of  the  affairs  of  the  State,  Gov.  Chapman 
displayed  Executive  abilities  fully  equal  to  any  emergency  that 
arose.  The  management  of  the  Banks  was  mainly  in  the  hands  of 
Mr.  Lyon,  who  was  fully  equal  to  the  trust  committed  to  his  hands; 
and  the  original  policy  of  Gov.  Fitzpatrick  was  yet  developing  in 
the  steady  work  of  liquidation.  Gov.  Chapman  watched  with  a 
scrutinizing  care  every  branch  of  the  public  interest,  and  encour 
aged  and  practised  fidelity  and  frugality  in  the  discharge  of  public 
duties. 

Soon  after  his  inauguration  in  1847,  he  gave  a  public  reception 
and  an  entertainment  at  the  Montgomery  Hall,  which  was  largely 
attended.  It  was  gotten  up  on  a  scale  of  liberality  and  bounteous 
hospitality  beyond  any  entertainment  by  a  Governor  for  many 
years,  and  was  enjoyed  with  general  glee  and  good  will.  The 


524  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  'in  Alabama. 

Governor  and  his  accomplished  lady  were  comparatively  strangers 
in  East- Alabama ;  and  while  the  occasion  afforded  a  good  oppor 
tunity  for  them  to  extend  it,  the  visitors  and  attendants  were 
pleased,  more  with  the  courtly  character  of  the  reception,  than  the 
abundant  provision  for  convivial  enjoyment. 

Gov.  Chapman  was  by  no  means  unpopular  with  the  people  as 
the  cause  of  being  set  aside,  and  not  reflected.  The  masses, 
especially  of  his  own  party,  had  great  confidence  in  him,  and  re 
garded  him  with  favor  as  a  public  servant.  The  men  of  the  party 
who  had  secretly  favored  the  election  of  Gov.  Martin  over  Col. 
Terry,  and  had  adhered  to  his  gubernatorial  interests,  were  offended 
at  his  being  dropped  at  the  end  of  his  term,  and  determined  that 
the  precedent  of  a  one  term  Governor  should  be  followed,  at  least 
in  this  case.  Had  not  Gov.  Chapman,  in  his  magnanimity,  waived 
the  customary  right  to  a  reelection,  and  requested  a  Convention  to 
be  called  to  settle  the  question,  he  would  have  been  Governor  an 
other  term.  But  the  politicians  controlled  mainly  in  the  Conven 
tion,  at  least  so  tar  as  to  prevent  his  getting  the  required  majority 
of  two-thirds.  The  people  submitted  to  the  Convention;  but 
there  was  little  sympathy  with  the  action  of  that  body  in  throwing 
overboard  a  long-tried  and  faithful  public  servant,  who  had  become 
fully  identified,  not  only  with  the  Democratic  party,  but  with  the 
people  of  the  State,  by  a  long  residence,  and  an  open,  upright, 
and  effective  discharge  of  public  duty. 

Connected,  as  the  writer  has  been,  with  Gov.  Chapman  in  public 
life,  and  knowing  the  correct  principles  which  governed  his  official 
conduct,  and  the  popular  feeling  toward  him,  he  could  not  in  jus 
tice  withhold  the  testimony  here  given. 

SILAS  PARSOXS,  at  the  session  of  1849,  was  elected  Judge  of 
the  Supreme  Court,  without  opposition,  to  fill  the  place  vacated  by 
Gov.  Collier.  He  resided  at  Huntsville,  and  was  the  first  Chan 
cellor  elected  for  the  Northern  Division,  in  1838,  but  declined  the 
office.  He  remained  on  the  Bench  only  two  years,  when  declining 
health,  the  result  of  intense  application  to  his  official  duties,  obliged 
him  to  retire.  He  carried  with  him  in  private  life  the  pro 
found  respect  of  the  Bench,  the  Bar,  and  the  country,  for  his 
ability  as  Judge,  and  for  the  purity  of  his  character  as  a  man.  In 
a  few  years  after  his  resignation,  he  died,  much  regretted  by  the 
public. 

Judge  Parsons  was  a  Kentuckian  by  birth,  and  settled  in  Ala 
bama  to  pursue  the  law  as  a  profession,  when  a  young  man,  and 
made  such  improvement  upon  the  very  ordinary  advantages  of  his 
early  life,  that  he  rose  to  eminence  at  the  bar.  He  was  a  brother 
of  Gen.  Enoch  Parsons,  a  distinguished  lawyer  who  resided  at 
Claiborne,  and  who,  in  1835,  was  the  Whig  candidate  for  Governor 


Reminiscmces  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  525 

in  opposition  to  Judge  Clay;  and  of  Gen.  Peter  Parsons,  for  many 
years  a  prominent  lawyer  and  politician  in  East-Tennessee. 

In  person,  Judge  Parsons  was  tall  and  slender,  with  a  quiet, 
thoughtful  face,  equanimity  of  temper  and  feeling.  In  manners 
and  dress,  he  was  inclined  to  be  negligent,  doubtless  from  his  de 
votion  to  books,  and  to  his  professional  labors.  His  intellectual 
faculties  were  of  a  high  order,  although  concealed  from  the  casual 
observer  by  -an  address  almost  approaching  to  dullness  and  insip 
idity.  He  belonged  to  that  class  of  men  upon  whom  Nature  has 
bestowed  rare  gifts,  without  mixing  with  them  any  taste  for  the 
refinements  of  society.  To  see  him  and  Judge  Dargan  sitting  to 
gether  in  the  Supreme  Court  room,  waiting  for  some  case  to  be 
called  in  which  they  were  rivals  in  the  argument,  a  stranger  to 
both  would  naturally  conclude  that  the  parties  litigant  had  chosen 
their  counsel  for  inertia  of  appearance,  rather  than  from  any  other 
consideration.  But  let  either  rise  to  his  feet,  to  address  the  Court, 
and  open  his  case,  a  new  vision  was  presented.  Then  the  supe 
rior  mind,  the  profound  learning,  the  forcible,  sustained  logic, 
riveted  the  attention  of  all,  and  a  gleam  of  light  played  upon 
the  features  of  the  advocate,  entirely  displacing  the  dullness 
of  repose.  It  is  said  that  appearances  are  deceptive,  and  in  con 
firmation  of  this  maxim,  Judge  Parsons  was  a  notable  instance. 

JOHN  J.  WOODWARD  was  a  South  Carolinian.  He  settled  at 
Talladega  as  a  lawyer  about  the  year  1838.  For  some  time,  he 
was  connected  with  the  publication  of  the  "  Watchtower,"  a  Dem 
ocratic  paper.  '  In  1847,  he  was  elected  to  the  House,  in  which 
body  he  established  a  character  for  legislative  capacity,  and  for 
high-toned  qualities  as  a  gentleman. 

In  1853,  he  was  elected  Solicitor  of  the  Ninth  Circuit,  and  was 
reflected  in  1857.  Upon  the  commencement  of  hostilities  in 
1861,  he  entered  the  service  of  the  Confederate  States  as  a  pri 
vate,  and  was  elected  Colonel  of  a  regiment,  at  the  head  of  which 
he  distinguished  himself  for  bravery  in  several  engagements.  At 
the  battle  of  Dranesville,  in  Virginia,  he  fell  while  leading  a 
charge  against  the  enemy,  and  the  career  of  a  gallant  and  warm 
hearted  man  thus  forever  closed.  His  memory  will  ever  be  cher 
ished  with  fond  admiration  by  his  many  friends. 

JAMES  A.  STALLWORTH,  elected  Solicitor  of  the  Second  Cir 
cuit,  was  returned  to  the  House  from  Conecuh  county  in  1845, 
and  was  reflected  in  1847.  In  1853,  he  was  reflected  Solicitor. 

He  was  regarded  as  a  rising  young  man,  developing  rapidly  as 
a  lawyer  and  public  speaker.  In  1855,  he  was  the  nominee  of 
the  Democratic  and  Anti-Know-Nothing  party  for  Congress  in  the 
Mobile  District,  but  was  defeated  by  Mr.  Percy  Walker,  after  an 


526  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

animated  and  exciting  contest.  In  1857,  he  was  elected  to  Con 
gress  as  the  Democratic  candidate,  and  reflected  in  1859. 

In  the  meantime,  his  aspirations  for  popular  favor,  and  his  con 
vivial  personal  associations,  brought  upon  him  an  unfortunate 
habit,  the  deadly  snare  of  genius  and  popularity,  which  consigned 
him  to  an  untimely  grave  in  1862,  before  he  had  reached  the 
meridian  of  life. 

Col.  Stallworth  was  a  native  of  Conecuh  county,  and  connected 
with  a  large  family  influence.  He  possessed  talents  of  no  ordi 
nary  character ;  but  grew  too  rapidly  in  public  favor,  after  entering 
the  political  arena  when  quite  a  young  man,  to  allow  the  proper 
training  for  its  consistent  development,  by  close  application.  He 
was  an  agreeable  speaker,  and  discussed  the  questions  of  the  day 
in  such  a  manner  as  to  convince  the  masses  of  his  attainments, 
which  as  yet  were  imperfect.  He  had  a  good  person,  remarkably 
kind  face,  and  social  qualities  of  a  rare  type,  which  he  had  well 
cultivated,  which,  all  together,  made  him  what  is  termed  a  "  pop 
ular  man."  He  was  charitable,  kind-hearted,  and  generous,  full 
of  good  humor,  and  told  and  enjoyed  an  anecdote  with  remarkable 
gusto.  His  age  was  a  little  past  twenty-one  when  first  elected  to 
the  Legislature,  and  his  race  was  ended  in  seventeen  years,  in 
which  time,  as  his  record  shows,  he  filled  many  positions  of  honor 
and  trust.  His  star  rose  rapidly,  and  blazed  brightly  across  the 
political  horizon;  but  too  soon  for  himself  and  his  country,  it  was 
extinguished  in  a  premature  grave. 

May  the  fate  of  this  young  orator  and  statesman  convey  a  salu 
tary  lesson  to  the  young  men  of  the  State,  to  be  always  on  their 
guard  against  the  insidious  approaches  of  the  foe  which  proved  his 
ruin.  A  voice  from  the  tomb  can  almost  be  heard,  saying — Taste 
not,  handle  not  the  dangerous  element  of  moral  and  intellectual 
slaughter ! 

JOHNSON  J.  HOOPER  was  born  and  raised  in  North  Carolina. 
It  has  been  generally  reported  that  he  was  a  grandson  of  William 
Hooper,  one  of  the  signers  of  the  Declaration  of  Independence 
in  1776.  He  was  a  collateral  kinsman,  his  father,  Archibald  Mc- 
Laine  Hooper,  being  the  son  of  George  Hooper,  of  Wilmington, 
who  was  a  nephew  of  the  distinguished  signer  and  Revolutionary 
patriot.  Mr.  DeBernier  Hooper,  of  Fayetteville,  a  gentleman  of 
high  moral  worth  and  literary  attainments,  is  a  brother  of  Mr.  J. 
J.  Hooper. 

After  a  stubborn  contest  in  the  Legislature,  at  the  session  of 
1849,  Mr.  Hooper  was  elected  Solicitor  of  the  Ninth  Circuit,  over 
Messrs.  Bowie,  Latham,  Spyker,  and  Presley,  his  competitors. 
At  the  end  of  four  years,  when  his  term  of  office  expired,  hefwas 
a  candidate  for  reelection,  but  was  defeated  by  Judge  Woodward. 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  527 

He  afterward  established  the  "Mail"  newspaper,  which  was  for 
awhile  the  organ  of  the  Whig  party,  taking  the  place  of  the 
"Alabama  Journal,"  and  acquired  a  large  influence.  In  1860, 
the  paper  went  into  the  support  of  Mr.  Breckinridge  for  Presi 
dent,  and  assumed  an  extreme  position  on  the  leading  questions 
which  progressed  in  bitterness  between  the  North  and  the  South. 

\Vhen  the  Provisional  Congress  of  the  Southern  States  met  at 
Montgomery,  in  February,  1861,  Mr.  Hooper  was  elected  Secre 
tary  of  that  body,  and  continued  to  hold  the  office  until  the  organ 
ization  of  the  two  Houses  of  Congress  at  Richmond,  after  the 
Confederate  Government  was  formed  under  the  Constitution,  and 
was  defeated  for  Secretary  of  the  Senate.  He  never  returned  to 
Alabama.  The  convivial  habits  whicli  had  been  growing  upon 
him  for  several  years,  increased  no  doubt  by  his  defeat,  termin 
ated  his  life  in  1863,  while  he  was  comparatively  in  the  vigor  of 
his  days. 

The  associations  of  Mr.  Hooper,  and  his  great  fund  of  wit  and 
humor,  which  made  his  society  much  sought  and  enjoyed  by  the 
lovers  of  fun,  had  never  tended  to  a  very  moral  course  of  life, 
and  the  subject  of  religion  seemed  never  to  have  entered  his 
thoughts,  or  at  least  never  had  any  perceptible  influence  on  his 
conduct.  But  it  is  said  that,  when  his  last  hours  drew  near,  he 
became  deeply  interested  for  the  salvation  of  his  soul,  and  in  this 
extremity,  he  sent  for  a  Catholic  priest,  to  whom  he  confessed, 
and  who  administered  to  him  the  sacraments  of  the  Church  pre 
scribed  for  such  occasions.  The  humble  penitent  had  seen  the 
error  of  his  ways,  and  it  is  hoped  that  he  died  at  peace  with  God 
and  man. 

The  character  of  Mr.  Hooper  was  peculiarly  marked.  He  first 
edited  the  "Whig,"  or  some  paper  of  like  politics  in  East-Ala 
bama,  His  articles  giving  the  experience  of  a  census-taker  in 
1840,  when  the  old  women  flourished  their  broomsticks  on  being 
interrogated  in  regard  to  their  poultry,  dairies,  and  "garden 
truck,"  were  so  humorous  and  natural  that  they  were  copied  into 
nearly  all  the  papers  of  the  South,  and  afforded  general  amuse 
ment.  Then  followed  "Simon  Suggs,"  which  was  a  delineation 
of  character,  bad  enough  no  doubt  in  the  original,  but  highly  em 
bellished  and  aggravated  in  the  romance,  with  scenes,  occurrences, 
sentiments,  and  other  details  of  a  cunning,  unprincipled  man, 
whose  art,  in  the  perpetration  of  fraud,  was  greatly  assisted  by 
the  cant  and  hypocrisy  of  a  pretended  piety  and  church  member 
ship  !  This  work  was  published  by  Messrs.  D.  Appleton  &  Co., 
of  New  York,  and  the  volume  had  a  very  extensive  circulation. 
Thousands  and  tens  of  thousands  of  readers  have  laughed  over  it, 
and  the  grotesque  situations  and  characters  introduced;  but  prob 
ably  not  one  of  them  all  has  had  his  reverence  for  virtue  increased 


528  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  m  Alabama. 

by  the  perusal.  While  Mr.  Hooper  gained  celebrity  as  a  humorist, 
he  lost  something  of  a  higher  value  in  public  estimation.  His 
own  authority  will  be  here  given  for  the  effect. 

In  December,  1856,  a  Southern  Commercial  Convention  was 
held  in  Savannah,  to  which  Mr.  Hooper  and  other  gentlemen  from 
Alabama  were  delegates.  His  arrival  was  announced  in  the  city 
papers  in  terms  quite  complimentary,  as  the  author  of  "  Simon 
Suggs,57  that  inimitable  production  so  popular  throughout  the 
country.  When  the  Convention  met  in  the  Atheneum,  and  while 
the  Mayor  was  in  the  chair,  waiting  for  the  committee  to  report 
officers  for  permanent  organization,  Judge  John  A.  Jones,  of  Geor 
gia,  himself  a  wag  and  humorist,  formally  moved,  in  presence  of 
the  six  or  eight  hundred  delegates,  that  Simon  Suggs  be  called 
upon  to  give  an  account  of  himself  for  the  last  two  years.  The 
Mayor,  with  great  politeness,  put  the  question,  and  on  its  being 
carried  in  the  affirmative  by  a  unanimous  vote,  he  requested  "Mr. 
Suggs,"  if  present,  to  comply  with  the  expressedT  desire  of  the 
Convention.  There  sat  Mr.  Hooper  in  the  pit,  wrapped  in  a 
green  blanket  coat,  near  Albert  Pike,  of  Arkansas,  as  if  over 
whelmed  by  the  pressure.  From  the  character  which  his  writings 
inspired,  he  was  supposed  by  everybody  to  be  always  ripe  for  a 
frolic,  and  for  a  roar  of  merriment,  and  that  he  was  as  good  at 
telling  stories  as  in  writing  his  droll  descriptions,  and  thankful  for 
the  privilege.  He  stirred  not  an  inch.  More  than  a  thousand 
persons,  in  the  galleries  and  elsewhere,  were  on  the  tiptoe  of  ex 
pectation  at  hearing  "Simon  Suggs"  deliver  his  convulsive  jokes. 
But  the  feast  came  not,  when  the  entrance  of  the  committee  put 
an  end  to  the  embarrassment  of  Mr.  Hooper. 

This  call  by  Judge  Jones  was  referred  to  at  the  hotel,  in  pres 
ence  of  Mr.  Hooper,  as  an  evidence  of  the  popularity  of  the  latter, 
even  out  of  his  own  State.  He  replied  that  a  liberty  had  been 
taken  with  his  name  which  was  really  offensive,  as  showing  that 
others  looked  upon  him  as  a  mere  story-teller,  with  nothing  solid 
in  his  composition.  He  confessed  and  regretted  that  his  writings 
had  established  that  character  in  public  estimation,  and  that  he 
felt  its  depressing  influence  whenever  he  desired,  or  aimed,  to 
soar  above  it,  to  a  higher  rank  before  the  public.  His  ambition 
had  been  to  move  in  quite  a  different  channel,  to  enjoy  the  respect 
of  men;  but  he  had  unfortunately  obtained  a  reputation  which 
cut  off  all  such  hopes.  It  was  an  evil  day  to  his  fortunes  and  to 
his  happiness  when  he  embarked  in  that  class  of  literature,  or 
otherwise  became  a  chronic  story-teller  for  the  diversion  of  his 
companions.  He  said  it  was  probably  too  late  to  rectify  the  blun 
der,  and  that  he  must  continue  to  suffer  the  consequences. 

For  once  in  his  life,  Mr.  Hooper  appeared  to  be  in  earnest, 
while  deploring  his  notoriety.  There  is  a  salutary  moral  in  his 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  529 

experience  which,  it  is  hoped,  may  have  the  effect  on  others  to 
cultivate  habitual  self-respect  and  a  due  regard  for  public  opinion, 
while  cherishing  at  all  times  lofty  feelings  and  resolutions  to  pos 
sess  the  gold  of  character,  without  the  alloy  which  defeated  the 
genius  of  Johnson  J.  Hooper.  Here  let  him  stand  as  a  beacon- 
light,  to  give  warning  of  the  rock  on  which  the  manly  ambition 
and  hopes  of  his  youth  perished. 

Mr.  De  Bernier  Hooper,  of  North  Carolina,  having  been  men 
tioned  as  a  brother,  it  is  proper  to  introduce  here  the  name  of 
George  D.  Hooper,  Esq.,  also  a  brother,  a  worthy  member  of  the 
legal  profession,  now  residing  at  Opelika.  For  a  number  of  years, 
Mr.  George  D.  Hooper  was  a  citizen  of  Russell  county,  where,  at 
Crawford,  the  county-site,  he  pursued  the  law  as  a  vocation,  and 
enjoyed  a  large  degree  of  public  favor.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
State  Convention  in  1865,  and  assisted  in  framing  the  Constitution 
of  that  year. 

MILTOX  S.  LATHAM,  defeated  Solicitor,  was  a  law  stfodent  of 
Judge  Heydenfeldt,  then  of  Russell  county.  He  came  to  the 
State  a  young  man  and  a  stranger,  and  for  a  time  engaged  in  teach 
ing  school.  He  was  a  gentleman  of  quiet,  rather  steady  deport 
ment  in  this  canvass,  and  maintained  throughout  the  evidences  of 
much  self-respect.  He  had  a  comely  person,  well-developed,  and 
dressed  neatly. 

A  few  months  after  his  defeat,  Mr.  Latham  called  in  the  Cap 
itol,  on  his  way  to  California.  A  gentleman  conversing  with  him 
expressed  his  surprise  at  his  going.  He  replied  that  he  would 
not  live  in  a  State  where  Johnson  Hooper  could  beat  him  for  So 
licitor.  He  went  to  California,  and  in  a  year  or  two  was  elected 
to  Congress,  and  served  a  term  in  the  House  of  Representatives, 
upon  the  expiration  of  which  he  was  nominated  by  the  Demo 
cratic  party,  and  elected  Governor  of  the  State.  Soon  after  his 
inauguration,  he  was  elected  by  the  Legislature  a  United  States 
Senator  for  a  term  of  six  years. 

Seldom  has  a  young  man  in  this  country  made  such  strides  in 
the  line  of  honorable  preferment  as  Milton  S.  Latham.  His 
speeches  while  in  Congress  were  of  a  very  respectable  character. 
Indeed,  his  whole  career  stamps  him  at  once  as  being  no  ordinary 
man.  He  entered  the  list  in  that  far-off  State,  where  every 
avenue  leading  to  preferment  was  crowded  with  aspirants — many 
of  them  old  and  experienced  politicians — and  yet  he  outstripped 
them  all,  and  took  the  first  position  in  the  State,  while  yet  a  young 
man.  He  is  now  a  banker  in  San  Francisco,  and*among  thejfore- 
most  in  large  financial  enterprises, 
34 


530  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

ANDREW  BOWIE  is  a  lawyer  of  Talladega,  and  a  South  Caro 
linian  by  birth  and  education.  He  is  a  son  of  the  late  Chancellor 
Bowie,  and  has  always  been  regarded  as  a  gentleman  of  solid 
worth,  and  has  attained  a  prominent  position  at  the  bar. 

WILLIAM  S.  EARNEST,  of  Jefferson,  was  in  1851  elected  a  mem 
ber  of  the  House,  and  served  through  the  session  in  a  very  cred 
itable  manner,  taking  part  in  the  proceedings  and  debates  of  that 
exciting  period. 

In  1853,  he  was  a  candidate  for  Governor  against  Gov.  Winston, 
receiving  10,157  votes.  He  advocated  a  system  of  internal  im 
provement,  with  the  aid  of  the  State.  In  1860,  he  supported 
John  Bell  for  President,  and  was  elected  a  delegate  to  the  Con 
vention  of  1861,  and  voted  against  the  Ordinance  of  Secession. 
Mr.  Earnest  was  from  East-Tennessee,  and  is  allied  to  a  large 
family  connection  and  influence  in  Greene  county,  the  founder  of 
which  settled  there  about  the  close  of  the  Revolutionary  War. 
He  came  to  Alabama  in  1834,  and  has  succeeded  very  well  in  his 
vocation  as  a  lawyer. 


CHAPTER  XXIX. 

Personal  Sketches  of  the  Legislature  of  1849. 

In  adhering  to  the  plan  of  this  work,  it  is  necessary  to  notice  a 
number  of  gentlemen  who  served  at  the  session  of  the  Legisla 
ture  of  1849,  not  heretofore  included  in  the  sketches.  Among 
these  are  four  Senators : 

WILLIAM  S.  COMPTON  was  elected  in  1849,  from  Morgan  and 
Limestone,  and  served  only  one  session.  He  had  held  the  office 
of  Judge  of  the  County  Court,  and  was  for  some  time  Teller,  and 
afterward  Cashier  of  the  Branch  Bank  at  Decatur.  His  feeble 
health,  while  in  the  Legislature,  made  his  intercourse  with  his 
fellow-members  rather  limited;  but  he  possessed  financial  views 
and  attainments  which  rendered  his  services  valuable  in  that  de 
partment  of  Legislation,  and  gave  direction  to  the  policy  first 
adopted  in  chartering  the  Southern  Bank,  which  gave  to  the  people 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  531 

of  Alabama  banks  of  the  best  character,  and  a  sound  circulating 
medium. 

His  health  continued  to  decline,  and  he  subsequently  removed 
to  Texas,  where,  in  a  few  years,  he  died.  He  was  a  respected 
member  and  minister  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  and  a 
Christian  gentleman  of  unpretending  piety  and  rare  merit. 

CADE  M.  GODBOLD  was  elected  to  the  House  from  Baldwin 
county,  in  1837,  and  reflected  in  1838.  In  1849,  he  was  returned 
to  the  Senate,  and  served  one  session.  Upon  the  election  of  Mr. 
Pierce  as  President,  he  was  appointed  United  States  Marshal  for 
the  Southern  District  of  Alabama,  and  continued  to  hold  the  office 
until  the  passage  of  the  Ordinance  of  Secession,  in  1861. 

Col.  Godbolcl  has  also  been  extensively  engaged  in  business,  in 
and  about  Mobile,  and  was,  for  several  years  elected  by  the  Legis 
lature  a  Director  in  the  Branch  Bank  in  that  city.  He  is  a  South 
Carolinian,  with  business  habits  and  qualities  of  a  respectable  or 
der,  and  was  faithful  in  the  discharge  of  his  public  duty.  While 
in  the  Legislature,  he  seldom  or  never  spoke  upon  the  floor,  unless 
in  explanation  of  some  report  from  committee.  He  was  a  Demo 
crat,  firmly  and  understandingly  devoted  to  principle,  and  in  a 
quiet,  conversational,  ordinary  way,  wielded  no  little  influence  in 
the  counsels  of  his  party.  He  now  resides  in  Mobile. 

L.  E,.  DAVIS,  of  Limestone,  was  elected  to  the  House  in  1849. 
He  was  a  son  of  Capt.  Nicholas  Davis,  the  veteran  Whig  leader, 
and  had  the  same  politics.  When  the  son  began  his  first  service 
in  the  Capitol,  such  men  as  Capt.  Abercrombie,  George  N.  Stew 
art,  Robert  Jemison,  Gen.  Dent,  and  Dr.  Ware,  were  in  the  front 
rank  of  the  Whig  party,  then  in  its  greatest  prosperity,  as  proved 
by  the  election  of  Mr.  Clemens  to  the  United  States  Senate,  over 
Gov.  Fitzpatrick,  which  was  conceded  to  be  a  Whig  victory.  Mr. 
Davis,  by  his  fine  talents  and  address,  contributed  no  little  to  the 
success  of  his  party.  At  the  same  session,  the  Whigs  also  elected 
Johnson  J.  Hooper,  Solicitor,  over  several  Democratic  competitors. 

Mr.  Davis  was  again  returned  to  the  House  in  1861,  finding  a 
great  change  in  political  classifications.  Instead  of  Democratic 
and  Whig,  Union  and  Southern  Rights,  or  Fire-eaters  as  they  ex 
isted  ten  or  twelve  years  previously,  he  beheld  all  former  party 
distinctions  obliterated,  and  all  standing  shoulder  to  shoulder  in 
support  of  a  common  cause  for  self-government.  Though  proba 
bly  not  sanctioning  the  first  steps,  yet  when  the  secession  of  Ala 
bama  was  declared,  Mr.  Davis  gave  his  heart  and  his  exertions 
to  his  native  State,  and  to  the  Southern  movement. 

He  married  a  daughter  of  Capt.  Abercrombie,  and  now  edits 
with  ability  the  "Limestone  News,"  published  at  Athens;  a  faith- 


532  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

f ul  co-laborer  with  the  Democratic  and  Conservative  party.   He  is  a 
gentleman  of  the  loftiest  character,  inherited  from  a  noble  ancestry. 

GEOKGE  W.  GUNN,  of  Macon,  succeeded  Mr.  Scott,  and  served 
a  term  of  four  years.  He  is  a  lawyer,  and  a  minister  of  the  Bap 
tist  order;  and  belonging  to  both  professions,  it  will  readily  be 
concluded  that  he  had  the  gift  of  speech;  and  indeed,  this  was 
true,  and  it  was  equal  to  any  ordinary  demand. 

Mr.  Gunn  was  efficient  as  a  legislator  in  the  preparation  of  busi 
ness,  and  he  never  hesitated  in  explaining  or  defending  his  reports 
and  positions,  or  attacking  those  of  others  if  they  did  not  suit  him. 
In  1851,  he  reached  the  prominent  place  of  Chairman  of  the  Judi 
ciary  Committee,  and  applied  himself  assiduously  to  its  onerous 
duties.  He  was  a  Whig,  and  at  this  time  his  party  had  the  ascend 
ency  in  the  Senate,  which  aiforded  him,  in  his  position,  a  wide  field 
of  action  as  a  debater,  and  as  a  leader  in  business,  which  was  fully 
occupied. 

On  the  death  of  Mr.  Nathaniel  H.  Clanton,  the  Senator  from 
Macon  in  1855,  Mr.  Gunn  was  elected  his  successor,  and  served 
through  the  balance  of  that  session  with  his  usual  efficiency.  His 
extensive  reading,  and  fine  business  qualifications,  enabled  him  to 
grasp  the  subject-matter  of  a  proposition  readily,  and  his  powder 
being  always  dry,  he  seldom  missed  fire  when  he  took  the  floor. 
His  close  attention  to  business  had  detracted  somewhat  from  his 
cultivation  of  manners,  and  his  social  qualities,  except  in  the  domes 
tic  circle,  when  business  was  laid  aside,  and  then  he  could  make 
himself  quite  agreeable.  He  still  resides  in  Macon  county,  en 
gaged  in  the  practice  of  the  law,  among  a  people  who  often  hon 
ored  him  with  their  confidence,  and  to  whose  interest  he  was 
always  true. 

LEONARD  TARRANT,  of  Talladega,  took  his  seat  in  1849,  and 
served  four  years,  participating  freely  in  the  proceedings  and  labors 
of  the  Senate,  though  he  seldom  engaged  in  debate.  He  had 
been  a  member  of  the  House,  from  Shelby,  in  days  gone  by,  and 
filled  the  office  of  Judge  of  the  County  Court  of  that  county. 

Upon  the  execution  of  a  treaty  with  the  Creek  Indians  in  Ala 
bama,  President  Jackson  appointed  him  Agent  to  superintend  the 
sale  of  their  reservations  by  the  heads  of  families  of  that  tribe, 
and  in  this  labor  he  was  engaged  for  two  or  three  years.  The 
duties  that  devolved  upon  him  were  responsible  and  delicate,  in 
standing  between  the  land-buyers,  with  their  cunning,  and  the 
ignorant  Indians,  and  fully  tested  his  character  for  unswerving 
integrity  in  the  difficult  path,  both  by  temptations  and  bribes  on 
the  one  hand,  and  threats  on  the  other.  The  President's  confi- 
was  unshaken,  and  Judge  Tarrant  finished  his  task. 


Heminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  533 

It  was  said  in  those  days,  that  in  conversing  with  a  gentleman 
on  the  subject  of  the  Creek  lands,  and  the  allegations  of  corrup 
tion  and  collusion  between  agents  and  purchasers,  President  Jack 
son  remarked,  that  every  agent  he  had  commissioned  had  disap 
pointed  him,  except  one,  and  he  was  a  Methodist  preacher.  That 
preacher  was  Judge  Tarrant. 

Up  to  1836,  he  had  been  a  Democrat;  but  in  that  year  he  es 
poused  the  cause  of  Judge  White  for  the  Presidency,  and  became 
in  full  alliance  with  the  Whig  party.  His  convictions  were  strong 
and  decided,  with  some  of  the  weakness  of  prejudice  and  self- 
esteem  in  political  opinion  and  action,  so  that  he  became  firmly 
fixed  and  settled  in  his  opposition  to  the  Democratic  party,  and 
gave  the  whole  influence  of  his  character  to  war  upon  it.  But 
this  was  the  result  of  honest  conviction  and  patriotic  purpose,  so 
far  as  these  could  govern  in  the  mind  of  one  in  array  against 
principles  which  he  had  espoused  and  supported  for  a  life-time. 

Judge  Tarrant  was  a  minister  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  and  maintained  through  many  years  a  probity  of  Chris 
tian  character  and  position  of  usefulness  which  gave  caste  and 
beauty  to  his  example;  and  after  laboring  to  a  good  old  age  in 
the  sacred  desk,  he  died,  leaving  an  unsullied  name  to  the  church 
and  to  the  world,  in  both  which  he  had  acted  no  ordinary  part. 
A  good  savor  is  diffused  by  the  memory  of  such  a  man. 

In  the  House  of  Representatives,  sixteen  members  remain  to 
be  noticed  in  such  manner  as  the  facts  seem  to  authorize. 

THOMAS  BRAZIER,  of  Shelby,  was  elected  to  the  House  in 
1847,  and  again  in  1849.  He  had  repeatedly  occupied  places  of 
public  trust  in  his  county,  and  was  a  man  of  much  practical  expe 
rience  in  business,  having  grown  to  middle  age  in  the  industrious 
pursuits  of  life,  which  had  brought  him  a  good  return. 

He  was  for  many  years  a  leading  man  in  Shelby,  especially  with 
the  Democratic  party,  of  which  he  was  a  member,  and  in  the 
maintenance  of  his  principles,  firm  and  unyielding,  which  gave 
decision  and  tone  to  his  character.  He  was  active  and  attentive 
to  his  public  duties,  and  represented  well  that  class  of  plain,  sen 
sible  men  who  are  at  all  times  an  accession  to  the  Legislature,  and 
faithful  to  the 'public  interests.  Mr.  Brazier  was  a  State  Rights 
man,  and  warmly  devoted  to  the  rights  and  interests  of  the  South. 
He  died  a  few  years  ago. 

THOMAS  R.  CREWS,  of  Sumter,  was  a  member  of  the  House 
only  at  the  session  of  1849;  but  he  is  certainly  entitled  to  a  place 
in  these  "  Reminiscences."  He  was  a  planter  and  a  Christian  gen 
tleman,  well  educated,  well  read,  affable  in  his  deportment,  and 


534  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

faithful  in  his  friendships.  Few  men  possessed  more  the  elements 
of  a  useful,  energetic  citizen  and  Legislator.  He  was  from  North 
Carolina,  and  exhibited,  in  his  manner  and  bearing,  much  of  the 
caste  of  that  people. 

Mr.  Crews  was  afterward  elected  Judge  of  the  Probate  Court 
of  Sumter  county,  the  duties  of  which  he  discharged  with  efficiency 
until  the  Summer  of  1865,  soon  after  which  he  died:  For  a  long 
time  his  health  had  been  declining,  and  for  yeajs,  even  in  the 
Legislature,  he  was  weakly  and  delicate,  yet  always  cheerful  and 
hopeful.  There  was  a  fire  in  his  eye,  and  an  innate  activity  of 
thought  and  conception  which  kept  him  up  when  others  would 
have  failed.  He  was  a  prominent  member  of  the  Methodist  Epis 
copal  Church. 

FREDERICK  F.  FOSCUE,  of  Coosa,  was  a  young  lawyer,  elected 
to  the  House  in  1849  for  the  first  time,  but  had  been  a  candidate 
in  1847,  when  he  was  beaten  a  few  votes.  In  1853,  having  mar 
ried,  he  removed  to  Marengo  county;  and  being  a  Democrat, 
although  in  a  county  where  parties  were  about  equally  balanced, 
his  abilities  as  a  stump  speaker,  and  tact  in  winning  votes,  brought 
him  forward  for  the  House,  and  he  was  elected  upon  a  divided 
ticket,  with  Dr.  M.  W.  Creagh,  and  served  through  that  laborious 
session  with  ability  and  success. 

Soon  after  the  session  of  1853,  Mr.  Foscue  removed  to  Texas, 
and  settled  in  Smith  county,  where  his  force  of  character,  already 
formed,  brought  him  forward  as  a  candidate  for  the  Legislature. 
During  the  canvass  I  received  a  letter  from  him,  in  which  he  said 
that  he  was  in  his  usual  avocation,  leading  a  "forlorn  hope."  But 
he  succeded  in  beating  down  opposition  to  his  principles,  and  went 
to  the  Legislature,  and  entered  heartily  into  those  measures  which 
resulted  in  the  Ordinance  of  Secession.  His  efforts  did  not  stop 
here.  He  gave  his  services  to  the  cause  of  the  South,  and,  like 
many  others,  lost  all  upon  the  result. 

Mr.  Foscue  was  a  native  of  North  Carolina,  and  was  probably 
connected  with  the  extensive  family  name  in  Jones  county.  In 
Wheeler's  History  of  North  Carolina,  it  is  shown  that  Frederick 
Foscue,  in  1806— Lewis  Foscue,  in  1818  and  1819— and  Nathan 
Foscue,  in  1832,  1833,  and  1834 — were  members  of  the  Legisla 
ture  in  that  State  from  Jones  county.  . 

His  mind  was  tolerably  well  cultivated,  and  he  was  industrious 
in  acquiring  information  relative  to  his  duties  as  a  legislator.  His 
lessons  of  life,  in  its  earlier  aspects,  were  taken  from  a  stand-point 
not  calculated  to  impress  him  favorably  with  the  distinctions  which 
exist  in  society;  and  thus  he  no  doubt  imbibed  prejudices  which 
gave  tone  to  his  character  in  the  future.  He  had  rigid  notions  of 
Government,  its  Constitution,  its  purposes,  and  the  relative  duties 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  535 

% 

of  the  people.  He  was  not  an  agrarian  in  practice,  but  he  re 
quired  every  man  to  perform  service  alike,  without  consulting  the 
tastG  or  convenience  of  society.  Hence,  he  introduced,  and  had 
passed  through  the  Legislature,  a  bill  repealing  all  exemptions 
from  road  duty  in  Coosa  county.  The  effect  was  to  put  a  stop  to 
preaching,  and  school-teaching,  and  grinding  at  the  mills,  on  the 
days  the  roads  were  to  be  worked.  At  the  next  session,  however, 
this  law  was  repealed. 

Mr.  Foscue  was  scrupulously  exact  in  voting,  and  favored  no 
measure  of  policy,  or  appropriation,  that  did  not  come  up  to  the 
standard  of  his  ideas  of  right.  The  Compromise  measures  of 
1850  excited  his  bitter  opposition,  as  discriminating  against  the 
South,  and  gave  a  turn  to  his  political  views  and  feelings.  He 
still  resides  in  Texas. 

GEORGE  W.  GOLDS  BY,  of  Perry,  was  a  lawyer,  son  of  Colonel 
Thornton  Goldsby,  of  Dallas,  a  gentleman  of  large  enterprize  and 
estate.  He  was  highly  educated  at  one  of  the  Northern  colleges, 
and,  like  many  other  young  men  raised  in  the  South  in  those  days, 
had  too  much  to  lean  upon  for  a  support,  to  develop  properly  his 
energies.  He  was  elected  in  1849,  and  reflected  in  1851,  and  a 
few  years  thereafter  he  died. 

Mr.  Goldsby  was  a  gentleman  of  modest,  unpretending  address, 
and  possessed  a  good  heart,  a  kind  disposition,  and  talents  which, 
had  he  been  thrown  at  once  upon  his  own  resources,  would  have 
worked  his  way  to  improvement,  and  probable  distinction. 

BENJAMIN  L.  GOODMAN,  of  Chambers,  was  a  member  only 
through  the  session  of  1849.  He  was  a  Georgian,  and  a  Whig, 
settled  early  in  Chambers,  and  had  success  as  a  lawyer.  In  con 
versation  he  was  quite  showy,  and  was  quite  pretentious,  especially 
at  the  bar,  where  he  was  bold  and  positive  in  manner — a  quality 
from  which  he  derived  so  much  practical  benefit  that  it  became 
his  forte. 

In  the  Legislature,  Mr.  Goodman  took  an  active  part,  which  his 
age  and  experience  in  political  and  professional  life  enabled  him 
to  sustain,  so  that  his  influence  was  felt  and  acknowledged.  He 
was  a  ready,  effective,  though  not  a  pleasant  speaker,  having  taken 
his  lessons  mostly  in  the  school  of  practical  expediency.  He  re 
moved  to  Texas  not  long  after  the  session,  with  a  large  property 
acquired  in  an  active  career  of  law  practice  and  trading,  and  in  a 
few  years  he  died. 

BOLLING  HALL,  of  Autauga,  is  a  Georgian  by  birth,  and  a  son 
of  the  Hon.  Boiling  Hall,  who  was  a  Representative  in  Congress 
from  that  State  from  1811  to  1817. 

4 


536  Reminiscences  of  PuMa  Men  in  Alabama. 

Mr.  Hall  was  returned  in  1849,  and  took  the  seat  formerly  and 
for  many  years  occupied  by  Gen.  C.  M.  Jackson,  and  brought  to 
the  discharge  of  his  public  duties  a  mind  well  improved,  and  well 
informed  on  the  general  topics  of  legislation  and  State  policy.  He 
was  reflected  in  1851,  and  took  a  leading  part  in  the  deliberations 
and  tactics  of  that  session.  Again,  in  1853,  he  was  returned  by 
a  confiding  constituency,  and  his  experience  and  talents  placed 
him  hi  the  front  rank  of  the  active,  influential  and  working  mem 
bers  of  the  House. 

In  1860,  Mr.  Hall  was  brought  out  and  supported  by  the  coop- 
erationists,  headed  by  Gov.  Fitzpatrick  in  Autauga,  for  a  seat  in 
the  Convention,  but  was  beaten  a  few  votes  by  Dr.  Rives,  his 
seccession  opponent.  On  the  passage  of  the  Ordinance  of  Seces 
sion,  however,  he  went  with  the  State,  and  gave  several  sons  to 
the  service  of  the  Confederate  States,  besides  devoting  himself  in 
many  useful  ways  to  the  same  cause. 

He  resides  in  Elmore  county,  a  planter,  a  gentleman  of  a  high 
order  of  intelligence  and  integrity  of  character.  He  was  raised 
in  Autauga  from  his  youth.  There  have  been  few  party  conven 
tions  in  the  last  quarter  of  a  century,  within  the  range  of  his 
legitimate  sphere,  in  which  he  has  not  participated,  always  prom 
inent,  and  able  to  sustain  himself  in  debate  upon  the  floor  in  the 
discussion  of  political  questions.  He  is  now  under  disabilities,  in 
common  with  many  other  gentlemen;  but  still  he  has  his  influ 
ence,  and  retains  undiminished  the  confidence  and  respect  of  his 
fellow-citizens. 

JOHN  T.  HILL,  of  Sumter,  served  only  at  this  session  of  the 
House,  and  filled  a  respectable  place  in  its  proceedings.  His 
merit  is  indicated  by  his  being  appointed  Chairman  of  the  Com 
mittee  on  Internal  Improvement,  an  important  one  at  this  partic 
ular  juncture.  He  was  a  lawyer  of  fair  attainments,  was  a  Brig 
adier-General  of  Militia,  with  an  attractive  person  and  address. 
His  face  carried  the  evidence  of  amiability,  and  he  acted  at  all 
times  with  quiet  thoughtfulness,  rather  slow  in  his  movements, 
but  seldom  behind  time. 

In  his  day,  General  Hill  was  a  leading  Democrat,  and  exerted 
considerable  influence  in  his  county,  but  was  more  wedded  to  pro 
fessional  than  public  life.  He  had  a  fondness  for  ease,  and  with  a 
pipe  loaded  with  good  tobacco,  he  enjoyed  social  intercourse,  con 
versed  well,  but  slowly  and  cautiously,  with  a  marked  precision  of 
language.  He  was  raised  and  educated  in  North  Carolina,  and 
was  a  fine  specimen  of  the  gentleman  of  that  State.  He  died 
many  years  ago. 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  537 

THOMAS  E.  IRBY,  of  Wilcox,  a  native  of  South  Carolina,  had 
served  with  distinction  in  the  Mexican  war,  and  was  a  young  man 
of  fine  personal  appearance,  taking  his  seat  under  favorable  auspices. 

He  was  a  planter,  liberally  educated,  and  was  a  good  debater, 
presided  often  and  well  temporarily,  in  the  Speaker's  chair,  and 
altogether  justified  the  expectations  that  were  entertained  by  his 
friends.  His  social  qualities  had  been  well  cultivated,  making 
him  the  centre  of  the  circle  of  younger  men,  to  which  class  he 
belonged. 

In  1857,  having  removed  to  Dallas  county,  Capt.  Irby  was 
again  elected  to  the  House,  and  reflected  in  1859.  He  had  ma 
tured  greatly  in  size  and  mental  vigor,  as  well  as  in  position.  He 
allied  himself  with  the  extreme  wing  on  Southern  questions,  and 
was  active  in  the  prosecution  of  his  purposes.  This  was  particu 
larly  the  case  in  the  State  Convention  of  1860,  in  which  there 
was  antagonism  and  political  strife.  In  the  deliberations,  he  ex 
erted  no  little  influence  and  tact.  When  the  war  opened,  he  at 
once  took  the  field,  and  proved  a  gallant  champion  of  the  South 
ern  cause.  He  was  advanced  to  the  command  of  a  regiment,  and 
in  one  of  the  battles  of  Virginia  he  was  killed — sealing  with  the 
blood  of  a  noble,  brave  man,  his  devotion  to  his  principles. 

REUBEN  McDoxALD,  of  Baldwin,  served  in  the  House  at  the 
session  of  1847,  and  again  in  1849.  Being  a  bachelor  of  respect 
able  age,  he  concluded  to  marry,  and  try  the  consolations  of  pri 
vate  life,  and  did  not  appear  again  in  the  Legislature  until  1861. 

Mr.  McDonald  possesed  traits  of  character  which  entitle  him  to 
remembrance.  He  was  a  rigid  Democrat,  even  to  stubbornness, 
and  when  he  had  an  object  to  accomplish,  he  knew  no  such  word 
as  fail.  Thus,  in  canvassing  for  a  seat  in  the  Legislature,  and  liv 
ing  on  the  coast,  where  many  of  the  people  could  be  reached  by 
creeks,  bays  and  inlets,  he  would  load  a  craft  with  things  useful 
to  a  candidate,  and  very  convenient  to  extend  his  acquaintance 
and  gain  favor,  making  his  trips  to  the  Perdido,  and  up  the 
streams,  and  all  about  where  people  were  to  be  found,  and  then 
he  distributed  his  cargo  with  such  pleasant  hospitality  and  good 
will,  that  votes  were  his  sure  reward.  His  pursuit  of  the  sover 
eigns  dispersed  in  the  different  sections  of  his  large,  and,  to  a  great 
extent,  thinly  populated  county,  was  most  untiring,  and  he  never 
considered  his  work  done  as  long  as  one  vote  was  in  question. 

If  Mr.  McDonald  had  his  partialities,  he  had  also  his  dislikes, 
but  never  to  the  detriment  of  the  public  prosperity,  to  which  he 
contributed  his  time  and  his  energies. 

MOSES  McGuiRE,  of  Tuskaloosa,  had  a  popularity,  and  a  hold 
on  public  favor,  which  was  so  established  that  he  either  had  the 


538  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

course  to  himself  when  racing  for  office,  or,  if  any  one  ventured 
to  compete  with  him,  he  was  distanced  to  such  an  extent  as  to 
discourage  any  future  hope  of  obtaining  office  before  the  same 
constituency.  He  was  Clerk  of  the  County  Court  when  I  first 
knew  him,  in  1837,  a  place  he  retained,  by  successive  elections, 
until  1845,  when  he  sought  a  change  by  offering  himself  a  candi 
date  for  Sheriff.  Of  course_,  he  was  elected,  in  spite  of  all  the 
influences  and  combinations,  for  political  effect,  which  could  be 
brought  to  bear  against  him.  He  was  a  fixture,  which  no  man 
could  move,  however  herculean  his  strength  on  the  hustings. 
The  people  stood  by  Mr.  McGuire  and  cheered  him  on  to  victory, 
without  his  having  to  vary  from  the  strictest  line  of  rectitude  en 
joined  by  his  membership  in  the  Baptist  Church. 

Mr.  McGuire  was  a  Democrat,  and  such  was  his  weight  of  char 
acter,  that  he  was  elected  to  the  House  of  Representatives  in 
1849,  on  a  divided  ticket,  with  Messrs.  Jemison  and  Perkins, 
Whigs.  His  long  experience  in  the  details  of  county  police  reg 
ulations  was  a  gain  to  the  House  relative  to  the  Probate  Court 
system,  then  about  to  be  established.  He  was  a  useful,  diligent 
member  throughout  the  laborious  session,  always  at  his  post,  always 
in  a  good  humor,  and  always  voting  with  a  sound  judgment.  Such 
was  his  legislative  record. 

In  1850,  when  the  election  of  Judge  of  Probate  was  given  to 
the  people,  Mr.  McGuire  was  a  candidate  for  that  office,  which 
was  tantamount  to  an  election.  He  continued  to  hold  that  place, 
with  renewals  at  the  ballot-box,  until  after  the  war.  In  1865,  he 
was  elected  to  a  seat  in  the  Convention  which  formed  the  Consti 
tution  of  that  year.  Having  held  office  so  long  before  the  organ 
ization  of  the  Confederate  Government,  and  during  its  existence, 
he  is  of  course  loaded  with  political  disabilities,  which  must  in 
future  deprive  the  public  of  his  valuable  services,  unless  he  shall 
be  relieved  by  the  pardoning  power. 

The  question  may  be  asked,  What  was  the  secret  of  his  success 
throughout  the  whole  thirty  years  in  which  he  was  Clerk,  Sheriff, 
Representative,  and  Judge,  in  Tuskaloosa  county,  without  ever 
having  been  defeated  in  any  election  before  the  people?  The 
answer  is,  that  he  was  an  honest,  upright  man,  with  a  kind  heart, 
a  courteous  address,  and  a  friendly  smile  which  pleased  everybody, 
anct  convinced  everybody  that  he  was  true  and  faithful.  He  was 
always  to  be  found  at  his  office,  at  all  proper  hours.  He  never 
loitered  at  the  corners  of  the  streets  for  idle  conversation,  but 
went  directly  from  his  office  to  his  dwelling,  and  returned  to  his 
office,  which  he  always  kept  in  a  neat  condition,  the  records  all 
beautifully  complete,  and  all  his  papers  so  arranged  that  when  he 
was  called  upon  for  any  information,  or  for  any  paper,  he  could  lay 
his  hands  upon  it  instantly.  He  made  no  charges  for  trifling  ser- 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  539 

vices,  or  for  mere  accommodation  searches,  nor  would  he  receive 
the  regular  fees  of  his  office  from  a  poor  widow,  or  a  needy  per 
son.  In  this  way  he  performed  much  gratuitous  labor.  His  sym 
pathizing  nature,  and  not  policy,  dictated  his  acts  of  generosity. 

With  such,  traits  of  character,  it  is  no  wonder  that  Judge 
McGuire  was  a  favorite  with  the  people,  loved  by  all  without 
regard  to  party  distinctions,  and  triumphant  in  every  canvass. 
Perhaps  no  parallel  of  the  kind  can  be  found  in  Alabama.  He 
still  resides  in  Tuskaloosa,  one  of  its  most  honored  and  useful 
citizens. 

WALKER  REYNOLDS,  of  Talladega,  was  selected  by  the  Whig 
party,  of  which  he  was  a  member,  to  head  their  ticket  in  1849, 
that  they  might  have  the  influence  of  his  name  to  assure  success. 
An  additional  reason  was,  to  secure  his  services  in  the  Legislature 
in  locating  the  route  of  the  Selma  and  Dalton  Railroad,  which 
had  not  then  been  determined — so  far,  at  least,  as  Talladega  was 
concerned.  Both  purposes  succeeded.  Col.  Reynolds  was  elected, 
leaving  all  other  candidates  behind,  and  thus  Talladega  got  the 
road.  It  is  saying  nothing  in  derogation  of  his  colleagues  when 
the  fact  is  stated,  that  by  the  advantages  afforded  by  his  extensive 
acquaintance,  and  the  wealth  he  was  known  to  possess,  and  conse 
quently  the  material  aid  he  could  bring  to  the  enterprise,  enabled 
Col.  Reynolds  to  accomplish  the  result  of  giving  to  the  county, 
whose  interests  he  so  faithfully  represented,  a  railroad  running 
through  its  entire  length. 

Col.  Reynolds,  was  no  public  speaker.  He  left  that  to  other 
men.  But  his  fine  practical  sense  and  untiring  energy,  backed  by 
his  wealth,  achieved  a  great  deal  for  the  benefit  of  his  constituents, 
and  of  the  State.  He  contributed  by  a  liberal  subscription  to  this 
great  work,  and  was,  for  a  time,  President  of  the  road  company, 
serving  its  interests  with  skill  and  fidelity  in  a  trying  crisis  of 
its  affairs,  leading  through  all  the  troubles  without  sacrificing  the 
small  stockholders,  as  they  were  threatened  at  one  time.  This  in 
formation  I  had  from  a  stockholder  of  the  road. 

After  the  session  of  1849,  Col.  Reynolds  was  not  again  in  public 
life,  but  devoted  his  mind  and  energies  to  planting  and  milling 
operations,  in  which  he  was  successful,  so  that  in  1860  he  was  justly 
regarded  as  one  of  the  wealthy  men  of  the  State.  His  elegant 
mansion  on  Wewokee  was  the  seat  of  generous  and  unrestricted 
hospitality,  dispensed  under  his  supervision,  aided  by  his  accom 
plished  lady  and  daughters. 

In  1860,  he  adhered  to  the  old  Whig  organization,  and  sup 
ported  Mr.  Bell  for  President,  and  opposed  the  policy  of  secession; 
but  after  the  passage  of  the  Ordinance,  he  entered  fully  into  the 


540  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

new  movement,  and  his  contributions  to  the  support  of  the  South 
ern  cause  were  counted  by  thousands  and  tens  of  thousands. 

Col.  Reynolds  was  a  Georgian  by  birth  and  education,  and  com 
menced  life  without  patrimony.  His  eminent  success  in  the  ac 
quisition  of  property  is  evidence  of  what  may  be  accomplished  by 
well  directed  effort,  backed  by  a  resolute  will  and  untiring  energy. 
He  was  a  leading  member  of  the  Baptist  Church,  and  died  about 
the  first  of  the  present  year,  (1871.) 

ROBERT  H.  SMITH,  of  Sumter,  was  born  and  raised  in  the  town 
of  Edenton,  North  Carolina,  where  he  was  liberally  educated,  and 
admitted  to  the  bar.  He  came  to  Alabama  in  1835,  soon  after  at 
taining  his  majority,  in  search  of  a  suitable  location  for  the  practice 
of  law.  His  maiden  speech  in  Court  was  in  Erie,  the  old  county- 
site  of  Greene,  at  the  Fall  term  of  1835,  Judge  Collier  presiding, 
where  a  prisoner  by  the  name  of  Curry  was  arraigned  for  killing 
his  brother.  The  accused  was  too  poor  to  employ  counsel,  and 
the  Court  appointed  William  G.  Jones,  Robert  H.  Smith,  William 
B.  Davis,  and  Stephen  F.  Miller,  Esqrs.,  all  young  attorneys  then 
present,  to  manage  the  defense.  Peter  Martin,  Esq.,  was  Attor 
ney-General,  and  conducted  the  prosecution.  The  evidence  was 
clear  and  positive  that  the  prisoner  stabbed  and  killed  his  brother 
in  a  drunken  broil.  The  speech  of  Mr.  Smith  was  ingenious,  and 
for  so  young  a  man,  laboring  under  the  embarrassment  of  a  first 
effort,  it  was  marked  by  considerable  ability.  All  the  other  gen 
tlemen  selected  by  the  Court,  in  their  turn,  addressed  the  jury  in 
behalf  of  the  prisoner;  but  their  labor  was  in  vain.  He  was  con 
victed  and  afterward  executed  for  the  atrocious  homicide. 

In  1836,  Mr.  Smith  opened  a  law-office  in  Livingston,  Sumter 
county,  where,  not  long  afterward,  he  formed  a  partnership  with 
Edward  L.  Holmes,  Esq.,  a  promising  young  lawyer  from  Georgia. 
Not  finding  the  practice  sufficiently  remunerative  in  Livingston, 
Mr.  Holmes  went  to  Texas,  and  was  elected  a  member  of  Con 
gress,  in  that  Republic.  While  his  prospects  were  fair,  and  his 
manly  and  virtuous  character  was  just  developing,  Mr.  Holmes 
was  cut  off  in  his  youth  by  fever. 

Soon  after  Mr.  Smith  was  left  alone  in  the  practice,  another 
partnership  was  offered  him  by  William  B.  Ochiltree,  Esq.,  which 
he  accepted.  This  professional  relation  did  not  continue  long. 
Failing  in  his  attempt  to  obtain  a  seat  in  the  Legislature,  the  am 
bition  of  Mr.  Ochiltree  sought  another  field,  and  he,  too,  removed 
to  Texas,  where  he  became  Attorney-General,  and  then  Judge  of 
the  Circuit  Court. 

In  the  meantime  Mr.  Smith  pressed  forward  as  an  attorney,  la 
boring  under  the  disadvantage  of  inexperience,  yet  with  resolute 
purpose,  until  his  superior  faculties  attracted  the  friendly  notice  of 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  541 

Col.  William  M.  Inge,  who  had  been  a  Representative  in  Con 
gress,  from  Tennessee,  from  1833  to  1835,  and  had  lately  settled 
in  Livingston  as  a  practicing  lawyer.  He  tendered  Mr.  Smith  a 
professional  connection  which  lasted  until  the  death  of  Col.  Inge, 
several  years  afterward.  By  this  patronage,  the  merits  of  Mr. 
Smith  became  more  generally  known,  and,  from  that  time,  his 
character  steadily  increased,  attended  with  marked  social  influences. 

The  Inge  family  were  from  Franklin  county,  in  North  Carolina, 
of  high  position  and  intelligence.  Dr.  Richard  Inge,  a  wealthy 
planter  of  Greene  county,  Major  Francis  Inge,  and  Col.  William 
M.  Inge,  were  brothers,  and  Mrs.  Judge  Murphy,  the  mother  of 
William  M.  Murphy,  Esq.,  and  Mrs.  Gen.  Crabb,  were  their  mar 
ried  sisters,  with  two  sisters  then  unmarried,  both  of  whom,  after 
ward,  in  succession,  became  the  wives  of  Mr.  Smith.  The  prop 
erty  and  influence  which  he  acquired  by  his  connection  with  the 
Inge  family,  opened  his  career  to  prosperity.  His  talents  being 
of  a  high  order,  aided  by  a  noble  ambition  and  great  energy,  Mr. 
Smith  has  long  since  been  a  leader  at  the  bar  and  in  society. 
While  comparatively  a  young  man,  he  was  a  widower  the  second 
time.  His  third  marriage  was  with  a  daughter  of  the  late  Thomas 
H.  Herndon,  Esq.,  of  Greene  county,  who  left  a  very  large  estate 
to  his  children,  of  which  Mr.  Smith  received  a  proper  share. 

In  politics,  Mr.  Smith  was  a  Whig,  a  warm  supporter  of  Gen. 
Harrison  in  1840,  and  of  Mr.  Clay  in  1844.  After  the  extinc 
tion  of  old  party  lines  and  issues,  he  was  allied  with  the  Demo 
cratic  party.  He  took  his  seat  as  a  Whig,  at  the  session  of  1849, 
on  a  divided  ticket,  and  was  the  only  member  of  his  party  elected 
to  the  House  from  Sumter.  This  was  owing  to  the  strength  of 
his  character,  and  the  liberality  of  his  constituents,  who,  for  the 
time  being,  laid  aside  all  political  bias,  to  secure  in  the  public 
councils  a  Representative  of  such  distinguished  ability  and  worth. 
His  course  in  the  Legislature  was  such  as  to  meet  the  expectations 
of  his  friends  and  warmest  admirers.  He  justly  ranked  with  the 
leading  members  of  the  House  in  originating  measures,  and  in 
supporting  them  in  debate.  It  was  the  only  session  in  which  he 
served  in  the  Legislature. 

In  1860,  he  visited  his  native  state  in  a  diplomatic  character, 
Gov.  Moore  having  appointed  him  and  the  late  Isham  W.  Gar- 
rott,  Esq.,  Commissioners  to  confer  with  the  authorities  of  North- 
Carolina  on  the  subject  of  a  union  and  cooperation  among  the 
Southern  States,  in  view  of  the  pending  aggressions  of  the  North. 
That  mission  was  ably  performed,  and  resulted  in  success,  so  far 
as  the  object  then  sought  was  involved. 

The  Convention  of  1861  elected  Mr.  Smith  a  Deputy  for  the 
State  at  large  to  the  Provisional  Congress  at  Montgomery,  to  as 
sist  in  organizing  a  Government  for  the  Confederate  States.  After 


542  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

an  interval  of  more  than  twenty  years,  he  there  met  his  old  law- 
partner,  Judge  Ochiltree,  who  was  a  Deputy  from  the  State  of 
Texas,  not  consulting,  as  in  other  days,  how  to  conduct  pleadings, 
and  how  to  support  actions  for  the  recovery  of  values  in  money, 
but  uniting  their  heads  and  hearts  to  save  their  native  South  from 
degradation  by  a  fanatical  majority  at  the  North.  The  plan  of 
resistance  did  not  fail  for  the  want  of  wisdom  in  the  conception, 
but  for  the  want  of  resources  to  carry  it  out  on  the  battle-field, 
where  the  force  was  unequal  as  three  to  one.  Such,  110  doubt, 
were  the  sentiments  and  aims  of  the  two  gentlemen  as  public 
servants. 

His  services  in  the  Provisional  Congress  closed  the  public  life 
of  Mr.  Smith.  For  many  years  he  has  resided  in  Mobile,  where 
his  professional  reputation  brings  him  a  large  practice.  Besides 
his  ability  as  a  lawyer  and  legislator  to  command  public  respect, 
he  has  a  personal  chivalry  and  courage  which  give  completeness 
to  his  character.  While  serving  through  the  session  of  1849,  Mr. 
Smith,  in  some  way,  gave  offense  to  the  late  Col.  Seibles,  who  in 
vited  him  beyond  the  limits  of  the  State  for  a  correspondence. 
The  hint  was  promptly  taken,  and  the  former  was  on  the  road  to 
Georgia  for  the  interview,  when  a  number  of  gentlemen  inter 
fered,  and  had  the  difficulty  submitted  to  a  board  of  honor,  by 
whom  it  was  adjusted  in  a  manner  perfectly  honorable  to  both 
parties. 

GEOBGE  C.  WHATLEY,  of  Benton  (now  Calhoun),  was  elected 
to  the  House  in  1849.  He  was  an  educated  lawyer,  with  rich 
stores  of  general  information,  which  gave  him  a  prominent  rank 
in  business  and  in  debate.  He  was  a  ready  speaker,  and  was  fre 
quently  upon  the  floor,  but  was  never  tiresome  after  the  fashion 
of  some.  His  views  were  presented  in  bold,  brief  terms,  which 
were  essentially  to  the  point,  and  always  practical.  He  was  jeal 
ous  of  his  rights,  and  of  the  trust  committed  to  him.  Thus,  when 
a  member  from  the  Southern  portion  of  the  State  introduced  a 
bill  to  change  the  name  of  the  county  from  Benton  to  De  Soto,  Mr. 
Whatley  rose  in  his  place,  and,  with  scathing  language  and  man 
ner,  denounced  it  as  an  interference  with  the  rights  of  the  Rep 
resentatives  of  the  people  of  that  county,  and  moved  to  postpone 
the  bill  indefinitely,  which  was  done. 

His  good  sense  and  sound  opinions  of  public  policy  gave  him  a 
favorable  standing  with  his  fellow-members,  who  anticipated  well 
of  his  future.  After  this  session,  Mr.  Whatley  remained  in  pri 
vate  life,  engaged  in  his  legal  pursuit  and  in  planting,  until  1860, 
when  he  was  elected  a  member  of  the  Convention  which  passed 
the  Ordinance  of  Secession.  His  usually  quiet  political  feelings 
were  aroused  by  the  election  of  Lincoln  and  Hamlin,  and  he 


«  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  543 

entered  fully  into  the  cause  of  excitement  against  their  rule,  and 
offered  the  first  preamble  and  resolutions  in  the  Convention,  which 
were  as  follows: 

WHEREAS,  The  only  bond  of  union  between  the  several  States  is  the  Consti 
tution  of  the  United  States ; 

AND  WHEREAS,  That  Constitution  has  been  violated,  both  by  the  Government  of 
the  United  States,  and  by  a  majority  of  the  Northern  States,  in  their  separate 
legislative  action,  denying  to  the  people  of  the  Southern  States  their  Constitutional 
rights  ; 

AND  WHEREAS,  A  sectional  party,  known  as  the  Black  Republican  Party,  has, 
in  the  recent  election,  elected  Abraham  Lincoln  to  the  office  of  President,  and 
Hannibal  Hamlin  to  the  office  of  Vice-President  of  the  United  States,  upon  the 
avowed  principle  that  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States  does  not  recognize  prop 
erty  in  slaves,  and  that  the  Government  should  prevent  its  extension  into  the  common 
Territories  of  the  United  States,  and  that  the  power  of  the  Government  should  be 
so  exercised  that  slavery,  in  time,  should  be  exterminated;  therefore, 

Be  it  resolved  by  the  people  of  Alabama,  in  solemn  Convention  assembled,  That 
these  acts  and  designs  constitute  such  a  violation  of  the  compact  between  the  several 
States  as  absolves  the  people  of  Alabama  from  all  obligation  to  continue  to  support 
a  Government  of  the  United  States  to  be  administered  upon  such  principles,  and 
that  the  people  of  Alabama  will  not  submit  to  be  parties  to  the  inauguration  and 
administration  of  Abraham  Lincoln  as  President,  and  Hannibal  Hamlin  as  Vice- 
President  of  the  United  States  of  America. 

A  discussion  ensued,  in  which  Messrs.  Whatley,  Smith  of  Tus- 
kaloosa,  Posey,  Yancey,  Clemens  and  Williamson  took  part,  when 
the  resolution  was  so  amended  as  to  satisfy  all  parties,  and  was 
unanimously  adopted  in  the  following  shape : 

Resolved,  etc.,  That  the  people  of  Alabama  can  not,  and  will  not,  submit  to  the 
administration  of  Lincoln  and  Hamlin  as  President  and  Vice-President  of  the 
United  States,  upon  the  principles  referred  to  in  the  preamble. 

Mr.  "Whatley  advocated  these,  resolutions  with  spirit,  which 
showed  the  point  he  had  reached  upon  the  question  of  Southern 
Rights  and  remedies.  He  voted  for  the  Ordinance  of  Secession, 
and  throughout  the  sittings  of  the  Convention  he  took  an  active 
part  in  the  proceedings  and  discussions.  When  hostilities  com 
menced  he  entered  the  service  of  the  Confederate  States,  with  the 
same  conviction  of  duty  which  had  governed  his  vote  in  the  Con 
vention.  He  was  elected  Major  of  a  regiment,  and  fought  bravely 
in  every  battle  in  which  his  command  was  engaged.  But  he  did 
not  reach  the  middle  of  the  war  before  he  was  killed  in  action, 
and  has  left  to  his  State  the  memory  of  an  upright  man,  a  true 
Southerner,  and  a  brave  soldier. 

He  was  a  native  of  Georgia,  and  there  was  much  strength  and 
ability  in  his  character.  To  maintain  his  principles,  which  he  be 
lieved  to  be  right,  he  was  willing  to  sacrifice  everything,  even  his 
own  life,  which  he  laid  upon  the  altar  of  his  country.  His  intel 
lect  and  his  integrity  constituted  his  greatest  claim  to  admiration, 
as  physically  he  was  ill-favored,  and  awkward  in  his  movements. 
All  his  external  defects  were  soon  forgotten,  however,  as  the  riches 


544  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

• 

of  his  mind  and  his  heart  were  poured  forth  in  the  cause  of  the 
people  and  the  State.  To  the  former  he  felt  as  a  brother,  and  for 
the  latter  he  died  as  a  patriot.  Honor  to  his  memory. 

WILLIAM  WRIGHT,  of  Madison,  somewhat  advanced  in  years, 
was  elected  in  1849.  He  had  previously  filled  offices  of  trust  in 
his  county,  and  enjoyed  the  confidence  of  his  peciple.  He  ranked 
among  the  gentlemen  of  the  olden  time  in  the  pleasant,  social  re 
lations  of  life.  Possessing  a  cheerful  turn  of  mind,  he  was  re 
spected  not  only  for  his  age,  but  for  his  sterling  Dualities ;  but  he 
had  delayed  until  too  late  a  period  an  acquaintance  with  legislative 
proceedings,  to  be  as  effective  as  his  fine  intellect  wpuld  have 
made  him,  if  he  had  commenced  earlier.  He  died  several  years 


CHAPTER  XXX. 

Congressional  Elections — Legislature  of  1851 — New  Parties — Georgia 
Platform — Notices  of  Candidates  and  Public  Men. 

The  passage  through  Congress  of  the  Territorial  measures,  com 
monly  called  the  "Compromise,"  which  admitted  California  as  a 
State  without  any  intermediate  probation  as  a  Territory,  atid  with 
out  an  enabling  act  to  form  a  Constitution  or  State  Government, 
and  provided  Territorial  Governments  for  New  Mexico,  Utah,  etc., 
opened  a  new  element  of  sectional  discord  and  excitement.  The 
tide  drifted  into  new  parties,  or  at  least  into  new  party  designa 
tions,  such  as  Union  and  Southern  Rights,  "Compromise,"  and 
"Anti-Compromise  " — the  former  willing  to  take  the  measures  as  a 
final  settlement  of  the  Territorial  questions,  so  far  as  slavery  was 
concerned,  in  the  hope  that,  under  their  observance  by  Congress, 
the  slavery  agitation  would  cease.  The  latter  class,  or  order  of 
politicians,  were  generally  opposed  to  those  measures  of  pacifica 
tion,  and  especially  to  the  manner  in  which  California  was  brought 
into  the  Union,  and  the  issue  was  joined. 

In  the  Spring  of  1851,  a  Southern  Rights  Convention  met  in 
Montgomery.  Several  gentlemen  participated  in  its  proceedings 
who  were  regarded  as  secessionists,  and  this  was  seized  upon  by 
the  compromise  men  as  an  indication  of  the  purpose  of  those 
opposed  to  the  adjustment.  Hence  that  class  were  known  by  a 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  547 

ship :  Messrs.  Nathaniel  Davis,  John  D.  Rather,  and  M.  A.  King. 
After  the  first  ballot,  Mr.  King  was  withdrawn,  and  on  the  second 
ballot,  Mr.  Rather  was  elected  by  a  vote  of  53  to  42.  This  was 
considered  a  success  to  the  Union  men,  as  Mr.  Rather  was  mainly 
supported  by  them,  while  the  Southern  Rights  men  voted  for  Mr. 
Davis,  who,  although  a  Union  man  in  sentiment,  was  opposed  to 
the  disorganization  of  the  Democratic  party  upon  the  issue.  The 
Speaker  organized  the  House,  so  far  as  his  power  extended,  pretty 
much  in  accordance  with  his  election ;  but  assigned  position  to  sev 
eral  gentlemen  on  the  other  side,  as  will  appear  by  the  Chairman 
ship  of  the  Committees: 

On  the  Judiciary,  Mr.  R.  W.  Walker; 
On  Federal  Relations,  Mr.  Beck; 
On  Ways  and  Means,  Mr.  H.  C.  Lea; 
On  Internal  Improvement,  Mr.  P.  Phillips. 

In  the  Senate,  Mr.  Gunn  was  Chairman  of  the  Committee  on 
the  Judiciary,  and  Mr.  Jemison  Chairman  of  the  Committee  on 
Finance  and  Taxation. 

The  message  of  Gov.  Collier  was  transmitted  to  both  Houses 
the  next  day,  and  5,000  copies  ordered  to  be  printed.  It  was  a 
document  of  considerable  length,  covering  thirty-three  pages  of 
the  printed  Journals.  Of  its  ability,  and  the  soundness  of  judg 
ment  evinced  by  the  author,  no  one  can  doubt  who  has  a  knowl 
edge  of  his  character.  The  business  items  of  the  message,  how 
ever,  are  not  sufficiently  compressed  to  allow  a  fair  synopsis  here, 
consistent  with  the  limits  of  this  work. 

The  leading  measures  of  the  session  were,  the  adoption  of  the 
Code,  and  the  adoption  or  rejection  of  the  Georgia  Platform,  and 
resolutions  approving  the  course  of  Col.  King,  and  Mr.  Clemens, 
Senators  in  Congress,  in  voting  for  the  Compromise  measures. 
The  Code  was  adopted,  but  both  the  others  failed  under  the  lead 
of  opponents  who  were  not  versed  in  parliamentary  and  party 
tactics. 

As  the  action  of  Georgia,  first  at  the  session  of  the  Legislature, 
in  1849,  authorizing  the  Governor  to  call  a  Convention  of  the 
people  of  the  State,  on  the  happening  of  a  certain  contingency; 
and,  secondly,  the  meeting  of  that  Convention  in  December,  1850, 
pioneered  the  way  through  the  dangers  which  then  menaced  the 
Union,  it  is  necessary  to  reproduce  the  4th  section  of  the  Georgia 
Platform,  to  show  the  ground  on  which  the  Union  party  stood  in 
the  Alabama  Legislature. 

The  Georgia  Convention  consisted  of  260  delegates  elected  by 
the  people  of  ninety-five  counties.  On  motion  of  the  Hon.  Charles 
J.  Jenkins  a  Committee  of  Thirty-Three,  consisting  of  three  from 


548  ReniinisGences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

each  Judicial  District,  was  appointed  to  consider  and  report  business 
proper  for  the  Convention.  The  report  was  an  exceedingly  able 
paper,  (occupying  nine  pages  of  the  printed  Journal,)  from  the 
pen  of  Gov.  Jenkins,  and  the  4th  section  is  the  following: 

That  the  State  of  Georgia,  in  the  judgment  of  this  Convention,  will  and  ought 
to  resist,  even  (as  a  last  resort]  to  a  disruption  of  every  tie  that  binds  her  to  the 
Union,  any  action  of  Congress  upon  the  subject  of  slavery  in  the  District  of  Co 
lumbia,  or  in  places  subject  to  the  jurisdiction  of  Congress,  incompatible  with  the 
safety,  domestic  tranquillity,  the  rights  and  honor  of  the  slaveholding  States ;  or 
any  act  suppressing  the  slave-trade  between  the  slaveholding  States ;  or  any  re 
fusal  to  admit,  as  a  State,  any  Territory  hereafter  applying,  because'  of  the  exist 
ence  of  slavery  therein ;  or  any  act  prohibiting  its  introduction  into  the  Territories 
of  Utah  and  New  Mexico;  or  any  act  repealing,  or  materially  modifying  the  laws 
now  in  force  for  the  recovery  of  fugitive  slaves. 

This  report,  known  as  the  Platform,  was  adopted  in  the  Georgia 
Convention  by  a  vote  of  237  to  19. 

In  the  Alabama  Legislature,  it  was  favored  by  the  Union  men, 
but  opposed  by  Democrat*  and  Southern  Rights  men.  Its  adop 
tion  or  rejection  had  gotten  to  be  a  question  of  party  strength,  and 
as  the  Union  organization  was  giving  way  every  day,  the  leaders 
of  the  Democrats  who  opposed  it,  voted  to  postpone,  until  at  last 
they  controlled  strength  to  defeat  it  in  the  House,  after  its  adop 
tion  by  the  Senate. 

During  the  first  week  of  the  session,  Mr.  Liddell,  an  intense 
Compromise  man,  offered  a  resolution  to  bring  on  the  election  of 
United  States  Senator,  to  fill  the  place  of  Mr.  Clemens  after  the 
4th  of  March,  1853 — one  year  in  advance  of  the  expiration  of  his 
term,  but  before  another  regular  meeting  of  the  Legislature. 
The  resolution  encountered  opposition  at  the  threshold,  and  a  side 
motion,  made  to  test  its  strength,  indicated  that  it  had  a  majority 
of  the  House,  and  hence  the  minority  resorted  to  parliamentary 
tact  to  defeat  it.  They  carried  an  adjournment,  and  the  next 
meeting  of  the  House  showed  a  marked  change  in  a  few  hours — 
a  change  which,  at  the  time,  surprised  many  who  had  no  know 
ledge  of  the  manner  in  which  it  was  brought  about,  and  at  this 
distance  of  time  it  is  not  necessary  to  relate  it.  After  that,  the 
friends  of  Mr.  Clemens  abandoned  all  idea  of  electing  him  again 
to  the  Senate. 

ELECTIONS. 

Sundry  elections  took  place  worthy  of  note.  -The  Hon.  George 
Goldthwaite,  without  opposition,  was  placed  on  the  Bench  of  the 
Supreme  Court,  to  fill  the  vacancy  caused  by  the  resignation  of 
Judge  Silas  Parsons. 

Hon.  James  B.  Clark  was  elected  Chancellor  of  the  Middle 
Pivision, 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  549 

Eggleston  D.  Towns,  Esq.,  was  elected  Chancellor  of  the  North 
ern  Division,  over  his  competitors,  A.  Q.  Nicks  and  Matthew  J. 
Turnley,  Esqrs.,  the  first  ballot  being  54,  49  and  25,  in  the  order 
of  their  names. 

Vincent  M.  Benham  was  elected  Secretary  of  State  by  a  vote 
of  64,  against  58  for  A.  B.  Clitherall. 

Amand  P.  Pfister  was  elected  Quartermaster-General. 

GEORGE  GOLDTHWAITE  is  a  Bostonian  by  birth,  and  received 
his  education  mainly  at  West-Point.  He  came  to  Montgomery 
and  settled  in  the  practice  of  the  law  about  the  year  1830.  By 
his  fine  talents  and  close  application  to  study  and  business,  he  soon 
obtained  a  large  and  valuable  practice,  and  a  high  rank  in  his 
profession. 

In  1843,  he  was  first  elected  to  the  Bench  of  the  Circuit  Court, 
over  Abram  Martin,  Esq.,  and  was  reflected  in  August  by  the 
Legislature.  By  a  change  in  the  Constitution,  the  election  was 
given  to  the  people  in  1850,  when  he  was  continued  on  the  Bench 
by  popular  suffrage,  over  Francis  S.  Jackson,  Esq.  Under  his 
election  as  Judge  of  the  Supreme  Court,  in  1851,  he  remained  in 
that  office  until  the  session  of  1853,  when,  for  the  purpose  of 
affording  the  Legislature  an  opportunity  to  reorganize  the  Court, 
the  Judges  (five  in  number)  resigned,  and  but  three  were  elected, 
Judge  Goldthwaite  being  one  of  the  number.  After  presiding  in 
that  tribunal  a  few  years,  he  retired,  and  resumed  the  practice  of 
the  law  in  Montgomery,  in  which  he  has  since  been  engaged. 

In  December,  1870,  Judge  Goldthwaite  was  elected  by  the 
Legislature  to  a  scat  in  the  United  States  Senate  for  a  term  of  six 
years,  commencing  on  the  4th  of  March,  1871,  which  opens  a 
new  chapter  in  his  public  life,  as  it  is  the  first  time  he  has  occu 
pied  an  official  position  in  any  legislative  body.  Whatever  may 
be  the  experience  of  his  future,  he  certainly  has  an  enviable  re 
cord  of  the  past.  While  on  the  Circuit  Bench,  his  administration 
of  the  laws,  his  enforcement  of  good  order,  his  manner  of  presid 
ing,  courteous  yet  prompt,  and  the  upright  manner  in  which  he 
decided  all  questions  properly  raised  in  cases  before  him,  estab 
lished  for  him  the  very  highest  character  as  a  Judge.  His  learn 
ing  was  always  adequate  to  every  call  and  every  occasion.  In  the 
Supreme  Court,  his  opinions  were  luminous,  constituting  the  stan 
dard  of  judicial  maturity  in  all  the  elements  required  for  that 
dignified  station.  He  is  a  brother-in-law  of  the  Hon.  John  A. 
Campbell,  late  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  United  States,  and  a 
brother  of  the  Hon.  Henry  Goldthwaite,  who  held  the  commis 
sion  of  Judge  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  Alabama  at  his  death  in 
1847. 


550  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

JAMES  B.  CLARK  has  filled  a  considerable  space  at  the  bar,  and 
on  the  Chancery  bench.  He  has  some  peculiarities  of  disposition 
and  manner  which  render  a  close  acquaintance  with  him  necessary 
to  do  full  justice  to  his  character.  The  writer  is  saved,  however, 
from  the  risk  of  drawing  an  imperfect  sketch,  by  incorporating  a 
portion  of  that  from  the  able  pen  of  A.  W.  Dillard,  Esq.,  under 
the  head  of  "Sketches  of  the  Lawyers  of  West-Alabama,"  re 
cently  published  in  the  "Livingston  Journal."  Mr.  Dillard  says: 

The  Hon.  James  B.  Clark  was  born  in  Bedford  county,  Pennsylvania,  June  22, 
1796,  and  passed  his  youth  in  Chillicothe,  Ohio,  receiving  but  a  limited  education. 
He  read  law  in  Kentucky,  and  begun  the  practice  in  that  State,  in  March,  1822. 
In  the  fall  of  the  same  year,  he  removed  to  Bibb  county,  Alabama.  In  1825,  he 
returned  to  Kentucky,  and  while  there  he  married  Miss  Mary  Erwin,  sister  of  the 
late  Col.  John  Erwin.  In  1827-' 9,  Chancellor  Clark  was  a  member  of  the  Repre 
sentative  branch  of  the  Legislature,  from  Bibb  county,  and  ably  represented  his 
constituents.  In  1831,  he  removed  to  Cahawba,  where  he  resided  eight  years, 
enjoying  quite  a  lucrative  practice.  In  1839,  he  settled  in  Eutaw.  In  1845,  upon 
the  resignation  of  the  Hon.  Joshua  L.  Martin,  Gov.  Fitzpatrick,  without  any  so 
licitation,  appointed  him  Chancellor  of  the  Middle  Chancery  Division  of  the  State. 
But  at  the  session  of  the  Legislature,  by  reason  of  a  combination,  Chancellor 
Clark  was  defeated  by  Hon.  Wylie  W.  Mason. 

In  1851,  he  was  elected  Chancellor  by  the  Legislature.  At  that  period,  the 
office  of  Chancellor  was  particularly  laborious  and  arduous.  Chancellor  Clark 
was  under  the  necessity  of  traveling  over  half  the  State  by  private  conveyance, 
and  over  miserable  roads — the  mere  physical  labor  alone  would  have  deterred 
many  men  from  accepting  so  arduous  a  position.  The  Chancery  system  itself,  to  a 
great  extent,  was  in  a  most  crude  and  undigested  state.  Only  a  few  years  before, 
the  Judges  of  the  Circuit  Court  had  exercised  the  diverse  if  not  contradictory 
duties  of  law  and  equity  Judges,  and  as  they  were  crowded  with  business  in  the 
courts  at.  law,  they  had  but  little  leisure  for  the  Chancery  duties  devolved  upon 
them.  Many  of  these  Judges,  in  addition  to  this  want  of  leisure,  had  little  taste 
for  Chancery  practice,  so  that  what  followed  might  have  easily  been  foreseen. 
There  was  little  uniformity  or  regularity  in  the  Chancery  practice — there  was  no 
time  afforded  for  prying  narrowly  into  books  for  precedents — the  business  had  to 
be  dispatched  in  a  hurry  or  left  untouched. 

Chancellor  Clark  brought  to  the  discharge  of  his  official  duties  the  same  love 
of  method — the  same  laborious  habits  and  punctuality — for  which  he  had  been 
honorably  distinguished  while  at  the  bar.  It  is  no  mere  idle  compliment  to  say, 
that  the  Chancery  practice  owes  much  of  its  uniformity  to  the  labors  of  Chancel 
lor  Clark.  During  a  recent  visit  of  the  author  of  this  sketch  to  Montgomery,  he 
was  assured  by  a  gentleman  eminent  for  the  extent  of  his  legal  abilities,  unsul 
lied  honor,  and  fine  social  qualities,  that  he  was  indebted  to  Chancellor  Clark  for 
his  knowledge  of  Chancery  practice — a  deserved  compliment,  but  made 'more  val 
uable  by  the  character  of  the  gentleman  from  whose  lips  it  flowed. 

On  the  bench,  Chancellor  Clark  was  patient,  cautious,  laborious :  courteous  to 
the  bar,  rigid  in  exacting  of  the  officers  a  due  performance  of  their  duties,  yet 
ever  ready  to  give  them  any  instruction  in  his  power;  and  no  man  ever  showed 
more  anxiety  to  have  his  decrees  squared  with  justice.  He  strove  to  excel — he 
was  fond  of  digging  into  the  mine  of  English  Chancery,  and  he  did  not  begrudge 
the  toil  and  labor  requisite  to  attain  excellence.  No  man  commanded  more  re 
spect  in  the  Supreme  Court,  nor  did  any  man  ever  fill  a  judicial  office  more 
worthily. 

EGGLESTON  D.  TOWNS  was  raised  and  educated  in  North-Ala 
bama,  except  that  his  graduation  was  at  the  University  of  Vir 
ginia.  His  father,  Major  Towns,  was  a  member  of  the  Conven- 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  551 

tion  that  formed  the  Constitution  of  1819,  from  Madison  county; 
after  which  he  settled  as  a  planter  in  Courtland  Valley,  where, 
by  well-directed  efforts,  he  acquired  a  large  fortune. 

Chancellor  Towns  was  young  when  elected  to  this  high  and  re 
sponsible  office,  which  he  held  for  a  year  or  two  only,  when  he 
resigned,  and  removed  to  Texas.  He  was  a  gentleman  of  ele 
vated  character  and  sentiments,  giving  promise  of  much  future 
usefulness,  but  he  left  the  State  before  time  was  allowed  to  de 
velop  his  faculties. 

ALVIS  Q.  NICKS  was  a  Representative  from  Talladega,  and 
took  a  pretty  active,  if  not  leading  part  in  the  deliberations  of  the 
House,  especially  upon  political  questions.  He  came  from  Lincoln 
county,  Tennessee,  and  had  much  State  pride  on  account,  mainly, 
of  its  being  the  home  of  Gen.  Jackson. 

In  the  contest  at  the  session  of  1851  he  was  for  the  Compro 
mise  measures  out  and  out,  and  every  feeling  of  his  heart  led  him 
to  revere  the  Union.  Mr.  Nicks  came  to  Alabama  in  1833,  when 
a  young  man,  and  settled  in  the  practice  of  the  Jaw,  at  Talladega. 
For  some  cause  he  attracted  the  notice  of  the  Indian  Chiefs,  and 
became  the  adviser,  and  soon  attained  the  position  of  Attorney  for 
the  Creek  Nation.  The  head  Chief,  Opoth-le-o-ho-lo,  and  he, 
were  on  good  terms,  and  in  1834  I  saw  a  son  of  that  chief,  a  good 
looking,  intelligent  young  man,,  a  half-breed,  in  company  with 
Col.  Nicks  at  Court  in  Jacksonville,  representing  his  father  in 
some  legal  procedure. 

Gen.  Jackson  appointed  Col.  Nicks  (he  was  Colonel  of  militia) 
one  of  the  locating  agents  of  Indian  reservations  of  land,  and  he 
was  thus  engaged  for  sometime.  The  promotion  and  influence 
which  he  had  so  readily  attained,  bringing  him  large  sums  of 
money,  was  more  than  his  nature  could  bear,  and  he  yielded  to 
the  bowl,  and  contracted  habits  which  not  only  disappointed  a 
promising  political  future,  with  many  early  advantages,  but,  in  a 
great  measure,  destroyed  his  prospects  of  accumulation.  He  be 
came  a  waif  professionally  and  individually,  but  adhered  to  his 
first  principles  and  attachments  in  favor  of  Gen.  Jackson  and  the 
Union.  'For  a  few  years  previous  to  1851,  he  had  been  laboring  at. 
reformation,  in  which  his  progress  was  respectable,  so  much  so 
that  he  was  to  some  extent  his  former  self.  He  had  a  comely 
person,  tall  and  well  proportioned,  and  was  the  soul  of  good  com 
panionship,  possessing  much  kindness  of  heart. 

In  1853,  Col.  Nicks  was  a  candidate  for  the  State  Executive, 
still  revering  the  principles  upon  which  he  was  elected  to  the 
Legislature.  But  the  issues  of  1851  had  passed  away,  and  he  was 
badly  beaten  by  Gov.  Winston.  Not  long  after  his  defeat,  he  re 
moved  to  Texas,  and  died  there  several  years  ago. 


552  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

MATTHEW  J.  TURNLEY  came  from  East-Tennessee,  of  respect 
able  parentage  and  connections,  and  settled  in  Cherokee  county  as 
a  lawyer.  In  1840,  he  was  elected  Judge  of  the  County  Court, 
an  office  which  he  held  several  years,  discharging  its  duties  with 
marked  ability  and  fidelity.  He  afterward  held  the  office  of 
United  States  Attorney  for  the  Northern  District  of  Alabama, 
under  Mr.  Buchanan's  administration,  and  when  the  State  seceded 
he  identified  his  lot  with  the  Southern  cause.  Judge  Turnley  has 
been  a  citizen  of  Alabama  for  near  forty  years.  He  now  resides 
in  Jacksonville  as  a  practicing  lawyer,  and,  in  the  range  of  his 
practice  and  acquaintance  is  regarded  as  possessing  good  legal  at 
tainments,  and  the  qualities  of  a  useful  citizen  and  honest  man. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  South. 

VINCENT  M.  BENHAM,  elected  Secretary  of  State,  was  a  mem 
ber  of  the  House,  in  1851,  from  Lauderdale.  A  number  of  com 
petitors  entered  the  race  for  the  office  at  the  Capitol,  and  the  con 
test  was  quite  stubborn.  On  the  16th  ballot,  his  vote  of  64  elected 
him  over  his  principal  opponent,  Mr.  Clitherall,  who  received  58 
votes. 

Mr.  Benham  was  a  Democrat,  and  accepted  the  Compromise 
measures  of  Congress.  In  the  political  classes  of  this  year  he  was 
a  Union  man,  and  cooperated  fully  with  that  organization,  and  his 
election  was  regarded  as  its  success  for  the  time  being.  He  had 
held  the  office  of  Sheriff,  in  days  gone  by,  and  possessed  good 
business  qualifications,  especially  the  clerical.  His  hand-writing 
was  neat  and  florid,  rather  too  much  of  the  latter  for  official  pur 
poses. 

He  was  quiet,  rather  retiring  and  timid  in  his  deportment.  In 
1853,  after  a  severe  contest  with  John  H.  Caldwell,  Esq.,  and 
Gen.  Higgins,  he  was  again  elected  Secretary  of  State,  but  re 
signed  .before  his  second  term  expired,  disappointed,  no  doubt,  at 
the  perquisites  of  the  office,  which  had  been  erroneously  repre 
sented  as  quite  large.  In  the  reorganization  of  the  Government 
in  1865,  Mr.  Benham  was  appointed  by  Gov.  Parsons  Judge  of 
Probate  of  his  county,  and  died  not  long  after  receiving  .his  com 
mission.  He  was  a  good  citizen,  and  correct  in  his  business  trans 
actions. 

ALEXANDER  B.  CLITHERALL,  defeated  by  Mr.  Benham  for  the 
office  of  Secretary  of  State,  had  long  aspired  to  the  place  in  his 
feelings  and  plans,  and  tested  his  strength  upon  this  occasion, 
which  a  change  of  four  votes  would  have  rendered  successful. 

I  first  knew  Mr.  Clitherall  in  Tuskaloosa,  in  1839 — a  young 
man,  a  Whig  in  politics,  and  a  law  student.  He  soon  afterward 
settled  in  Pickens  county  as  a  lawyer,  and  occupied  for  many  years 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  553 

an  active,  influential  position  in  the  county,  after  connecting  him 
self  with  the  Democratic  party. 

In  1842,  he  was  elected  Assistant  Clerk  of  the  House,  and 
reflected  until  1847,  when,  upon  the  retirement  of  Joseph  Phe- 
lan,  he  was  elected  principal  Clerk,  and  was  retained  in  that  office 
through  the  sessions  of  1849  and  1851.  In  1853,  he  was  defeated 
by  Mr.  Malcolm  D.  Graham,  of  Coosa  county.  Mr.  Clitherall 
subsequently  held  the  office  of  Judge  of  Probate,  and  also  that  of 
Judge  of  the  Circuit  Court  under  the  appointment  of  Gov.  Wins 
ton.  In  1856,  he  was  a  delegate  to  the  National  Democratic  Con 
vention  at  Cincinnati.  In  1857,  he  was  elected  to  the  Senate 
from  Pickens,  and  in  1859,  he  was  returned  to  the  House. 

Upon  the  organization  of  the  Confederate  Government,  Judge 
Clitherall  was  appointed  Register  of  the  Treasury,  and  became 
the  holder  of  the  first  bond  of  one  thousand  dollars,  issued  by  that 
Government  under  the  act  of  Congress  authorizing  the  first  loan 
in  1861,  on  a  basis  equivalent  to  specie.  The  fact  was  mentioned 
in  the  newspapers  at  the  time  as  an  evidence  of  the  patriotism 
and  good  fortune  of  the  Register  in  thus  securing  so  precious  a 
memento.  Afterward,  the  bonds  of  the  Government  became  less 
of  a  novelty,  and  somewhat  at  a  discount,  although  the  patriotism 
of  the  holders  always  deserved  a  premium. 

After  holding  the  office  of  Register  of  the  Treasury  for  a  year 
or  two,  Mr.  Clitherall  ceased  to  reside  at  Richmond,  and  settled 
in  Montgomery  to  pursue  the  law  as  a  profession.  When  the 
pressure  of  the  war  had  nearly  cut  off  the  business  of  the 
courts,  Judge  Clitherall  was  compelled  by  the  necessity  of  his 
condition,  like  a  great  number  of  other  gentlemen,  to  seek  em 
ployment  of  a  subordinate  kind;  and  in  this  way,  he  acted  as 
clerk  to  committees  in  the  Legislature,  or  in  situations  of  the  like 
grade,  to  obtain  the  means  of  support  for  his  family.  In  1865, 
he  was  a  candidate  before  the  Legislature  for  the  office  of  Attor 
ney-General,  but  was  defeated  by  Col.  John  W.  A.  Sanford,  who 
had  a  brilliant  record  in  the  war.  About  this  time,  Mr.  Clitherall 
began  to  be  affected  with  symptoms  of  the  dropsy,  and  the  dis 
ease  increasing  upon  him,  terminated  his  life  in  1868. 

Judge  Clitherall  had  seen  much  of  public  life,  and  of  men  and 
things,  and  had  participated  largely  in  the  stirring  political  events 
of  his  day.  He  possessed  a  mind  and  business  qualities  of  more 
than  ordinary  grade,  well  fitting  .him  for  the  different  positions 
which  he  filled ;  but  being  a  wit,  punster,  and  a  very  social,  com 
panionable  man,  he  lacked  that  application  to  study  and  to  busi 
ness  so  necessary  to  complete  success.  This  obstacle  considered, 
he  made  his  way  through  difficulties,  and  attained  positions, 
which  show  merit  and  popularity  on  his  part,  much  to  the  credit 
of  his  memory. 


554  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

In  person,  Judge  Clitherall  was  of  unusual  stature,  about  sis 
feet  six  inches  high,  slender  and  delicately  formed.  He  married 
Miss  Hays,  of  Mississippi,  a  lady  much  below  the  common  heigh! 
of  her  sex — forming  a  remarkable  contrast  when  they  appeared 
together  in  public.  Although  nothing  is  claimed  for  him  on  ac 
count  of  family  prestige,  yet  the  fact  may  be  mentioned  that  he 
was  a  nephew  of  George  Burgwyn,  of  Wilmington,  and  of  Johr 
F.  Burgwyn,  of  Newbern,  both  distinguished  for  their  high  social 
positions  in  North  Carolina,  connected  by  family  ties  with  the 
bollocks  and  Devereauxs,  who  were  probably  the  wealthiest  men 
iri  the  State. 

ARMAND  P.  PFISTER,  elected  Quarter-Master  General,  was 
a  German  by  birth,  and  a  very  accomplished  teacher  of  music, 
When  I  first  knew  him,  in  Tuskaloosa,  he  was  engaged  in  thai 
vocation.  He  was  a  gentleman  of  very  agreeable  manners,  and 
was  quite  popular  in  the  community  where  he  resided. 

About  the  time  the  Seat  of  Government  was  removed  from 
Tuskaloosa,  he  settled  in  Montgomery  as  a  book-seller,  and  after 
ward  became  a  partner  of  Joel  White,  Esq.,  under  the  firm  oi 
White,  Pfister  &  Co.  For  many  years  he  was  Grand  Secretary  oi 
the  Grand  Council,  Chapter  and  Lodge  of  Masons  in  Alabama^ 
and  contributed  no  little,  by  his  discharge  of  duty  and  intercourse 
with  the  craft,  to  enlarge  the  influence  and  operations  of  that  Order 
in  the  State.  He  died  in  1855,  and  a  suitable  monument  was 
erected  over  his  grave  at  Mobile  by  the  Grand  Lodge. 

ADJOURNMENT. 

The  elections,  which  gave  rise  to  a  number  of  sketches,  having 
taken  place  in  the  General  Assembly,  it  was  deemed  proper  to 
reserve  a  notice  of  the  adjournment  until  their  completion.  The 
session  was  a  long  one,  extending  to  the  10th  of  February,  1852, 
during  which  very  little  practical  good  \vas  accomplished,  related, 
as  parties  were,  with  the  elements  which  composed  the  House, 
and  the  contrariety  of  views  upon  leading  questions. 

In  due  time,  a  Joint  Committee  of  Arrangements  was  ap 
pointed,  consisting  of  Messrs.  F.  A.  Saunders,  L.  James,  W.  P. 
Leslie,  and  Johnson  Jones,  on  the  part  of  the  Senate,  and  C.  Me- 
Caskill,  Nicholas  Davis,  Jr.,  Messrs.  Moss,  Bradford,  and  Gates, 
on  the  part  of  the  House,  to  prepare  for  the  inauguration  of  Gov. 
Collier  on  his  second  term.  The  order  of  the  day  required, 
among  other  things,  "That  a  band  of  music  be  provided  and 
placed  in  the  gallery,  and  when  the  .Governor  is  announced  at  the 
door,  a  National  air  be  played/7 

The  ceremonies  of  installation  took  place  on  Wednesday,  17th 


Reminiscences  of  PvJbllc  Men  in  Alabama.  555 

December,  1851,  at  12  o'clock  M.,  in  the  presence  of  the  two 
Houses,  and  of  a  large  concourse  of  citizens  and  visitors,  in  the 
Representative  Chamber;  and  thus  a  new  term  in  the  administra 
tion  of  Gov.  Collier  commenced,  by  the  spontaneous  voice  of  the 
people. 

MEMBERS   OF   CONGRESS. 

The  election  for  Representatives  in  Congress,  during  the  year 
1851,  has  been  referred  to,  with  the  names  of  candidates,  and  the 
result  in  each  District.  According  to  the  plan  of  this  work,  the 
gentlemen  elected,  not  heretofore  noticed,  will  here  find  a  place. 

JAMES  ABERCROMBIE  was  a  native  of  Hancock  county,  Georgia, 
and  the  youngest  of  eight  sons.  Major  Charles  Abercrombie,  the 
father,  was  an  officer  in  the  Revolutionary  war,  and  his  character 
was  held  in  the  highest  esteem  by  all  who  knew  him.  The  Ab 
ercrombie  family  had  great  prestige  from  their  wealth  and  social 
position,  and  also  from  the  superior  intellect  and  manly  qualities 
they  possessed.  The  names  of  the  brothers  were  John,  Abner, 
Edmund,  Leonard,  Wiley,  Anderson,  Charles,  and  James.  The 
former  was  Speaker  of  the  Georgia  House  of  Representatives  in 
1825.  A  daughter  of  Major  Abercrombie  married  the  Hon. 
Boiling  Hall,  Representative  in  Congress,  of  decided  ability,  and 
well  versed  in  the  science  of  government. 

About  the  time  Alabama  was  admitted  in  the  Union,  Captain 
James  Abercrombie  removed  to  Montgomery  county,  of  which  he 
was  elected  a  Representative  in  1822  and  1824.  From  1825  to 
1833,  inclusive,  he  served  nine  years  in  the  Senate. 

My  acquaintance  with  him  began  at  the  session  of  1838,  when 
he  was  a  Represantative  from  Russell  county.  He  was  reflected  in 
1839,  and  at  both  sessions  lie  took  a  leading  part,  and  exerted  no 
little  influence  in  Legislation,  especially  among  the  Whig  mem 
bers,  to  which  party  he  belonged.  When  Judge  Smith,  of  Madi 
son,  in  1838,  offered  his  celebrated  resolutions  in  favor  of  the  Sub- 
Treasury  scheme  of  Mr.  Van  Buren,  Captain  Abercrombie  rose  in 
his  place,  and  said  that  he  liked  the  resolutions  very  well,  except 
the  white-washing  of  Mr.  Van  Buren,  and  for  that  he  could  not  go. 
He  had  long  been  in  sympathy  and  cooperation  with  the  State 
Rights  party,  but  rather  than  support  Mr.  Van  Buren,  in  whom 
he  had  no  confidence,  he  separated  from  such  friends  as  Dixon  H. 
Lewis,  Richard  B.  Walthall,  Columbus  W.  Lee,  and  others,  and 
allied  himself  strongly  with  the  Whig  party,  in  which  he  was  at 
all  times  a  leader. 

In  1 847,  he  was  elected  to  the  Senate  from  Russell,  and  served 
four  years — a  man  of  mark  and  influence.  During  the  session  of 
1847,  while  the  election  for  United  States  Senator  was  pending, 


556  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

in  which  Mr.  Lewis  was  a  candidate,  Captain  Abercrombie  called 
upon  him,  by  pre-arrangement,  and  late  at  night.  They  had  been 
estranged  politically,  and  had  no  intercourse  for  ten  years,  after  a 
long  period  of  intimate  friendly  relations.  It  is  said  by  some  mu 
tual  friends,  selected  and  allowed  to  be  present,  that  the  interview 
was  quite  gratifying  to  both  parties.  Captain  Abercrombie  de 
spaired  of  electing  a  Whig  to  the  Senate,  and  determined  in  his 
own  mind,  at  the  proper  time  in  the  course  of  the  election,  to  lead 
out  for  Mr.  Lewis  on  the  Whig  side,  and  thus  have  the  gratifica 
tion  of  deciding  the  contest  in  favor  of  his  old  friend.  He  did 
lead  off;  but  owing,  as  he  said,  to  jealousies  on  the  part  of  some 
leading  men  of  his  party,  in  reference  to  the  Congressional  suc 
cession  of  Mr.  Hilliard,  his  party  did  not  follow  generally,  which 
was  to  him  a  source  of  much  mortification. 

It  has  been  shown  that  in  1851,  he  was  a  candidate  for  Con 
gress,  and  elected.  In  1853,  he  was  reflected,  and  served  two 
full  terms  in  the  National  councils,  after  which  he  retired,  and  set 
tled  partly  in  Florida,  where  he  was  engaged  in  filling  a  large  con 
tract  with  the  Government  for  brick. 

I  saw  Captain  Abercombie  last  in  1859,  when  he  visited  Mont 
gomery  to  aid  the  reelection  of  Gov.  Fitzpatrick  to  the  Senate. 
He  was  quite  advanced  in  years,  and  somewhat  feeble,  but  con 
versed  with  his  usual  intelligence.  A  moral  change  of  no  ordi 
nary  character  had  passed  over  him,  which  was  exhibited  in  his 
manner  and  action,  as  well  as  in  conversation,  showing  that  he 
had  made  his  peace  with  God  and  man.  Not  long  after  this  period 
he  died,  leaving  an  example  of  integrity  and  usefulness  worthy 
of  all  imitation. 

Captain  Abercombie  was  a  gentleman  of  much  information  and 
large  experience  in  public  affairs,  well-versed  in  the  Constitution 
and  nature  of  government,  and  in  the  principles  of  the  several 
political  parties  as  they  existed  at  different  times  in  the  country. 
The  strong  point  in  his  character  was  decision  and  boldness.  He 
never  hesitated  after  his  course  was  determined  upon,  but  marched 
forward  without  dissimulation  or  disguise,  to  both  which  he  was  a 
stranger.  He  did  nothing  by  indirection,  but  would  avow  openly 
upon  the  floor  of  the  Legislature  his  purpose  in  a  political  move 
ment,  and  would  have  success  upon  no  other  ground.  He  was  a 
ready,  animated  speaker,  though  his  delivery  was  not  fluent;  still, 
his  directness  always  made  him  easily  understood.  He  was  honest 
in  all  his  impulses.  His  dislikes  were  strong,  and  so  were  his 
attachments. 

Few  men  who  have  lived  in  Alabama  wielded  in  their  day  a 
greater  influence  on  men,  and  on  party  measures,  than  Captain 
Abercombie.  He  was  identified  with  the  State  in  all  her  inter 
ests — was  jealous  of  her  rights  and, honor;  he  made  his  home 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  557 

with  her  when  she  was  feeble  in  population  and  development,  and 
participated  in  bringing  her  resources  to  light,  until  she  attained 
great  strength  and  prosperity.  He  was  wealthy,  and  extensively 
connected  in  blood  and  by  affinity.  He  was  a  large  man,  tall  and 
well-proportioned,  and  had  a  manly  carriage.  His  face  bore  the 
marks  of  decision  and  kindness  equally  blended,  and  the  tone  of 
his  voice  was  usually  soft  and  assuring.  If  I  mistake  not,  he  died 
in  the  communion  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 

It  is  a  relief  and  a  support  to  the  mind  to  contemplate  such  a 
character.  Although  he  may  have  had  some  infirmities  of  temper, 
Captain  Abercombie  was  one  of  Nature's  true  nobility,  in  all  the 
qualities  which  constitute  a  solid  man,  who  never  varied  from  the 
path  of  honor,  and  who  never  feared  the  face  of  man.  His  mem 
ory,  like  a  lofty  pillar  of  granite,  will  endure  for  many  years  as 
among  the  men  of  note  who  have  figured  in  Alabama.  Whoever 
has  seen  him  can  never  forget  the  impression  of  moral  grandeur 
which  his  very  looks  inspired.  Nothing  more  need  be  said  to 
give  an  idea  of  his  peerless  individuality. 

Captain  Abercombie  raised  a  large  family  of  children — four 
sons  and  six  daughters.  His  son  James  represented  Escambia 
county  in  the  Florida  Legislature,  and  died  at  Pensacola;  his  son 
John  Lucas  died  near  Glenuville;  Thomas  Anderson  resides  at 
Rayville,  Louisiana,  and  George  Ilargraves  Abercombie  died  at 
Pine vi lie,  Tennessee.  His  daughters  married,  respectively,  the 
following  gentlemen:  William  C.  Wright,  of  Tallapoosa  county; 
Gazaway  D.  Williams,  of  Barbour  county ;  Dr.  John  E.  Bacon,  of 
Columbus;  Gen.  James  H.  Clanton,  of  Montgomery;  William  C. 
Cook,  of  Pensacola,  and  L.  R.  Davis,  of  Limestone  county. 

JOHN  BRAGG,  elected  to  Congress  from  the  Mobile  District, 
was  a  North  Carolinian,  and  a  brother  of  Gov.  Thomas  Bragg  and 
of  Gen.  Braxton  Bragg — a  talented  and  influential  family.  He 
settled  in  Mobile  about  the  year  1836,  to  pursue  the  law  as  a  pro 
fession,  and  was  for  some  time  Attorney  for  the  Branch  Bank  at 
Mobile. 

In  1842,  Gov.  Fitzpatrick  appointed  him  Judge  of  the  Tenth 
Circuit,  and  at  the  next  session  he  was  elected  by  the  Legislature 
over  Gen.  Crabb,  his  principal  competitor,  and  was  reflected  in 
1847,  and  again  in  1850  by  the  people  of  his  Circuit.  He  made 
a  good  Judge,  held  the  scale  of  justice  equally  poised,  was  strict 
in  the  enforcement  of  law  and  order;  and  when  people  entered 
his  court-room,  they  at  once  saw  that  a  Judge  was  on  the  bench 
who  was  alike  feared  and  respected.  He  wa$  well  adapted  to  the 
judicial  station  he  filled,  by  his  quiet  firmness,  his  cultivated  taste, 
and  investigating  mind. 

It  has  been  seen  that  he  was  nominated  and  elected  to  Congress 


558  Heminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

in  1851.  He  served  but  one  term,  and  in  due  time  notified  his 
constituents  of  his  purpose  to  retire — that  the  business  did  not 
suit  him,  and  he  did  not  think,  from  his  experience,  that  he  suited 
the  business  of  legislation. 

By  marriage  with  a  lady  of  Lowndes,  Miss  Hall,  Judge  Bragg 
became  possessed  of  a  large  planting  interest,  and  retired  from 
public  and  professional  pursuits.  In  1860,  he  was  elected  from 
Mobile  a  delegate  to  the  Convention  which  met  in  Montgomery, 
in  January,  1861,  arid  took  a  prominent  part  in  the  proceedings. 
This  closed  his  public  employments,  for  which  he  always  said  he 
had  but  little  taste  or  inclination.  But  he  possessed  talents  of  no 
ordinary  stamp,  and  filled  with  scrupulous  fidelity  every  position 
to  which  he  was  called. 

WILLIAM  RUSSELL  SMITH  has  had  a  career,  political  and  liter 
ary,  which  deserves  particular  attention.  When  a  mere  boy, 
friendless  and  neglected,  he  was  observed  by  the  late  Gen.  Crabb, 
who  saw  in  him  signs  of  genius  and  capacity.  This  noble-hearted 
gentleman  determined  to  rescue  him  from  his  obscure  fate,  and  at 
once  provided  for  his  education.  After  being  duly  prepared,  he 
entered  the  University  of  Alabama,  but  his  name  does  not  appear 
on  the  list  of  graduates.  While  at  college,  or  very  soon  after 
leaving  it,  he  wrote  and  published  two  small  volumes,  one  a  ro 
mance,  entitled  "The  Bridal  Eve,"  and  the  other  a  poem,  styled 
"  College  Musings,"  both  evincing  a  rich  imagination,  refined  sen 
sibilities,  and  good  scholarship  for  an  author  still  in  his  minority. 

About  the  year  1834,  Mr.  Smith  was  admitted  to  the  bar;  and 
opened  a  law  office  in  Greenesboro,  where  he  was  much  respected 
for  his  talents  and  high  social  qualities,  which  rendered  him  a 
conspicuous  figure  in  society.  He  dressed  fashionably,  with  some 
what  the  appearance  of  a  Spanish  cavalier  in  the  cut  and  wearing 
of  his  cloak.  When  hostilities  broke  out  in  the  Creek  Nation,  in 
1836,  he  raised  a  company  of  mounted  infantry,  of  which  he  was 
elected  Captain,  and  proceeded  to  the  seat  of  war.  About  the  time 
he  arrived  for  duty,  Generals  Scott  and  Jesup,  and  Gov.  Clay, 
had  succeeded  in  bringing  the  Indians  to  terms,  and  Capt.  Smith 
and  his  command  returned  home  without  the  opportunity  of  en 
gaging  in  battle. 

He  then  became  deeply  interested  in  behalf  of  Texas,  then 
struggling  for  independence,  and  visited  several  of  the  adjoining 
counties,  addressing  audiences  wherever  he  could  find  them,  to 
rally  to  the  support  of  their  countrymen  against  the  usurpations 
and  tyranny  of  Sanla  Anna,  and  especially  to  avenge  the  blood 
of  Crockett,  Bowie,  Fannin,  and  other  patriots  who  had  been 
slaughtered  at  the  Alamo,  and  at  Goliad.  Capt.  Smith  seems  to 
have  started  on  the  expedition,  and  r  halted  in  Mobile,  where  his 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  559 

military  ardor  was  diverted  into  another  channel.  He  established 
in  Mobile  a  monthly  or  semi-monthly  magazine  called  the  "Bach 
elor's  Button,"  which  contained  many  beautiful  articles  from  his 
pen,  and  from  the  pen  of  select  contributors.  In  about  a  year, 
the  publication  was  discontinued;  soon  after  which  Mr.  Smith  re 
moved  to  Tuskaloosa,  where  he  succeeded  the  late  Alexander  M. 
Robinson,  Esq.,  as  editor  of  the  "  Monitor,"  in  1838,  and  in  1839, 
he  was  elected  Mayor  of  the  city. 

In  1840,  Mr.  Smith  supported  Gen.  Harrison  for  President, 
and  in  1841,  he  was  elected  to  the  Legislature  as  a  Whig,  and  in 
1842,  he  was  again  elected  to  the  House  by  the  Whigs  of  Tuska 
loosa  county.  Having  occasion  to  address  a  portion  of  his  con 
stituents  in  November,  1842,  he  expressed  his  opposition  to  Mr. 
Clay's  views  on  the  tariff,  land  distribution,  bankrupt  law,  and  the 
veto  power.  This  manifesto  severed  his  connection  with  the  Whig 
party. 

In  1843,  Mr.  Smith  opposed  Gen.  Dent  for  the  Senate,  and  was 
defeated  by  a  small  majority,  after  a  very  heated  canvass.  He 
soon  afterward  removed  to  Fayette  county,  and  was  elected  a  Brig 
adier-General  of  militia.  In  1850,  he  was  elected  by  the  people 
Judge  of  the  Seventh  Circuit,  which  office  he  resigned  on  his 
election  to  Congress  in  1851.  He  was  again  elected  a  Represent 
ative  in  that  body  in  1853  and  1855.  In  1857  he  was  defeated 
by  Judge  Sydenham  Moore,  after  a  regular  hand-to-hand  contest 
— the  third  between  them. 

In  1861)  Judge  Smith  was  a  member  of  the  Convention,  and 
took  an  active  part  in  opposition  to  the  policy  and  Ordinance  of 
Secession.  But,  after  the  State  took  her  stand,  he  went  with  her 
in  all  proper  measures  of  organization  and  defense  in  the  new 
order  of  things.  In  1861  he  was  elected  a  member  of  the  Con 
federate  Congress,  and  was  reflected  in  1863,  and  held  that  rela 
tion  to  the  public  at  the  time  of  the  surrender.  He  is.now  (1871) 
President  of  the  University  of  Alabama. 

At  various  times  Judge  Smith  has  published  several  works  of 
which  he  is  the  author,  besides  the  two  minor  volumes  about  the 
time  he  was  in  college  thirty-seven  years  ago.  In  1841,  "Smith's 
Alabama  Justice"  appeared,  which  has  had  a  large  circulation. 
He  has  since  published  an  Abridgment,  or  Digest  of  the  Decisions 
of  the  Supreme  Court,  and  in  1861  he  reported  the  Proceedings 
and  Debates  of  the  Convention  which  passed  the  Ordinance  of 
Secession — a  very  handsome  and  interesting  volume.  He  has 
been  laborious  with 'his  pen,  both  in  literature  and  in  the  law,  with 
a  style  of  much  harmony  and  clearness,  denoting  mature  schol 
arship. 

It  will  be  remembered  by  the  general  reader  that  when  the  dis 
tinguished  Hungarian,  Gov.  Kossuth,  visited  the  United  States  in 


560  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

1851,  to  obtain  the  intervention  of  the  United  States  in  Austrian 
affairs,  his  arrival  in  New  York  created  the  wildest  enthusiasm. 
Foreseeing  the  evil  of  such  a  precedent,  Judge  Smith,  within  a 
few  days  after  taking  his  seat  in  Congress,  in  December,  1851,  rose 
in  his  place,  and,  addressing  the  Speaker,  said : 

I  give  notice  to  the  House,  that  on  to-morrow,  or  some  subsequent  day,  I  will 
introduce  joint  resolutions  requiring  the  Secretary  of  State  to  furnish  Louis  Kos- 
suth  with  the  laws  of  treason  and  misdemeanor  against  the  United  States. 

"The  resolutions  go  further  to  declare,"  says  a  published  report, 
"  that  if,  after  reading  the  laws,  Kossuth  should  continue  to  make 
his  incendiary  speeches,  it  shall  be  the  solemn  duty  of  the  Presi 
dent  of  the  United  States  to  cause  him  to  be  arrested." 

Before  proceeding  further,  it  may  be  stated  that,  in  February, 
1851,  the  substitute  offered  by  Mr.  Shields  to  the  resolution  origin 
ally  proposed  by  Mr.  Foote,  was  adopted  by  the  Senate  of  the 
United  States  in  the  following  words: 

WHEREAS,  The  people  of  the  United  States  sincerely  sympathize  with  the  Hun 
garian  exiles,  Kossuth  and  his  associates,  and  fully  appreciate  the  magnanimous 
conduct,  of  the  Turkish  Government  in  receiving  and  treating  those  noble  exiles 
with  kindness  and  hospitality;' 

AND  WHEREAS,  It  is  the  wish  of  these  exiles  to  emigrate  to  the  United  States, 
and  the  will  of  the  Sultan  to  permit  them  to  leave  his  dominions;  therefore, 

Resolved  by  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives  of  the  United  States  of  Amer 
ica,  in  Congress  Assembled,  That  the  President  of  the  United  States  be,  and  he 
hereby  is,  requested  to  authorise  the  employment  of  some  one  of  the  public  ves 
sels,  which  may  be  now  cruising  in  the  Mediterranean,  to  receive  and  convey  to 
the  United  States  Louis  Kossuth  and  his  associates  in  captivity. 

This  resolution  also  passed  the  House  of  Representatives,  and, 
in  compliance  with  it,  Kossuth  and  his  followers  were  brought  to 
the  United  States.  After  their  arrival,  Mr.  Seward,  on  the  8th 
December,  1851,  submitted  this 'joint  resolution  in  the  Senate: 

Resolved  by  the  Seenate  and  House  of  Representatives  of  the  United  States,  in  Con 
gress  Assembled,  That  the  Congress  of  the  United  States,  in  the  name  and  behalf 
of  the  people  of  the  United  States,  give  to  Louis  Kossuth  a  cordial  welcome  to  the 
capital  and  to  the  country,  and  that  a  copy  of  this  resolution  be  transmitted  him 
by  the  President  of  the  United  States. 

That  the  sentiments  of  Kossuth  and  the  object  of  his  visit  to 
this  country  may  be  known,  an  extract  is  here  given  from  his 
speech  at  his  public  reception  in  New  York,  as  follows : 

I  do  not  come  here  to  ask  your  sympathy.  That  is  gratifying,  but  valueless. 
I  come  here  to  invoke  the  aid  of  the  great  American  Republic  to  protect  my  peo 
ple — peaceably,  if  they  may,  by  the  moral  influence  of  their  declarations,  but 
forcibly,  if  they  must,  by  the  physical  power  of  their  arms — to  prevent  any  foreign 
interference  in  the  struggle  about  to  be  renewed  for  the  liberties  of  my  country. 
I  am  a  plain  man.  I  am  in  a  land  of  freedom.  I  am  permitted  to  speak  freely 
my  sentiments.  This  is  what  I  ask.  If  this  be  accorded  to  me,  I  go  home,  and  the 
liberties,  not  merely  of  Hungary,  but  of  Europe,  are  secured.  If  not,  I  go  with 
my  countrymen  alone  to  renew  the  struggle  for  the  achievement  of  our  liberties. 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  561 

The  interference  to  which  Kossuth  alluded  was  that  of  Russia 
as  an  ally  of  Austria,  against  which  he  desired  the  American  Gov 
ernment  to  protest,  even  to  the  use  of  its  physical  power,  if  neces 
sary  to  prevent  it.  This  was  the  doctrine,  in  substance,  to  which 
Judge  Smith  objected. 

After  voting  down  several  amendments  offered  by  Mr.  Berrien 
to  modify  the  resolution  of  welcome,  it  was  finally  adopted  in  the 
Senate,  on  the  12th  December,  1851,  by  a  vote  of  33  to  6.  It 
passed  the  House  of  Representatives,  and  its  adoption  was  notified 
to  the  Senate  on  15th  December. 

In  the  meantime,  on  a  motion  to  amend  the  title,  Judge  Smith 
addressed  the  House  in  relation  to  the  doctrines  avowed  by  Kos- 
suth,  and  the  popular  feeling  exhibited  in  New  York.  His  speech 
was  of  some  length,  from  which  a  few  passages  are  quoted  to  show 
the  mania  which  prevailed  for  the  time  being,  and  the  severe  hits 
given  it.  After  a  scene  of  confusion  and  disorder  in  the  House 
while  he  had  the  floor,  Judge  Smith  said : 

1  say  to  the  gentleman  from  Ohio  (Mr.  Carter),  that  I  censure  no  one.  I  refer 
to  facts,  and  show  the  record.  That  gentleman  ought  to  know  that  the  triumph 
of  humbug  is  one  of  the  characteristics  of  this  age.  But  let,  no1  man  be  deceived. 
If  he  be  wise,  he  will  not.  Yet  public  opinion  is  so  easily  manufactured  in  this 
country  that  the  wisest  and  best  of  us  know  not  how  to  take  it — whether  as  the 
mirror  of  merit  or  the  guile  of  speculation.  It  is  a  little  remarkable,  in  this  par 
ticular  case,  that  Mr.  Genin,  the  man  who  paid  $500  or  $800  for  the  first  prize 
seat,  to  be  located  near  Jenny  Lind,  is  the  identical  humbugarian  who  is  the  first 
to  subscribe  $1,000  to  the  Kossuth  fund!  His  Jenny  Lindism  was  an  idea  of  spec 
ulation — to  increase  his  sale  of  hats;  his  Kossuthism  may  be  traced  to  the  same 
magnificent  conceptions  !  The  fortunes  of  Barnum  and  Jenny  Lind  depended 
greatly  upon  the  start — the  beginning;  and  the  result  showed  that  Genin's  bid 
fixed  the  custom,  and  established,  in  a  great  measure,  the  price  of  the  prize  seats 
at  the  concerts. 

The  growth  and  power  of  mobism  in  New  York  is  not  surprising.  Yes,  with 
its  100,000  aliens  always  floating,  and  always  under  the  control  of  its  gang  of 
alien  editors,  whose  bed  is  restlessness,  and  whose  food  is  sedition;  with  its  100,- 
000  people  who  never  go  to  church;  with  its  <J,000  grog-shops,  kept  mostly  by 
aliens;  with  its  Barnums,  Genins  and  Greeleys*,  to  lead  and  incite;  I  say  the 
growth  and  power  of  mobism  in  New  York  is  not  surprising.  But  it  is  surprising 
that  the  old  •'  solidarity"  end  of  the  Capitol  of  the  United  States  should  be  rocked 
from  its  anchorage  of  dignity  by  the  waves  of  popular  commotion. 

Elsewhere  in  his  speech,  Judge  Smith  continued: 

Mr.  Speaker,  is  it  the  object  of  the  resolution  you  have  just  adopted  to  con 
tribute  to  the  happiness  of  Kossuth?  Let  us  inquire,  a  moment,  into  his  condi 
tion.  It  is  thought  by  some  persons  to  be  the  greatest  evil  that  can  happen  to  a 
man,  to  be  banished  from  his  country.  But  this  is  not  always  the  fact.  The 
extent  of  the  misfortune  depends  upon  circumstances — the  country  from  which 
he  is  banished,  its  situation,  its  wealth,  its  poverty,  its  laws,  and  the  home-condi 
tion  of  the  party  banished  at  the  time.  Indeed,  it  is  not  always  a  misfortune.  I 
remember  that  Diogenes  counterfeited  coin  in  order  to  be  banished  from  Pontus ; 

*  Events  have  since  transpired  which  induced  the  Democratic  party,  North  and  South,  to 
unite,  through  the  Baltimore  Convention,  in  July,  1872,  in  the  support  of  the  Hon.  Horace 
Greeley,  who  was  nominated  for  President  of  the  United  States  by  the  Liberal  Republicans  in 
a  Convention  at  Cincinnati,  the  May  preceding. 

36 


562  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

that  Stratonicus  committed  forgery  in  order  that  he  might  be  banished  from  Stra- 
phos.  They  thought  that  to  be  banished  from  such  countries,  was  getting  out  of 
prison.  • 

The  visit  of  Kossuth  and  suite,  consisting  of  twenty-one  persons, 
to  the  Capitol,  for  a  period  of  ten  days,  and  his  public  reception  as 
the  guest  of  the  American  people,  gave  rise  to  the  following  reso 
lution,  offered  by  Mr.  Seward,  on  the  12th  of  February,  1852: 

Resolved,  That  the  expenses  incurred  in  the  reception  of  Louis  Kossuth  and 
suite,  during  their  late  visit  to  the  Capitol  by  invitation  of  Congress,  be  paid  out 
of  the  Contingent  Fund  of  the  Senate,  when  approved  by  the  Committee  of  Re 
ception,  to  an  amount  not  exceeding  five  thousand  dollars. 

After  considerable  debate,  the  resolution  was  adopted  on  the 
llth  of  March,  1852,  by  a  vote  of  31  to  6. 

It  is  unnecessary  to  remark  that  after  the  delivery  of  his  Kos 
suth  speech,  Judge  Smith  was  a  prominent  man  in  Congress.  He 
did  not  take  the  floor  often,  but  when  he  did  occupy  it,  he  was 
thoroughly  prepared,  and  was  heard  with  much  attention.  All  his 
speeches  read  well.  Owing  to  a  weak  voice,  he  is  sometimes  in 
audible  in  distant  parts  of  a  large  room.  His  delivery  is,  at  other 
times  very  animated  and  impressive,  and  always  pleasant. 

While  serving  in  Congress  in  1855-'56,  when  the  American  or 
Know-Nothing  organization  was  striving  for  power  as  the  rival  of 
the  Democratic  party  in  public  favor,  Judge  Smith  was  a  member 
of  it,  and  his  name  was  suggested  in  some  of  the  papers  for  the 
Vice-Presidency.  When  he  was  in  the  political  arena  he  was 
quite  a  tactician,  and  whatever  he  fixed  his  mind  upon,  he  had  the 
industry  and  the  tenacity  of  will  to  accomplish. 

For  some  time  since  the  war,  Judge  Smith  was  President  of  the 
University  of  Alabama,  and  exerted  himself  to  revive  the  institu 
tion,  after  its  buildings  were  destroyed  by  the  Federal  troops  in 
1865.  He  has  retired  from  that  office,  and  devotes  himself  to  the 
practice  of  the  law,  and  to  literary  pursuits.  He  is  a  gentleman 
01  finished  attainments,  and  of  great  personal  worth. 

ALEXANDER  WHITE,  elected  to  Congress  from  the  Talladega 
District,  in  1851,  was  a  Whig,  and  in  favor  of  the  Compromise 
measures.  He  was  a  son  of  the  Hon.  John  White,  who,  for  sev 
eral  years  from  1825,  was  a  Judge  of  the  Circuit  Court  in  North- 
Alabama,  and  in  that  capacity,  with  his  associate  Judges,  Saffold, 
Crenshaw,  Taylor,  Perry,  and  others  of  the  Circuit  Bench,  consti 
tuted  a  Court  of  Errors,  or  Appeals,  for  consultation,  in  the  nature 
of  a  Supreme  Court,  previous  to  the  establishment,  in  1832,  of 
the  regular  tribunal  of  that  name  now  existing. 

Mr.  A.  White  located  at  Talladega  at  an  early  day  after  the 
settlement  of  that  portion  of  the  State,  and  at  once  took  a  leading 
rank  at  the  bar,  distinguished  for  his  legal  attainments  and  powers, 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  563 

as  a  speaker  and  debater.  He  served  only  one  term  in  Congress, 
and  was  a  warm  supporter  of  Gen.  Scott  for  the  Presidency,  to  aid 
in  whose  election  he  exercised  the  franking  privilege  quite  liber 
ally  in  the  distribution  of  campaign  documents,  but  on  a  plan,  no 
doubt,  less  extensive  than  that  of  which  the  Hon.  F.  W.  Bowdon 
boasted  in  1848,  while  supporting  Gen.,  Cass  and  acting  on  the 
Executive  Committee  at  Washington — that  he  had  franked  and 
distributed  through  the  mail  more  than  a  million  copies  of  speeches 
and  documents  for  electioneering  purposes ! 

In  1860,  Mr.  White  earnestly  supported  Mr.  Bell  for  President, 
and  was  opposed  to  secession ;  but  after  the  Ordinance  passed,  he 
acted  with  the  State  throughout  the  struggle  that  ensued.  After 
the  war  he  advocated  with  zeal  the  reconstruction  policy  of  Presi 
dent  Johnson,  and  was  a  leading  member  of  the  Convention  which 
assembled  in  Selma,  in  June,  1866,  to  send  delegates  to  the  Na 
tional  Union  Convention  appointed  to  be  held  in  Philadelphia  on 
the  4th  of  July.  In  the  Selma  council  he  submitted  resolutions 
which  he  had  prepared.  These  he  asked  permission  to  read,  and 
leave  being  granted,  he  gave  them  all  the  power  and  charm  of 
his  effective  elocution.  They  wrere  bold  and  defiant,  arid,  among 
other  things,  declared  that  "Alabama  had  hung  her  banner  upon 
the  outer  wall,  and  would  defend  it  to  the  last."  The  reading  of 
these  resolutions  by  their  eloquent  author  came  near  firing  the 
Convention,  and  their  lofty  tone,  under  a  consciousness  of  right, 
reminded  one  of  former  days,  when  the  processof  firing  the  South 
ern  heart  was  going  on. 

These  resolutions  were  referred  to  the  Committee  on  Platforms, 
of  which  Mr.  White  was  Chairman.  They  at  once  placed  him  in 
the  front  rank  of  resistance  to  the  assumptions  of  undue  power 
by  Congress  in  its  demands  upon  the  Southern  States.  The  Com 
mittee  on  Platforms  refused  to  report  Mr.  White's  resolutions. 
They  were  considered  too  strong  for  the  occasion,  and,  it  was 
thought,  would  do  more  harm  than  good  in  our  prostrate  condition. 

Mr.  White  was  a  member  of  the  Convention  of  1865,  and  of 
course  took  a  leading  part,  such  as  his  eminent  abilities  and  stirring 
eloquence  rendered  proper.  His  devotion  to  the  State,  his  devo 
tion  to  the  South,  was  expressed  in  language  and  with  emotions 
which  consecrated  him  anew  as  a  patriot.  He  had  loved  his  coun 
try,  he  had  loved  the  land  of  his  birth,  his  native  Alabama,  before 
her  disasters,  before  she  was  stricken  down  by  armed  battalions; 
but  now  in  her  misfortunes  and  desolation,  now  that  she  was  in 
chains,  he  loved  her  more  than  ever.  This  beautiful  affection  of 
a  son  for  his  mother,  was  much  admired  at  the  time,  and  exten 
sively  published  in  the  papers,  with  the  highest  eulogies  upon  its 
inspired  author.  It  is  pleasant  to  think  of  Mr.  White  as  he  stood 
in  the  Convention  and  uttered  these  noble  sentiments : 


564  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

Mn.  PRESIDENT:  The  Bonnie  Blue  Flag  no  longer  reflects  the  light  of  the 
morning  sunbeam,  or  kisses  with  its  silken  folds  the  genial  breezes  of  our  South 
ern  clime.  The  hands  that  waved  it  along  the  crest  of  a  hundred  battle-fields, 
and  the  hearts,  for  the  love  they  bore  it,  that  so  often  defied  danger  and  death,  no 
longer  rally  around  it.  Another  banner  waves  in  triumph  over  its  closed  and 
prostrate  folds ;  but  proud  memories  and  glorious  reccollections  cluster  around. 
Sir,  I  will  refrain.  The  South  needs  no  eulogy.  The  faithful  record  of  her 
achievements  will  encircle  her  brow  with  glory  bright  and  enduring  as  the  diadem 
that  crowns  the  night  of  her  cloudless  skies.  The  scenes  of  Marathon  and  Pla- 
tae  have  been  regnacted  in  the  New  World  without  the  beneficent  results  which 
flow  from  those  battle-fields  of  freedom,  and  our  country  lies  prostrate  at  the  feet 
of  the  conqueror.  But  dearer  to  me  is  she  in  this  hour  of  her  humiliation  than 
she  was,  in  the  day  and  hour  of  her  pride  and  her  power.  Each  blood-stained 
battle-field,  each  track  of  her  devastation,  each  new-made  grave  of  her  sons  fallen 
in  her  defense,  each  mutilated  form  of  the  Confederate  soldier — her  widow's  tear, 
her  orphan's  cry,  are  but  so  many  chords  that  bind  me  to  her  in  her  desolation, 
and  draw  my  affections  closer  around  ray  stricken  country.  When  I  raise  my 
voice  or  lift  my  hand  against  her,  may  the  thunders  rive  me  where  I  stand  ! 
Though  I  be  false  in  all  else,  I  will  be  true  to  her.  Though  all  others  may  prove 
faithless,  I  will  be  faithful  still.  And  when,  in  obedience  to  the  great  summons, 
"Dust  to  dust,''  my  heart  shall  return  to  that  earth  from  whence  it  sprang,  it 
shall  sink  into  her  bosom  with  the  proud  consciousness  that  it  never  knew  one 
beat  not  in  unison  with  the  honor,  the  interests,  the  glory  of  my  country. 


CHAPTER  XXXI. 

Session  of  1851   Continued — Members  of  the  Legislature  Specially 

Noticed. 

At  the  session  of  1851,  several  new  Senators  appeared  and  took 
their  seats  for  a  term  of  four  years,  among  whom  were  Messrs. 
Baker,  Flewellen,  Hefflin,  Pearson  and  Perrine.  These  gentle 
men  will  here  receive  the  customary  attention. 

BENJAMIN  A.  BAKER,  of  Russell,  was  returned  to  the  House 
in  1847,  and  again  in  1849.  In  1851,  he  succeeded  Capt.  Aber- 
combie  in  the  Senate,  where  he  continued  until  the  end  of  the 
session  of  1855.  He  then  retired,  and  resumed  the  practice  of 
the  law,  remaining  in  private  life  until  the  stormy  times  of  1860- 
61.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Convention,  and  voted  for  the  Ordi 
nance  of  Secession ;  but  he  did  so  reluctantly — for  afterward,  in  a 
speech  before  the  Convention,  he  declared  as  follows : 

I  voted  for  the  Ordinance  of  Secession,  not  because  I  favored  secession  per  $e, 
but  because,  under  the  circumstances,  J  regarded  it  necessary  in  order  to  promote 
the  safety  of  the  South,  and  to  protect  her  honor.  No  act  of  mine  in  the  past  has 
tended  to  bring  about  the  state  of  affairs  which  made  it  necessary  to  resort  to 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  565 

secession.  When,  from  the  conduct  of  others,  however,  I  saw  that  a  dissolution 
of  the  old  Government  was  inevitable,  and  that  separate  State  action  was  the 
policy  by  which  it  was  to  be  accomplished,  and  that  those  who  adhered  to  that 
view  were  largely  in  the  majority  in  the  Gulf  States,  I  felt  it  to  be  my  duty  to 
rise  above  all  merely  party  considerations,  and  accept,  as  a  last  resort,  the  mode 
of  redress  for  existing  evils  presented  by  others. 

After  hostilities  commenced,  Mr.  Baker  entered  the  service  as 
Lieutenant-Colonel,  and  was  for  some  time  actively  in  the  front; 
but  a  weakly  and  frail  constitution,  which  unfitted  him  for  the 
exposure  and  hardships  of  the  camp,  forced  him  to  return  home, 
and  he  died  before  the  conclusion  of  the  war.  He  was  a  member 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  South. 

Mr.  Baker  was  a  Georgian,  and  when  he  entered  public  life,  he 
was  classed  with  the  young  men,  though  he  had  passed  a  little 
beyond  that  circle.  His  earlier  years  were  spent  in  overcoming 
difficulties  which  lie  in  the  way  of  the  less-favored  in  the  start  of 
life.  He  was  a  decided  Whig,  and  his  influence  was  felt  and  seen, 
not  only  in  the  councils  of  that  party,  but  in  the  Legislature.  He 
possessed  a  ready,  quick  mind,  that  at  once  grappled  with  a  prop 
osition,  and  a  boldness  of  manner  in  debate  which  assured  all  of 
his  convictions,  and  his  readiness  to  avow  them.  In  his  ordinary 
deportment,  he  was  somewhat  reserved,  and  he  seemed  rather  to 
court  seclusion  than  social  companionship.  From  my  first  acquaint 
ance  with  him,  in  1847,  he  looked  like  an  invalid,  and  was  seldom 
in  what  might  be  called  a  fair  state  of  health.  He  fell  a  victim 
to  his  devotion  to  the  Southern  cause,  in  the  manner  which  has 
been  already  stated. 

E.  R.  FLEWELLEN,  of  Barbour,  a  Georgian  by  birth  and  edu 
cation,  was  elected  in  1851  by  the  Southern  \Rights  party,  and  was 
a  Senator  and  gentleman  of  fine  representative  character  of  that 
class  of  Southern  feeling.  He  was  a  planter,  unused  before  to  the 
practical  business  of  legislation,  but  was  well-informed,  and  con 
versed  well,  and  was  ready  in  debate,  especially  on  the  political 
questions  then  agitating  the  public  mind.  In  legislative  and  social 
ranks,  he  was  regarded  with  much  favor  and  respect.  He  served 
only  one  session,  and  retired  to  the  enjoyments  of  private  life, 
which  he  preferred,  and  for  which  he  was  eminently  fitted  by  his 
intelligence  and  urbanity.  He  occupies  a  very  respectable  position 
as  a  citizen,  and  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church, 
South. 

JOHX  T.  HEFFLIX,  of  Randolph,  represented  that  county  and 
Tallapoosa  in  1851  in  the  Senate,  which  was  his  only  session  in 
the  Legislature;  but  his  position  was  a  respectable  one,  and  he 
exerted  no  little  influence  in  the  political  deliberations  of  that 
exciting  session. 


566  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

His  father,  Wyatt  Hefflin,  represented  Randolph  for  many 
years;  and  the  son  studied  law,  and  in  early  practice  resided,  at 
Wedowee,  where  he  continued  many  years.  He  exhibited  from 
the  start  a  close,  discriminating  legal  mind,  and  made  haste  slowly 
to  assert  his  rights  to  a  higher  place  in.  his  profession.  He  was 
elected  to  the  Circuit  Court  bench,  in  which  station  he  sustained 
himself  and  the  public  good  by  his  profound  legal  knowledge,  and 
his  pure  administration  of  justice. 

Judge  Hefflin  was  a  Democrat,  and  exerted  a  large  influence  in 
the  counsels  and  measures  of  that  party.  Since  the  war  he  has 
been  largely  and  profitably  engaged  in  the  practice  of  the  law, 
residing  at  Talladega.  After  spending  a  part  of  his  manhood  in 
the  circle  of  bachelors,  he,  a  few  years  ago,  married  Mrs;  Bowdon, 
an  accomplished  lady,  widow  of  the  Hon.  F.  W.  Bowdon. 

W.  P.  LESLIE  was  born  in  Monroe  county,  in  1819;  was  raised 
on  a  farm  until  his  eighteenth  year,  when  he  became  clerk  in  a 
store  for  two  years.  Thence  he  went  to  Claiborne,  and  read  law 
in  the  office  of  A.  B.  Cooper,  Esq.,  for  about  two  years,  and  in 
1840  or  1841,  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar.  He  soon  formed  a 
partnership  with  W.  B.  H.  Howard,  Esq.,  and  settled  in  Sparta, 
Conecuh  county,  to  practice  his  profession.  After  remaining  there 
about  two  years,  he  returned  to  Claiborne  in  the  Spring  of  1843, 
where  he  formed  a  partnership  with  Mr.  Cooper,  which  continued 
until  1850,  when  Mr.  Cooper  removed  to  Wilcox  county.  He 
then  formed  a  partnership  with  Judge  R.  C.  Torrey,  which  lasted 
until  Mr.  Leslie  went  into  the  army,  in  1861.  In  April,  1847, 
he*  married  a  daughter  of  W.  A.  Agee,  of  Monroe  county,  now 
deceased. 

The  professional  career  of  Mr.  Leslie  was  marked  by  great 
energy  and  zeal  in  behalf  of  his  clients,  a  business  capacity  rarely 
equaled,  and  a  discriminating  legal  mind  of  rare  order,  which 
would  have  placed  him  in  the  front  rank,  had  he  devoted  himself 
exclusively  to  the  practice.  But  his  mind  was  too  expansive  to 
confine  himself  to  the  dull  formula  of  law.  It  needed  something 
more  exciting.  Politics  was  one  of  the  outlets,  and  engaged  his 
mind  to  a  greater  or  less  extent.  Pie  was  an  ardent  and  enthu 
siastic  Whig,  following  the  lead  of  Henrv  Clay,  whom  he  greatly 
admired,  on  the  Compromise  measures.  He  was  nominated  in  1851 
as  the  Union  candidate  to  represent  the  District  composed  of  the 
counties  of  Monroe,  Covington,  and  Coneculi,  in  the  Senate.  He 
was  elected,  and  served  during  the  session  of  1851,  exhibiting 
the  same  interest  for  his  consituents  in  public  life  that  marked 
liis  career  as  a  professional  ndvocate  iur  his  clients. 

Mr.  Leslie  always  had  a  fondness  for  practical  affairs,  and  the 
development  of  the  resources  of  the  country.  In  1838,  he  erected 


Reminiscences  of  PMic  Men  in  Alabama.  567 

a  public  ware-house  on  the  bluff  of  the  Alabama  River,  by  which 
he  made  a  good  deal  of  money.  Imbued  with  the  same  spirit  of 
enterprise  and  improvement,  in  1859,  he  erected,  at  Claiborne, 
extensive  engines  and  machinery,  at  a  great  outlay,  lor  the  manu 
facture  of  hubs,  spokes,  chairs,  wagons,  furniture,  etc.  For  this 
purpose,  he  secured  a  large  number  of  the  best  workmen  and 
mechanics  from  Europe  and  the  Northern  States — such  as  turners, 
trimmers,  painters,  wheelrights,  blacksmiths,  cabinet-makers,  etc., 
and  had  just  got  his  factory  fairly  under  headway  when  the  war 
broke  out.  This  destroyed  his  business,  and  dispersed  his  work 
men,  leaving  on  his  hands  a  large  quantity  of  materials,  which 
had  to  be  sacrificed,  and  his  machinery  left  idle. 

Though  Mr.  Leslie  was  a  Union  man,  and  opposed  to  secession, 
when  the  war  actually  raged,  his  impetuous  nature  did  not  allow 
him  to  remain  at  home;  but  he  sought  the  excitement  of  the 
army.  In  the  Fall  of  1861,  he  raised  a  company  of  artillery, 
principally  from  Monroe  county — drawing  largely  from  his  private 
means — and  volunteered  as  a  private,  but  was  assigned  to  the 
second  lieutenantcy.  He  remained  in  service  until  some  time  in 
1863,  when  he  was  relieved  in  consequence  of  ill-health. 

After  the  close  of  the  war,  he  sold  out  the  remnant  of  his 
former  large  property  in  Monroe  county,  and,  in  1866,  removed 
to  East  Pascagoula,  where  he  erected  on  the  bay  a  large  steam 
saw  and  planing  mill. 

On  a  visit  to  Mobile  on  business,  in  October,  1867,  Mr.  Leslie 
contracted  the  yellow  fever,  which  prevailed  there,  and,  after  his 
return  home,  he  died,  on  the  10th  of  that  month — leaving  a 
widow  and  six  children.  After  his  death,  his  valuable  mills,  with 
large  quantities  of  lumber,  were  consumed  by  fire;  and  thus  per 
ished  the  product  of  incessant  labors  for  many  years. 

Mr.  Leslie  left  many  friends  in  Monroe  county,  and  elsewhere 
in  Alabama.  He  was  esteemed  a  man  of  undoubted  honesty,  res 
olute  will,  indomitable  energy,  and  of  clear  practical  sense.  He 
was  equal  to  all  the  emergencies  of  life  as  a  planter,  lawyer,  poli 
tician,  and  promoter  of  public  enterprises.  He  was  liberal,  gen 
erous,  and  charitable,  but  of  great  firmness  and  decision  of 
character. 

DR.  JOEL  E.  PEARSON,  of  Pickens,  was  a  Representative  first 
in  1839.  Afterwards,  he  was  several  years  engaged  in  business, 
and  in  the  practice  of  his  profession,  in  Mobile.  He  was  repeat 
edly  elected  to  the  House,  and  in  1851  he  succeeded  Dr.  Beckett 
in  the  Senate,  which  was  his  last  session. 

Dr.  Pearson  was  a  South  Carolinian,  highly  cultivated  in  mind 
and  in  manners,  which  made  his  society  agreeable  and  profitable. 
He  was  modest  and  unpretending,  so  that  he  seldom  occupied  the 


568  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

floor  in  speaking,  though  noted  for  his  diligence  and  attention  to 
business.  He  was  a  Democrat,  but  liberal  in  his  views,  and  tol 
erant  of  the  opinions  of  others.  He  was  popular  without  seeking 
public  favor,  and  seldom  failed  of  a  large  vote  when  his  name  was 
before  the  people.  He  was  a  gentleman  of  whose  acquaintance 
and  friendship  one  loves  to  think,  after  the  separation.  Pie  died 
several  years  ago. 

DR.  GEORGE  G.  PERRINE,  of  Greene,  had  served  in  1844  in 
the  House,  and  in  1851  he  took  the  place  of  Mr.  Murphy  in  the 
Senate.  He  was  a  faithful  member,  and  guarded  with  care  the 
outgoings  from  the  Treasury,  as  knowing  from  whence  the  money 
came,  for  he  was  a  large  tax-payer  himself,  and  represented  much 
taxable  property.  He  was  well-educated  and  highly  intelligent, 
with  a  very  pleasant,  gentlemanly  address,  and  was  a  physician 
and  planter  of  large  influence.  In  person  he  was  tall  and  slender. 

Serving  in  the  House  of  Representatives  at  the  session  of  1851, 
there  were  a  number  of  gentlemen  who  then  made  their  first  ap 
pearance  in  public  life,  and  others  had  much  legislative  experience. 

JAMES  M.  ARMSTRONG,  of  Lawrence,  was  a  Democrat,  elected 
in  1851  as  favorable  to  the  Compromise  measures,  although  he 
allied  himself  with  the  organization  of  his  party.  Before  doing 
this,  he  delivered  a  speech  in  the  House  in  which  he  denounced 
the  doctrine  of  secession  as  a  heresy,  which  gave  offense  at  the 
time  to  good  many  of  that  faith;  but  he  said  he  could  not  do  less, 
with  his  opinions  and  position  at  home,  and  he  was  allowed  the 
credit  of  being  honest  and  sincere  in  his  views. 

Mr.  Armstrong  was  placed  upon  the  ticket  as  an  Elector,  and 
canvassed  his  District  in  1852  in  the  interest  of  Pierce  and  King, 
and  voted  in  the  College  of  Electors  for  these  gentlemen.  He 
possessed  qualities  of  a  solid  character,  and  was  looked  upon  as 
giving  promise  in  the  future;  but  in  a  year  or  two  he  died,  just 
as  he  was  entering  upon  a  busy,  and  may  be  prosperous  life.  He 
made  a  good  impression  during  his  short  service  in  the  Legis 
lature. 

WILLIAM  M.  BYRD,  of  Marengo,  a  native  of  Tennessee,  settled 
at  Linden  as  a  lawyer,  and  succeeded  in  establishing  a  fine  prac 
tice.  He  was  a  Whig  in  principle,  but  liberal  toward  those  who 
differed  in  opinion;  and  conservative  ki  his  views.  Hence  he  was 
in  favor  of  abiding  by  the  Compromise  measures  of  Congress  on 
the  Territorial  question,  and  as  such  he  was  elected  in  1851.  He 
occupied  a  highly  respectable  position  in  the  House,  especially 
when  legal  principles  were  discussed. 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  569 

Mr.  Byrd  afterward  removed  to  Selma  in  the  practice  of  his  pro 
fession,  and  in  1863  was(elected  Chancellor  of  the  Middle  Divis 
ion.  In  1865,  upon  the  reorganization  of  the  State,  he  was  elected 
to  a  seat  on  the  Bench  of  the  Supreme  Court,  which  office  he  held 
until  displaced  by  the  reconstruction  measures  of  Congress.  He 
still  resides  at  Selma,  a  profound  jurist,  and  a  gentleman  of  high 
social  position.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  South,  and  was  a  lay  delegate  to  the  General  Conference 
of  that  Church  at  Memphis,  in  1870. 

Rums  H.  CLEMENTS,  of  Tuskaloosa,  served  at  the  session  of 
1851,  elected  to  the  House  as  a  Democrat,  upon  a  divided  ticket — 
his  colleagues  being  Whigs.  He  was  raised  and  educated  in  the 
county  that  gave  him  his  first  honors,  and,  without  aspiring  to  fur 
ther  position,  he  has  maintained  the  character  of  a  high-toned 
gentleman  and  planter.  His  age  and  modesty  prevented  his  par 
ticipating  extensively  in  legislative  proceedings;  but  he  established 
firm  and  pleasant  relations  among  his  fellow-members,  and  in  gen 
eral  society,  by  an  easy,  affable  courtesy  and  intercourse,  such  as  a 
Southern  gentleman  can  exhibit.  In  1852  he  married  Miss  Bug- 
bee,  of  Montgomery,  a  very  accomplished  and  beautiful  young 
lady,  daughter  of  Judge  F.  Bugbee. 

HEXRY  W.  Cox,  of  Coosa,  was  a  member  only  at  the  session 
of  1851.  He  was  a  lawyer,  somewhat  advanced  in  years.  His 
early  opportunities  were  limited,  but  by  patient  perseverance  he 
succeeded  over  many  difficulties  in  getting  to  the  bar.  He  was  a 
Whig,  but  high-strung  in  notions  of  Southern  rights,-  and  the  dan 
gers  of  their  security  which  he  always  apprehended.  He  had  no 
concessions  to  make  on  this  point,  and  as  early  as  1851  he  was  a 
secessionist  in  feeling.  Hence,  with  an  increase  of  convictions, 
the  crisis  of  1860  found  him  ready,  and  he  was  a  candidate  for 
the  Convention,  and  advocated  secession  direct,  but  was  defeated. 

As  soon  as  the  indications  pointed  to  hostilities,  Mr.  Cox  was  in 
the  field,  and  was  the  first  to  volunteer,  assisted  in  raising  a  com 
pany,  in  which  he  held  a  subordinate  office.  In  one  of  the  battles 
of  Virginia  he  was  wounded  in  the  mouth,  and  returned  home  for 
recovery.  His  age  (upwards  of  fifty  years)  and  the  care  of  an 
aged  mother  and  two  sisters  (he  was  a  bachelor)  were  presented 
to  him  by  his  friends  as  reasons  why  he  should  remain  at  home. 
But  his  convictions  of  duty  to  the  Southern  cause  made  him  deaf  to 
all  such  appeals,  and  he  returned  to  his  post,  having  in  the  mean 
time  been  promoted  to  the  rank  of  Captain.  In  the  first  battle, 
while  leading  his  company  in  a  charge,  he  was  killed,  and  sealed 
upon  the  field,  in  the  face  of  his  enemies,  his  devotion  to  his  na 
tive  South. 


•  f)70  Reminiscences  of  PMic  Men  in 

He  was  firm  in  his  views  and  purposes,  even  to  obstinacy ;  but 
lie  took  his  positions  after  carefully  examining  a  question,  and 
without  bigotry  or  intolerance  toward  others,  he  maintained  the 
stand  he  had  taken.  His  bravery,  and  the  sacrifice  of  himself  in 
the  support  of  his  principles,  entitle  him  to  a  place  in  the  recol 
lections  of  his  survivors  in  the  fearful  struggle. 

N.  S.  GRAHAM,  of  Coosa,  was  elected  in  1851  as  a  Southern 
Rights  Democrat,  and  cooperated  efficiently  with  that  wing  of  the 
party  throughout  the  session,  taking  a  prominent  rank  for  a  new 
member.  He  was  raised  in  Alabama,  and  completed  his  educa 
tion  at  Princeton  College,  New  Jersey.  He  studied  law,  and 
settled  in  the  practice  at  Wetumpka.  By  the  force  of  his  charac 
ter  and  legal  attainments,  he  took  a  high  rank  at  the  bar,  and 
secured  the  favorable  regard  of  the  people. 

In  the  canvass  of  1851,  Mr.  Graham,  as  the  acknowledged  head 
of  the  ticket  associated  with  him,  took  the  lead  in  discussion  before 
the  people,  and  sustained  his  cause,  and  his  powers  as  a  debater,  to 
the  satisfaction  of  a  large  majority  in  the  county  who  voted  for  it. 
In  1855,  the  people  called  him  out  to  combat  Know-Nothingism, 
and  he  was  again  placed  at  the  head  of  his  ticket,  and  took  the 
lead  in  the  canvass.  His  efforts  upon  the  stump,  to  crowded  audi 
ences,  were  bold,  logical  and  masterly,  and  after  an  exciting  con 
test,  he  was  again  elected  by  a  large  majority.  He  carried  into 
the  Legislature  experience  and  maturity,  which  placed  him  on 
favorable  ground,  and  he  took  an  active,  leading  part  in  the  delib 
erations  of  that  exciting  session.  Not  long  afterward,  he  removed 
to  Tuskegee,  as  a  wider  field  for  the  exercise  of  his  legal  talents, 
where  he  now  resides,  engaged  in  the  practice  of  the  law. 

ANDREW  ISBELL  HENSHAW,  of  Clarke,  a  graduate  of  the  Uni 
versity  of  Alabama,  was  a-  member,  and  served  only  through  the 
session  of  1851.  He  belonged  to  the  Union  wing  of  the  Demo 
cratic  party,  and  was  warmly  in  favor  of  the  compromise  measures 
as  a  guaranty  of  future  peace  and  security  to  the  South.  While 
this  question  was  up  in  the  House,  he  made  a  speech,  reviewing 
the  progress  of  this  controversy  between  the  North  and  the  South, 
in  which  he  exhibited  a  thorough  knowledge  of  the  issues  involved, 
and  gained  a  good  deal  of  character  for  one  so  young,  and  a  new 
member.  He  was  quite  animated  in  debate,  and  becoming  excited, 
he  was  somewhat  extravagant  in  manner  and  gesticulation — all, 
however,  in  consonance  with  his  subject. 

Mr.  Henshaw  was  pleasant  in  conversation,  and  altogether  agree 
able  in  his  social  relations.  He  was  related  to  the  gentleman  of 
that  name  who  was  President  Fillmore's  Secretary  of  the  Navy, 
from.  Boston,  and  was  regarded  as  opulent  in  a  pecuniary  sense, 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  571 

and  withal  a  good  citizen.     He  died  a  few  years  ago,  by  the  time 
he  had  attained  the  meridian  of  life. 

DR.  C.  C.  HOWARD,  of  Autauga,  was  elected  upon  a  Southern 
Rights  issue.  He  was  a  Whig  according  to  the  old  party  distinc 
tions,  but  separated  himself  from  the  great  body  of  that  party 
upon  this  question.  He  was  a  young  man,  well  informed,  and  a 
ready,  good  speaker,  and  participated  freely  in  the  debates  of  the 
session,  with  credit  to  himself  and  his  constituents.  He  is  a  gen 
tleman  of  extensive  reading,  and  exemplary  in  all  the  walks  of 
life  as  a  citizen,  physician,  and  a  Christian. 

FRANCIS  S.  JACKSON,  of  Montgomery,  was  first  a  candidate  for 
Solicitor  of  the  Eighth  Circuit  in  1838.  He  was  then  a  young 
man,  and  brought  into  the  contest  some  local  advantages  of  family 
influence  in  different  counties.  The  office  was  eagerly  sought  by 
several  young  gentlemen,  supported  by  their  friends,  which  made 
the  contest  animated,  if  not  exciting.  The  training  was  kept  up 
for  three  weeks,  when  the  candidates  announced  themselves  ready. 
The  following  ballots  exhibit  the  strength  of  the  parties  in  the 
contest : 


1st. 

2d. 

3d. 

4th. 

5th. 

6th. 

Francis  S.  Jackson 

36 

37 

39 

44 

53 

70 

Walter  L.  Ooleman 

23 

25 

29 

26 

21 

* 

J.  McCaleb  Wiley   ...                          .            ... 

Ifi 

11 

* 

George  L.  Barry     

25 

94 

23 

28 

10 

* 

Jefferson  Bufoi'd 

?1 

24 

^7 

?8 

34 

50 

*  Withdrawn. 


So  Mr.  Jackson  was  elected.  I  was  Clerk  of  the  House  at  the 
time,  and  seldom  have  witnessed  such  an  exciting  struggle  be 
tween  young  men  in  a  Convention  of  the  two  Houses;  and  it  is 
worthy  of  note,  that  all  of  them  were  destined  to  occupy  promi 
nent  situations  in  the  future.  Of  Mr.  Buford  and  Mr.  Wiley, 
notice  has  already  been  taken. 

At  the  session  of  1838,  Gen.  John  P.  Booth,  the  brother-in-law 
of  Mr.  Jackson,  wras  elected  Judge  of  the  same  Circuit,  a  circum 
stance  from  which  the  Solicitor  experienced  some  embarrassment 
in  his  official  course,  as  complaints  and  charges  were  made  against 
him  on  account  of  the  relation,  which  induced  him  to  resign,  and, 
in  a  few  years,  he  settled  in  Montgomery. 

Mr.  Jackson  was  a  Democrat  without  the  Southern  Rights  fea 
ture,  and  conceived  a  strong  prejudice  against  the  leaders  of  that 
wing,  and  was,  withal,  incautious  in  his  remarks  toward  them. 


572  Reminiscences  of  Publio  Men  in  Alabama. 

In  1850,  he  opposed  Judge  Goldthwaite  for  the  Circuit  Court 
bench  at  the  first  election  by  the  people,  and  was  beaten.  This 
soured  his  feelings,  and  in  1851,  he  accepted  a  place  on  the  ticket 
for  the  House,  favoring  the  Compromise  measures,  and  was 
elected.  He  was  extreme  in  opposition  to  the  Southern  Rights 
party,  then  designated  FIRE-EATERS,  and  indulged  a  good  deal  of 
bitterness  of  feeling  in  his  legislative  course,  giving  too  free  scope 
to  animosities  growing  out  of  old  antagonisms,  and  became,  in  a 
measure,  estranged  from  his  former  friends. 

In  1852  (Judge  Goldthwaite  having  gone  upon  the  Supreme 
Court  bench)  Mr.  Jackson  opposed  John  Gill  Shorter,  who  held 
the  Executive  appointment  for  Circuit  Judge,  and  was  again  badly 
defeated.  He  found  himself  without  a  party,  or  any  such  reli 
ance  ;  for  the  organization  upon  which  he  was  elected  to  the  House 
had  passed  away,  and  old  party  names  resumed,  leaving  him  out 
in  the  cold.  The  fountains  of  his  nature  seemed  to  have  become 
poisoned,  and  he  was  separated  by  his  own  act  from  those  with 
whom  he  was  wont  to  associate  and  cooperate.  He  removed  to  Pen- 
sacola,  Florida,  and  not  long  afterwards  died  of  yellow  fever.  He 
was  a  man  of  respectable  abilities,  and  pretty  well  informed ;  and 
if  he  could  have  divested  himself  of  the  weakness  of  political 
envy  and  jealousy,  would  no  doubt  have  succeeded  better. 

COL.  BARRY,  one  of  the  competitors  of  Mr.  Jackson  for  Solici 
tor,  in  1838,  was  a  native  of  Baltimore,  where  he  often  heard 
William  Pinkney  and  William  Wirt  speak  at  the  bar.  He  once 
visited,  on  some  little  matter  of  business,  the  venerable  Charles 
Carroll,  at  his  residence  in  Carrollton.  Col.  Barry  removed  to 
Georgia  about  1828,  was  admitted  to  the  bar,  married  Miss  Bet- 
ton,  and  in  1832,  was  appointed  Aid  to  Gov.  Lumpkin,  with  the 
rank  of  Lieutenant-Colonel.  He  afterward  removed  to  Irwin- 
toii,  now  Eufaula.  After  his  defeat  for  Solicitor,  he  was  elected 
by  the  Legislature,  Judge  of  the  County  Court  of  Barbour  county, 
and  at  the  end  of  his  term  he  was  beaten  for  reelection  by  Mr. 
P.  II.  Mitchell.  Some  time  thereafter,  he  returned  to  Georgia. 
Between  1850  and  1858,  he  was  Deputy  Grand  Master  of  the 
Grand  Lodge  of  Georgia,  and  visited  a  large  extent  of  the  State 
in  the  discharge  of  his  Masonic  functions,  reviving  lodges,  con 
ferring  degrees,  etc.  For  a  number  of  years  he  was  a  minister  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  and  died  in  Christian  triumph 
at  Cuthbert,  in  1868. 

MR.  COLEMAN,  another  competitor  of  Mr.  Jackson  in  1838, 
was  afterward  E/egister  in  Chancery,  and  Mayor  of  Montgomery. 
He  married  a  daughter  of  the  Hon.  B.  S.  Bibb,  and  is  still  en 
gaged  in  the  practice  of  the  law. 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  573 

PORTER  KING,  of  Perry,  was  raised  in  the  county  lie  repre 
sented  at  the  session  of  1851,  and  is  a  son  of  Gen.  Edwin  D. 
King,  a  gentleman  of  great  wealth,  and  renowned  in  his  day  for 
public  spirit,  especially  in  the  support  of  institutions  of  learn 
ing.  It  is  said  that  the  Judson  Institute,  which  has  certainly  ac 
complished  and  graduated  a  greater  number  of  young  ladies  than 
any  other  in  the  State,  owes  its  existence  in  great  measure  to  the 
efforts  and  liberal  contributions  of  Gen.  King.  The  writer  has, 
in  other  days,  partaken  of  his  unaffected,  affluent  hospitality,  and 
that  of  his  excellent  lady,  the  mother  of  the  member  now  under 
consideration,  and  remembers  it  with  pleasure. 

Mr.  Porter  King  was  a  young  man  at  the  time  of  his  legislative 
service,  but  displayed,  in  the  exciting  transactions  of  the  session, 
qualities  which  guaranteed  a  good  future.  He  was  a  Democrat, 
as  was  his  father  before  him,  and  warmed  into  political  life  under 
the  influence  of  a  Southern  sun,  and  feelings  in  common  with  the 
interests  of  the  State.  His  literary  attainments  are  well  indicated 
by  his  appointment  to  a  place  on  trie  Committee  on  Education  and 
the  University,  and  his  duties  and  undertakings  as  a  legislator 
were  faithfully  discharged. 

In  1858  he  was  appointed  Judge  of  the  Second  Circuit,  to  suc 
ceed  Judge  Brooks,  and  was  elected  by  the  people.  He  displayed 
upon  the  Bench  rare  legal  abilities  for  one  of  his  age,  and  by' his 
simple,  unaffected  manner  in  his  intercourse  with  the  people,  he 
produced  a  decidedly  favorable  impression.  •  I  heard  a  gentleman, 
who  witnessed  his  deportment  and  administration  on  the  Bench, 
say  that  his  fund  of  common  sense  was  invaluable,  and  presented 
a  strong  trait  in  his  character.  He  participated  in  the  war;  but 
was  prevented  by  physical  infirmity  from  rendering  the  amount 
and  quality  of  service  in  the  field,  which  his  will  and  his  patriot 
ism  dictated.  He  is  now  in  private  life,  tied  down  by  the  mana 
cles  of  the  Fourteenth  Amendment — a  gentleman  of  good  culture 
and  high  social  relations.  He  married  a  daughter  of  the  late 
Chief  Justice  Lumpkiu,  o.f  Athens,  Georgia. 

CAMERON  MCKASKELL,  of  Monroe,  a  young  man,  a  young  law 
yer,  and  a  Democrat  of  the  State  Rights  school,  was  elected  in 
1851.  He  was  a  gentleman  of  promising  talents,  well  cultivated 
and  developed  for  one  of  his  age,  and  possessed  fine  social  qualities. 

His  modesty,  and  the  fact  that  he  was  a  new  member,  kept  him 
in  the  back  ground,  and  while  hs  was  inclined  to  yield  to  the  so 
licitations  of  his  friends  to  make  a  speech  on  the  political  questions 
of  the  day  (for  which  they  felt  assured  he  was  fully  competent) 
such  was  his  deference  to  the  older  members  of  the  House,  and 
self-distrust  from  a  want  of  experience  in  legislation,  that  he  de 
clined,  and  passed  through  the  session  without  taking  any  part  in 


574  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

the  discussions  that  were  general,  and  into  which  others  ventured 
who  would  not  compare  with  him  in  the  qualities  of  a  public 
speaker.  This  was  a  commendable  motive,  and  while  many  de 
sired  to  hear  him,  they  saw  in  his  diffidence  the  germs  of  merit, 
and  future  efficiency.  In  his  case  the  conclusion  was  well  founded. 
The  State  had  no  little  interest  in  Cameron  McKaskell,  for  he 
united  in  his  character  many  elements  of  usefulness,  if  not  dis 
tinction,  according  to  all  appearances;  but  death  put  a  close  to  all 
these  in  a  year  or  two.  He  had  just  looked  out  upon  life,  and 
tasted  of  its  honors  and  public  trusts;  but  was  allowed  to  go  no 
further. 

WILLIAM  B.  Moss  was  a  Georgian,  and  came  to  Montgomery 
about  the  time  it  was  made  the  Seat  of  Government,  to  practice 
law.  He  was  identified  with  the  Whig  party,  and  in  1851,  was  at 
the  head  of  the  House  ticket,  accepting  the  Compromise  measures. 
He  was  justly  regarded  as  a  young  man  of  promise,  being  well- 
endowed  intellectually,  and  devoted  to  study  and  to  the  improve 
ment  of  his  mind.  His  habits  were  regular  and  well  settled.  He 
was  not  very  social,  but  rather  too  much  a  student  for  that  kind  of 
enjoyment;  but  when  he  came  before  the  people  on  the  hustings, 
his  close  reading  and  investigation  were  manifest.  With  a  small, 
rather  diminutive  person,  he  had  a  fine  head  and  eye,  and  thought 
ful  look;  and  in  speaking,  his  voice  was  clear  and  strong,  his  lan 
guage  well  chosen,  and  his  subjects  well  digested  and  discussed. 
He  had  a  considerable  degree  of  boldness  and  self-reliance,  which 
contributed  to  his  success  in  public  speaking,  and  he  seldom  failed 
to  make  a  good  impression. 

Mr.  Moss  certainly  had  an  encouraging  future  in  prospect,  pos 
sessing  as  he  did  talents  of  no  ordinary  class,  aided  by  strong  appli 
cation  and  well-regulated  habits;  but  in  1854,  or  thereabout,  he 
fell  a  victim  to  yellow  fever,  and  the  community  in  which  he 
resided  lost  a  favorite,  and  the  State  a  rising  citizen. 

JOHN  D.  RA.THEK,  of  Morgan,  took  his  seat  in  the  House  first 
in  1849,  and  served  through  the  session  with  marked  credit  and 
ability  for  a  new  member  and  young  man.  He  had  been  engaged 
in  the  practice  of  the  law  in  Morgan,  where  he  was  raised  and 
came  forward.  In  1851,  he  was  reflected,  accepting  the  Compro 
mise  adjustment  of  the  territorial  questions,  and,  at  opening  of 
the  session,  was  elected  Speaker  of  the  House,  over  Mr.  Nathaniel 
Davis.  He  made  a  good  presiding  officer,  and  displayed,  in  the 
organization  of  the  committees,  a  liberal  and  enlightened  judg 
ment.  He  was  well  sustained  by  the  House  in  his  administration 
of  parliamentary  law,  and  altogether  acquitted  himself  to  the  sat 
isfaction  of  the  members. 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  575 

A  few  years  previously,  he  had  been  elected  Brigadier-General 
of  Militia,  and  in  1856,  he  was  upon  the  Democratic  Electoral 
Ticket.  In  1857,  he  was  elected  Senator  from  the  District  of  Mor 
gan  and  Limestone,  and  in  1859,  he  was  elected  President  of  the 
Senate,  to  the  discharge  of  the  duties  of  which  station  he  brought 
the  experience  of  his  term  as  Speaker,  and  further  maturity  of 
mind  and  character. 

Gen.  Rather  was  more  solid  in  fact  than  showy  in  appearances, 
and  accepted  place,  not  only  for  the  honors  it  brought,  but  in  order 
that  he  might  perform  a  public  duty,  without  ostentation,  and  in  a 
plain,  matter-of-fact  way.  He  still  lives,  and,  if  I  mistake  not,  is 
engaged  in  the  practice  of  his  profession  at  Tuscumbia. 

PRICE  WILLIAMS,  of  Mobile,  was  a  native  of  Virginia.  In 
early  life,  he  settled  in  Livingston,  Alabama,  where  he  held  the 
lucrative  office  of  Clerk  of  the  County  Court  for  many  years,  and 
was  a  model  of  neatness  and  efficiency.  Having  acquired  consid 
erable  property  by  prudent  management,  he  removed  to  the  city 
of  Mobile  in  1848,  where  he  became  a  partner  in  the  commercial 
house  of  Baker,  Williams  &  Co. 

He  had  been  a  citizen  of  Mobile  several  years  without  partici 
pating,  to  much  extent,  in  public  affairs,  when,  at  a  public  meeting 
held  in  th  j  city  in  the  summer  of  1851,  he  was  brought  forward 
as  one  of  the  speakers;  and  his  effort  so  impressed  the  audience, 
that  he  was  nominated  on  the  ticket  of  the  Southern  Rights  De 
mocracy,  and  elected.  He  took  a  prominent  position  in  the  House, 
and  was  made  Chairman  of  Banks  and  Banking,  and  placed  on 
the  Committee  of  Ways  and  Means. 

In  his  duties  as  a  legislator,  Mr.  Williams  exhibited  that  energy, 
industry  and  wise  forecast  which  marked  his  course  through  life, 
and  he  closed  his  legislative  career  of  one  session  with  an  enviable 
reputation.  He  was  conscientious,  prompt  and  decided  in  the  per 
formance  of  duty,  and  in  the  maintenance  of  principle.  I  heard 
him  make  a  speech  in  the  Grand  Lodge,  in  the  Winter  of  1851, 
on  the  introduction  of  politics,  or  an  attempt  to  introduce  the  sub 
ject,  in  a  report  read  to  that  body.  Mr.  Williams  met  it  on  the 
threshold,  in  bold,  stern  opposition,  in  which  he  vindicated  the 
character  of  the  Order  from  interference  with  such  questions,  or 
allowing  them  to  enter  their  deliberations.  The  speech  produced 
a  profound  sensation,  and  the  Lodge  sustained  his  position. 

Mr.  Williams  is  President  of  the  Board  of  Trade  in  Mobile,  a 
real  estate  broker,  and  a  gentleman  of  public  spirit,  social  and 
moral  worth.  For  more  than  thirty  years,  he  has  been  an  exem 
plary  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 


576  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

JAMES  S.  WILLIAMSON,  of  Lowndes,  was  elected  in  1851,  on  a 
full  "Compromise"  ticket.  He  was  a  Democrat  who  adhered 
firmly  to  the  Union,  as  contra-distinguished  from  the  Southern 
Rights  wing  of  that  party,  and  took  a  decided  stand  upon  the 
"Georgia  Platform/7  which  he  maintained  in  speeches  and  by 
votes. 

He  was  a  son  of  Judge  Peter  Williamson,  a  man  of  position 
aiti  influence  in  his  day — was  well  educated,  and  a  planter.  From 
his  ready  off-hand  skill  in  debate,  I  infer  that  he  belonged  to  the 
legal  profession,  although  of  this  fact  I  am  not  certain.  He  was 
a  member  of  the  Convention  in  1861,  and  advocated  and  voted 
for  secession,  taking  an  active  interest  in  the  formation  of  a  new 
government. 

When  hostilities  commenced,  Mr.  Williamson  entered  the  ser 
vice  as  a  Captain,  and  in  one  of  the  battles  in  Virginia,  he  was 
killed.  He  was  a  brave,  conscientious  man,  and  while  he  abided 
in  his  convictions  the  action  of  Congress  upon  the  slavery  ques 
tion,  as  a  final  settlement,  in  1861  he  redeemed  his  pledge  of 
1851,  to  resist  any  infraction  of  the  terms  of  that  settlement,  and 
sealed  his  sincerity  with  his  life's  blood.  In  his  private  relations, 
he  was  a  gentleman  of  much  respectability  and  substance  of  char 
acter. 

BENJAMIN  M.  WOOLSEY,  of  Dallas,  was  a  member  of  the  House 
in  1851.  He  was  a  Whig,  and  was  elected  as  favoring  the  Com 
promise.  He  was  again  elected  in  1855,  and  served  through  both 
sessions  with  credit  to  himself  and  with  advantage  to  the  public. 

Mr.  Woolsey  was  a  native  of  Augusta,  Georgia,  but  raised  prin 
cipally  and  educated  in  Mobile,  and  there  entered  upon  the  prac 
tice  of  the  law.  He  afterward  married  in  Dallas,  in  which  he 
settled,  taking  rank  in  a  few  years  as  one  of  the  leading  men  of 
the  county.  His  interest  in  planting  diverted  his  mind  a  good 
deal  from  legal  pursuits;  yet  he  held  a  high  position  at  the  bar, 
and  in  the  legal  fraternity. 

In  private  life,  Mr.  Woolsey  is  a  gentleman  of  much  purity  of 
character,  and  of  agreeable  social  qualities;  but  he  could  hardly 
be  otherwise,  raised  by  such  a  mother  as  he  may  boast — the  pres 
ent  Mrs.  Andrew — a  lady  of  exalted  worth,  intelligent,  dignified 
and  accomplished,  who  has  been  lately  called  to  mourn  the  death 
of  her  venerable  consort,  the  Senior  Superintendent  of  the  Meth 
odist  Episcopal  Church,  South. 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  577 


CHAPTER  XXXII. 

Session  of  1853 —  Inauguration  of  Gov.   Winston — Elections  and 
Sketches — Hon.  F.  S.  Lyon,  Dr.  A.  A.  Lipscomb,  and  others. 

As  a  result  of  the  reorganization  of  parties  in  the  Winter  of 
1851,  delegates  attended  the  Democratic  and  Whig  National  Con 
ventions  at  Baltimore,  in  1852 — the  former  nominating  General 
Franklin  Pierce  and  Col.  William  R.  King,  and  the  latter  nomi 
nating  Lieut.  Gen.  Winfield  Scott  and  the  Hon.  William  A.  Gra 
ham,  as  their  respective  candidates  for  President  and  Vice-Presi 
dent  of  the  United  Stetes.  A  Southern  Rights  Convention  held 
in  Alabama  nominated  Gov.  Troup,  of  Georgia,  for  President,  and 
Gen.  Quitman,  of  Mississippi,  for  Vice-President,  who  received  a 
scattering  vote.  At  the  polls,  the  result  in  Alabama  was,  26,881 
for  Pierce,  and  15,038  for  Scott — showing  a  majority  of  11,843 
in  favor  of  the  former  candidate. 

In  the  Spring  of  1853,  a  State  Convention  was  held  at  Mont 
gomery,  at  which  John  A.  Winston  was  nominated  for  Governor. 
The  subject  of  State  aid  to  railroads  began  to  be  discussed,  and 
had  many  advocates  in  various  parts  of  the  State,  particularly  the 
project  of  uniting  North  and  South-Alabama  by  a  central  main 
trunk  line.  There  was  no  settled  plan  of  cooperation  throughout 
the  State  with  the  friends  of  that  policy;  but  in  some  localities 
the  feeling  was  strong,  and  encouraged  opposition  to  Mr.  Winston, 
which,  however,  was  fruitless,  as  will  be  seen  hereafter. 

In  many  portions  of  the  State  the  Temperance  question,  and  the 
policy  and  constitutionality  of  an  Anti-Liquor  Law,  as  it  was 
called,  became  an  exciting  topic.  In  the  Spring  of  1853  a  Tem 
perance  Convention,  largely  attended,  met  at  Selma,  and,  among 
other  things  they  adopted  the  draft  of  a  bill  to  be  submitted  to 
the  Legislature  at  the  next  session,  prohibitory  in  its  design,  which 
was  sent  out,  and  produced  an  issue  in  many  counties;  but  in  the 
shape  it  was  prepared  the  measure  failed  to  go  through  either 
House.  Both  branches  of  the  Legislature  were  Democratic — that 
party  having  a  majority  in  the  Senate  for  the  first  time  since  1847. 

Pending  the  canvass  of  1853,  there  was  a  contest  in  some  of 
the  districts,  for  Congress,  when  the  following  gentlemen  were 
elected  from  their  respective  districts : 

1.  Philip  Phillips,  of  Mobile; 

2.  James  Abercrombie,  of  Russell; 

3.  Sampson  W.  Harris,  of  Coosa; 

37 


578  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

4.  William  R.  Smith,  of  Fayette; 

5.  George  S.  Houston,  of  Lauderdale; 

6.  Williamson  R.  W.  Cobb,  of  Jackson; 

7.  James  F.  Dowdell,  of  Chambers. 

Of  these  seven  Representatives,  Capt.  Abercrombie  was  the 
only  Whig  elected  to  Congress;  the  others  were  all  Democrats. 
Mr.  Dowdell  was  the  only  new  member,  and' a  sketch  of  him  will 
appear  hereafter. 

THE   LEGISLATURE. 

The  General  Assembly  met  on  the  4th  of  November,  1853. 
The  attendance  was  general  on  the  first  day.  In  the  Senate,  Gen. 
Joseph  P.  Frazier,  of  Jackson,  was  the  nominee  of  the  Democratic 
party  for  President,  and  was  opposed  by  Col.  William  B.  Martin, 
of  Benton.  Messrs.  Blake,  of  Dallas,  and  Hewlett,  of  Walker, 
claiming  to  be  Democrats,  and  all  the  Whigs  voted  for  Mr.  Martin, 
which  secured  his  election.  Joseph  Phelan  was  elected  Secretary ; 
D.  S.  Nicholson,  Assistant  Secretary;  and  James  Austin,  Door- 
Keeper. 

In  the  House,  William  Garrett,  of  Coosa,  was  unanimously 
elected  Speaker.  For  Clerk,  the  contest  was  as  follows : 

1st  Ballot.  2d  Ballot. 

A.  B.  Clitherall „ 28  32 

Malcolm  D.  Graham 43  52 

J.  F.Johnson 7  5 

Thomas  E.  Mclver 3  '     3 

J.  T.  S.  Pack .  13  3 

Mr.  Graham  was  elected  Clerk;  Mr.  Albert  Elmore,  Assistant 
Clerk;  Mr.  James  A.  Hogan,  Engrossing  Clerk;  and  Mr.  James 
R.  Brumridge,  Door-Keeper,  over  James  H.  Owen,  who  had 
long  efficiently  discharged  the  duties,  but  became  disqualified  by 
dissipation,  of  which  he  died  in  a  few  years  after  his  defeat. 

The  two  Houses  contained  a  large  amount  of  talent  and  expe 
rience,  and  the  discussions  upon  various  questions  were  conducted 
with  marked  ability.  The  leading  speakers  were,  in  the  Senate, 
Messrs.  Watts,  Blake,  Baker,  Bethea,  Jemison,  Ashley,  etc.  In 
the  House,  Messrs.  L.  P.  and  Percy  Walker,  Belser,  Judge,  Coch- 
ran,  Meek,  Hubbard,  Hall,  Greene,  Curry,  Martin,  Shelley, 
Humphreys. 

The  position  of  several  gentlemen  in  the  two  Houses  is 
cated  by  the  chairmanship  of  Committees.     In  the  Seriate: 

On  the  Judiciery,  Mr.  Blake; 
On  Finance  and  Taxation,  Mr.  Dickinson; 
On  Banks  and  Banking,  Mr.  Bradford ; 
On  Education,  Mr.  Malone. 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  579 

In  the  House : 

On  the  Judiciary,  Mr.  Cochran; 

On  Ways  and  Means,  Mr.  Scott; 

On  Education,  Mr.  Meek; 

On  Internal  Improvement,  Mr.  Curry; 

On  Propositions  and  Grievances,  Mr.  Foscue. 

The  annual  message  of  Gov.  Collier  was  transmitted  on  the 
15th  November,  which  occupies  thirty-seven  pages  of  the  printed 
Journals. 

After  some  beautiful  and  touching  preliminary  remarks,  the 
Governor  alludes  to  the  death  of  Hon.  William  R.  King,  Vice- 
President  of  the  United  States;  in  a  style  of  eulogy  well  deserved 
by  the  character  and  public  services  of  that  eminent  citizen  of 
Alabama. 

The  message  is  laid  off  into  sections,  and  under  each  head  he 
examines,  with  more  or  less  elaboration,  the  following  topics: 

1.  Internal  Improvements about  12  pages. 

2.  Mobile  Bay  and  its  Improvement 1  page. 

3.  Atlantic  and  Pacific  Railroad 3  pages. 

4.  *  The  Code  of  Alabama 2  pages. 

5.  Commissioner  and  Trustee  to  settle  affairs  of  State 

Bank,  etc 2  pages. 

6.  Banks  and  Banking 2  pages. 

7.  University,  Education,  etc; 3  pages. 

8.  Judiciary,  and  Elections  by  the  People 1  page. 

9.  Taxes — Their  Assessment,  Collection,  etc; 2  pages. 

10.  Penitentiary,  etc 1  page. 

11.  Slaves — Sale  of  under  Execution,  etc 1  page. 

12.  Line  between  Alabama  and  Georgia 1  page. 

13.  The  Militia  and  the  Military 2  pages. 

14.  Miscellaneous 4  pages. 

From  the  above  statement,  some  idea  may  be  formed  of  the 
substance  of  the  message.  It  was  a  carefully  prepared  state  paper 
at  the  close  of  his  administration,  and  Gov.  Collier  has  thus  placed 
upon  record  his  views  of  public  policy,  which  may  be  referred 
to  with  profit  by  all  who  desire  to  trace  the  progress  of  certain 
measures. 

OFFICIAL  VOTE  FOR  GOVERNOR. 

On  the  18th  ^"ovember,  the  two  branches  of  the  General  Assem 
bly  convened  in  the  Representative  Hall,  to  count  the  votes  for 

*The  Code  subsequently  adopted  by  the  Legislature  was  printed  by  Thomas 
DeWolf  and  F.  H.  Brittan. 


580  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

Governor;  and  after  the  official  returns  were  examined,  the  fol 
lowing  result  was  declared : 

For  John  A.  Winston 30,116  votes. 

For  William  S.  Ernest 10,157  votes. 

For  Alvis  Q.  Nicks..' 5,763  votes. 

For Walker 561  votes. 

;por Baker 5  votes. 

Scattering 31  votes. 

Mr.  Winston  having  received  a  majority  of  all  the  votes  polled 
on  the  first  Monday  in  August,  1853,  the  Speaker  declared  him 
duly  elected  Governor  of  Alabama  for  the  term  prescribed  by  the 
Constitution. 

There  were  two  leading  measures  discussed  and  voted  upon 
during  the  session :  First,  the  subject  of  State  aid  to  railroad  com 
panies;  and  second,  a  system  of  free  public  schools.  The  first  was 
defeated,  and  the  second  was  successful,  having  passed  through 
both  Houses,  after  much  amending  and  side  discussion.  Here 
commenced  the  system  of  free  public  schools  in  Alabama;  and  it 
is  worthy  of  remark,  that  the  measure  was  brought  forward  by  so 
competent  a  scholar  and  legislator  as  Judge  Meek. 

BANK  COMMISSIONER. 

The  Hon.  Francis  S.  Lyon,  who  had  for  years  discharged  the 
duties  of  Commissioner  and  Trustee  of  the  Banks,  made  his  final 
report,  and  signified  to  the  General  Assembly  his  intention  to 
retire  from  the  labors  of  the  office.  The  House  Journal  (page 
129)  states: 

Mr.  Bell,  from  said  Committee,  to  whom  was  referred  the  report  of  F.  S.  Lyon, 
Commissioner  and  Trustee  to  settle  the  affairs  of  the  State  Bank  and  Branches, 
and  to  provide  for  the  payment  of  the  public  debt,  with  instructions  to  audit  and 
settle  his  accounts,  then  reported  that  they  had  discharged  that  duty,  and  a  settle 
ment  of  said  accounts  and  settlement,  together  with  the  following  resolutions: 

Resolved,  That  the  House  of  Representatives  has  learned  with  regret  the  deter 
mination  of  F.  S.  Lyon  to  retire  from  the  office  of  Commissioner  and  Trustee  of 
the  State  Bank  and  Branches,  the  duties  of  which  he  has  so  long  discharged  with 
such  distinguished  fidelity  and  ability. 

And  be  it  further  resolved,  That  in  evidence  of  their  high  appreciation  of  his 
services,  the  thanks  of  the  House  of  Representatives  are  hereby  tendered  to  him, 
and  that  the  Speaker  of  the  House  of  Representatives  be  requested  to  furnish 
him  with  a  copy  of  these  resolutions. 

The  concluding  resolution  was  unanimously  adopted  by  the 
House,  and  the  Speaker,  accompanied  by  several^  gentlemen  of 
position — among  them  Mr.  John  G.  Graham,  then  of  Wetumpka, 
now  in  Texas — waited  upon  Mr.  Lyon,  at  his  rooms  in  the  Ex 
change  Hotel,  and  delivered  to  him  a  well-prepared  copy  of  the. 


j&cminiscenws  of  Pub  fie  3 fen  in  Atao<wi(l.  581 

resolution.  After  the  proceedings  of  the  session  shall  be  noticed, 
a  sketch  of  Mr.  Lyon's  public  life  will  be  given  for  the  encour 
agement  of  young  men,  and  for  the  approbation  of  all  classes. 

DEATH  OF  VICE-PRESIDENT  KING. 

From  the  House  Journal  (page  537)  the  following  is  an  extract: 

Mr.  Sterritt,  from  the  Joint  Select  Committee,  to  whom  was  referred  so  much 
of  the  Governor's  message  as  relates  to  the  death  of  the  Hon.  William  R.  King, 
Vice-President  of  the  United  States,  submitted  to  the  House  joint  resolutions,  and 
also  the  following  report : 

That,  in  responding  to  the  suggestions  of  the  Hon.  Henry  W.  Collier  relative 
to  the  melancholy  event,  your  Committee  but  too  sensibly  feels  the  inadequacy  of 
language  to  convey,  in  suitable  terms,  the  profound  and  pervading  grief  which 
the  announcement  of  this  mournful  affliction  brought,  not  only  upon  our  beloved 
Alabama,  but  on  our  common  country.  The  deep  sorrow  evoked  by  this  sad,  but 
not  unlooked-for  event,  penetrated  the  bosom  and  throbbed  in  the  hearts  of  his 
countrymen,  without  distinction  of  party,  and  inspired  a  common  desire  to  unite 
and  testify  their  full  appreciation  of  his  private  virtues  and  public  services.  The 
enumeration  of  those  virtues  and  the  recital  of  those  services  belong,  not  to  this 
occasion,  but  to  our  country's  history.  Holding,  as  we  do,  in  grateful  remem 
brance  his  high  and  excellent  qualities  of  head  and  heart  which  adorned  his  life 
as  a  private  citizen  and  as  a  public  servant,  we  can  not  but  acknowledge  how  frail 
a  memento  of  departed  worth  is  the  sculptured  column  which  shall  rise  to  perpet 
uate  his  name,  compared  to  that  more  enduring  monument  which  he  has  reared  in 
the  patriotic  hearts  of  his  countrymen !  Therefore, 

Be  it  resolved  by  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives  in  General  Assembly  con 
vened,  That  while  the  State  of  Alabama  deplores  the  death  of  the  Hon.  William 
Rufus  King,  Vice-President  of  the  United  States,  she  will  ever  cherish,  with  emo 
tions  of  gratitude,  his  memory  as  one  of  her  earliest  devoted  friends  and  worthiest 
patriotic  sons. 

And  be  it  further  resolved,  That  in  his  death,  the  State  of  Alabama  has  lost  one 
of  her  brightest  jewels,  the  country  a  public  benefactor,  and  republican  freedom 
an  able  and  consistent  friend. 

And  be  it  further  resolved,  That  as  representatives  of  the  State,  in  whose  behalf 
he  rendered  signal  services  in  the  weakness  of  her  infancy  as  well  as  in  the 
strength  of  her  riper  years,  we  desire  to  record  upon  the  legislative  archives  of 
the  same  the  deep  sense  of  gratitude  we  entertain  for  his  public  services,  and  the 
sincere  regret  we  feel  for  his  death. 

These  resolutions  Avere  unanimously  adopted  in  both  Houses. 

INAUGURATION  OF  GOVERNOR  WINSTON. 

On  the  20th  of  December,  Gov.  John  A.  Winston  was  inaugu 
rated  in  the  presence  of  the  two  Houses,  and  of  a  vast  concourse 
of  citizens  assembled  to  witness  the  ceremonies. 

In  his  very  appropriate  address,  he  declared  his  political  creed 
to  be  that  embraced  in  the  doctrines  of  the  State  Rights  party, 
and  gave  his  reasons,  as  opposed  to  consolidation.  He  was  in 
favor  of  applying  all  trust-funds  faithfully;  and  if  the  State  should 
at  any  time  have  a  surplus  in  the  Treasury,  it  might  be  loaned  to 
railroad  companies,  on  adequate  security;  but  in  no  event  should 


582  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

the  State  engage  in  works  of  internal  improvement,  or  become 
security  for  such,  until  the  whole  public  debt  shall  be  paid.  He 
declared  himself  in  favor  of  a  judicious  system  of  popular  educa 
tion,  and  of  sustaining  the  University.  Toward  the  close  of  his 
address,  the  Governor  said : 

Senators  and  Representatives,  when  the  public  debt  shall  have  been  extin 
guished — when  we  shall  be  prepared  to  execute  every  trust  confided  to  us — when 
we  shall  have  a  wise,  just  and  permanent  code  of  laws,  faithfully  administered — 
when  our  sons  shall  be  educated  at  our  own  noble  University — when  our  daugh 
ters  shall  be  accomplished  and  reared  into  womanhood  in  their  own  sunny  South — 
when  we  shall  have  a  judicious  system  of  popular  education — when  every  section 
of  the  State  shall  be  connected  by  works  of  internal  improvement,  constructed  by 
the  energy  and  enterprise  of  its  citizens — I  say,  when  we  shall  have  all  these,  and 
at  the  same  time  a  faithful  administration  of  the  General  Government,  according 
to  a  strict  construction  of  the  Constitution,  how  great,  prosperous  and  happy 
a  people  we  shall  be !  and  what  a  proud  eminence  our  beloved  State  will  then 
occupy  among  her  "sisters  in  the  galaxy  composing  the  Republic! 

Gentlemen,  it  will  be  my  pride  and  my  pleasure  to  act  with  you  heartily  in  all 
measures  which  may  tend  to  accomplish  these  objects,  and  to  eifect  results  so 
glorious. 

BASIS   OF   REPRESENTATION. 

In  apportioning  Representatives  in  Congress,  the  attention  of 
the  Senate  was  engaged  in  a  lengthy  and  able  debate  on  the  basis, 
whether  it  should  be  Federal,  or  confined  to  white  persons,  which 
was  participated  in  by  T.  H.  Watts,  B.  H.  Baker,  W.  A.  Ashley, 
T.  B.  Bethea,  Samuel  R.  Blake,  and  Wm.  Woodward.  The 
House  had  entered  so  fully  upon  the  School  and  Internal  Improve 
ment  questions,  that  the  members  were  not  disposed  to  second  the 
Senate  in  the  discussion;  the  bill  passed,  however,  based  on  the 
white  population. 

SENATORIAL   ELECTIONS. 

A  vacancy  had  occurred  in  the  United  States  Senate,  by  the 
resignation  of  the  Hon.  W.  R.  King,  which  had  been  supplied  by 
the  Executive  appointment  of  Ex-Gov.  Fitzpatrick.  The  latter 
was  elected  by  a  vote  of  107,  without  any  opposition,  to  serve  the 
unexpired  term,  till  3d  March,  1855. 

The  term  of  Senator  Clemens  having  expired  on  3d  March, 
1853,  Mr.  C.  C.  Clay,  Jr.,  was  elected  his  successor  by  a  vote  of 
85,  without  any  regular  opposition — some  scattering  votes  having 
been  given,  37  for  R.  W.  Walker,  and  6  for  Mr.  Clemens. 

JUDICIAL   ELECTIONS. 

The  two  Houses  proceeded  to  the  election  of  Judges  of  the  Su 
preme  Court,  under  a  reorganization  of  that  tribunal,  and  the  re 
duction  of  the  number  of  Judges  from  five  to  three. 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 


William  P.  Chilton  was  elected  without  opposition.  George 
Goldthwaite  was  elected  by  a  vote  of  89,  against  36  given  for 
Chancellor  Lessene.  For  the  third  seat,  Samuel  F.  Rice,  John  D. 
Phelan,  and  George  W.  Stone  were  competitors,  as  the  ballots 
will  show: 


Ballots. 

Rice. 

Phelan. 

Stone. 

First  

36     * 

50 

22 

35 

50 

41 

Third   

39 

49 

39 

Fourth 

42 

48 

38 

Fifth      

40 

52 

36 

Sixth  

41 

51 

36 

Seventh  .'  

38 

55 

34 

Eighth  

39 

51 

34 

Ninth                                .  .                .... 

41 

54 

31 

Tenth              

59 

64 

6 

Eleventh  

65 

59 

•X- 

It  will  be  perceived  from  the  above  table  that,  on  the  10th  bal 
lot,  Judge  Phelan  came  within  one  vote  of  an  election.  On  the 
llth  ballot  Judge  Rice  had  a  majority,  who  was  declared  duly 
elected. 

During  the  recess,  Gov.  Collier  appointed  the  Hon.  Lyman 
Gibbons  a  Judge  of  the  Supreme  Court,  to  supply  the  vacancy  of 
Judge  Dargan,  resigned. 

For  Chancellor  of  the  Southern  Division,  to  supply  the  place 
of  Joseph  P.  Saifold — Wade  Keyes,  Francis  Bugbee,  and  Ster 
ling  G.  Cato,  were  placed  in  nomination. 


Ballots. 

Keyes 

Bugbee 

Cato 

First  

43 

32 

48 

45 

28 

50 

Third  

47 

30 

46 

Fourtth  .      .              .          

53 

17 

50 

Fifth  

66 

* 

58 

Mr.  Keyes  having  a  majority  on  the  fifth  ballot,  was  declared 
duly  elected. 

For  Chancellor  of  the  Northern  Division,  the  contestants  were 
A.  J.  Walker,  Septimus  D.  Cabaniss,  Lemuel  Cook,  and  Louis 
Wyeth. 


Ballots. 


Walker.  \Cabaniss.  \     Cook.     \     Wyeth. 

1 


First  Ballot  

50 

36 

18 

18 

Second  Ballot   

56 

38 

16 

Third  Ballot 

70 

44 

8 

*  Withdrawn. 


584 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 


Mr.  Walker  having  a  majority  of  all  the  votes  cast,  was  declared 
duly  elected  Chancellor  of  the  Northern  Division. 

For  Solicitor  of  the  Ninth  Circuit,  John  J.  Woodward  received 
71  votes  and  was  elected  over  Johnson  J.  Hooper,  who  received 
59  votes. 

For  Solicitor  of  the  Second  Circuit,  the  following  gentlemen 
were  the  candidates: 


1st. 

2d. 

J.  A.  Stallworth                         •           ...                                  

62 

75 

Girart  Hewett  

?6 

717 

John  McCaskill  

25 

18 

William  A.  Beene  

18 

14 

The  first  named  on  the  list  was  proclaimed  victor. 

For  Solicitor  of  the  Seventh  Circuit,  the  competitors  were : 


1st. 

2d. 

3d. 

A.  E.  Vanhoose  

48 

55 

66 

E.P.Jones  

44 

47 

48 

Thos.  E.  Barclay  

10 

it 

B.  B.  Little  

10 

8 

•X- 

John  H.  Inge             

17 

10 

14 

PUBLIC   EDUCATION. 


Iii  the  organization  of  free  public  schools  at  this  session,  a  State 
Superintendent  was  provided  for,  to  be  elected  by  joint  vote  of 
the  two  Houses.  For  this  office,  the  following  gentlemen  were 
placed  in  nomination: 


1st. 

2d. 

3d. 

4th. 

William  F.  Perry  

82 

85 

40 

55 

A.  A.  Lipscomb                     

81 

29 

43 

46 

B.  F.  Porter             

8 

10 

6 

*• 

J.W.Taylor  ;  

5 

# 

F.  G.  Freeman  

19 

10 

14 

* 

T   W   Bradley.                   

9 

* 

_      . 

It  is  proper  to  remark  that  only  two  of  these  gentlemen, 
Messrs.  Perry  and  Lipscomb,  were  regarded  as  contestants.  The 
others  were  absent,  and  their  names  used  without  their  knowl 
edge,  through  the  partiality  of  friends. 


*  Withdrawn. 


HeminiscenGes  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 


585 


SECRETARY   OF  STATE. 

For  this  "office  there  was  a  hard  contest  between  Mr.  Benham, 
the  incumbent,  John  H.  Caldwell,  Esq.,  and  Gen.  R.  W.  Higgins, 
as  seventeen  ballotings  will  show : 


Ballots. 

JBenham, 

Caldwell. 

Higgins. 

First  

47 

36 

37 

44 

37 

36 

Third  .                      

50 

38 

31 

Fourth      

43 

32 

30 

Fifth           

50 

37 

30 

Sixth                                            ... 

51 

39 

27 

53 

42 

23 

Eighth                  .  .  ,  

52 

41 

21 

Ninth                

54 

41 

20 

Tenth  

58 

58    ' 

•* 

Gen.  Higgins  was  here  renominated,  and  Messrs.  A.  B.  Clither- 
all  and  Thomas  Harrison  nominated.     Thence  the  votes  stood: 


Ballots. 

Benham 

Caldwell 

Higgins 

Clitherall 

Harrison 

Eleventh      .    . 

53 

39 

15 

11 

4 

Twelfth  

54 

43 

17 

5 

2 

Thirteenth  

57 

44 

14 

3 

3 

56 

42 

15 

4 

5 

Fifteenth  ...            .    . 

57 

42 

14 

5 

3 

Sixteenth  

60 

47 

12 

4 

# 

Seventeenth        .    . 

62 

52 

* 

•x- 

From  the  number  of  names  before  the  Convention  of  the  two 
Houses  for  Secretary  of  State,  the  stubborn  contest,  and  the  small 
vote  cast  on  the  final  ballot,  when  Mr.  Benham  was  elected,  it 
was  evident  that  neither  was  acceptable  to  a  good  many  of  the 
members. 

ADJOURNMENT. 

The  session  was  long  and  laborious,  terminating  on  the  18th  of 
February,  1854.  The  new  Code  of  Laws,  adopted  in  1851,  and 
the  repeal  of  all  laws  not  contained  in  it,  was  discovered,  when  it 
was  published,  to  be  defective,  in  omissions  and  changes  that  ex 
cited  public  discontent;  and  the  correction  of  these  errors,  and 
giving  consistency  to  the  Code,  engaged  a  large  portion  of  the 
public  time.  Other  measures  of  more  or  less  importance  were 
acted  upon  during  the  session,  which,  for  the  want  of  space,  can 
not  be  particularly  noticed. 

*  Withdrawn. 


686  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

PERSONAL,   NOTICES. 

In  conformity  to  a  rule,  to  pay  attention  to  gentlemen  who 
have  been  directly  or  indirectly  connected  with  public  life,  even 
as  candidates  for  office,  I  now  proceed  to  give  personal  sketches 
in  as  brief  a  manner  as  the  facts,  and  a  fair  measure  of  justice, 
will  allow. 

JAMES  F.  DOWDELL,  elected  to  Congress  in  1853,  has  since 
that  time  been  so  prominently  before  the  public,  with  qualities  so 
deserving  respect,  that  a  brief  record  of  his  services  and  character 
cannot  fail  to  be  useful. 

In  1852,  he  was  upon  the  Electoral  ticket,  and  voted  for  Pierce 
and  King;  and  in  canvassing  for  those  gentlemen,  he  so  impressed 
the  public  mind  in  his  favor,  that  he  was  nominated  and  elected 
to  Congress  as  the  candidate  of  the  Democratic  party.  The  ap 
portionment  of  1853  threw  him  into  the  Montgomery  District  in 
part,  and  made  his  return  to  Congress  doubtful  in  1855.  But  he 
stood  a  candidate  for  reelection,  and  was  opposed  by  Col.  Thomas 
H.  Watts,  than  whom  a  more  formidable  opponent  in  the  ele 
ments  of  mind  and  character,  and  powers  in  debate,  could  not 
have  entered  the  list  against  him.  This  year  was  the  great  polit 
ical  contest  of  Know-Nothingism,  and  the  measuring  of  strength 
between  these  two  gentlemen  was  a  manly  exhibition  of  intellect 
ual  strife  from  its  inception  to  its  close.  Col.  Dowdell  wras  elected 
by  a  small  majority. 

In  1857,  he  was  opposed  by  Col.  Thomas  J.  Judge,  and  thus 
another  contest  of  giants  in  the  political  arena  was  brought  on. 
But  Col.  Dowdell  was  again  the  victor;  and  the  defeat  of  two 
such  men  in  succession,  for  a  seat  in  the  Congress  of  the  United 
States,  made  him  a  hero  indeed.  It  would  have  been  distinction 
to  have  made  the  canvass  and  suffered  defeat  at  the  hands  of 
either,  but  to  have  vanquished  them  both  in  turn  was  a  crowning 
with  laurel  of  which  any  candidate  for  public  favor  might  justly 
feel  proud,  and  hence,  Col.  Dowdell  was  regarded  in  political  cir 
cles  as  a  prodigy,  and  his  reputation  became  National.  He  could 
occupy  no  other  than  a  prominent  position  in  Congress,  where  his 
conquest  was  known,  and  he  received  the  deference  and  respect 
of  his  fellow-members. 

At  the  end  of  his  third  term,  Col.  Dowdell  retired  from  Con 
gress,  and  remained  in  private  life  until  the  events  of  1860  called 
him  out,  when  he  was  elected  to  the  Convention  of  1861,  and  co 
operated  with  the  Secession  party,  and  shared  actively  in  accom 
modating  the  State  to  the  new  order  of  things.  Hostilities  com 
mencing,  he  raised  a  regiment  (the  37th),  and  entered  vigorously 
the  service  of  the  Confederate  States,  and  was  distinguished  in 


Reminiscences  of  PMic  Men  in  Alabama.  687 

several  battles,  especially  that  of  Corinth,  for  his  coolness  and 
bravery.  But  the  fatigue  and  exposure  of  the  camp  were  more 
than  his  feeble  constitution  could  bear  for  any  great  length  of 
time,  and  he  returned  home  sick,  and  was  obliged  to  relinquish 
the  active  service. 

Col.  Dowdell  has  always,  both  in  public  and  private  life,  been 
distinguished  for  the  purity  of  his  moral  character,  and  while  at 
Washington  he  maintained  a  high  standard  of  religious  deport 
ment.  This  adds  lustre  to  his  record,  when  it  is  remembered 
that  there  have  been  but  few  men  in  Congress,  comparatively, 
who  have  been  able  to  resist  the  thousand  temptations  which  are 
said  to  present  themselves  in  convivial  and  social  circles  in  the 
Federal  City,  which  had  been  the  slaughter  house  of  the  mem 
bers  from  the  "bloody  Seventh"  for  years.  But  he  passed  through 
them  all,  illustrating  in  his  daily  example  the  virtues  and  graces  of 
the  Christian  gentleman,  and  challenging  the  respect  of  all  classes. 

Since  the  war,  he  occupied  the  position  of  President  of  the 
East-Alabama  College,  until  failing  health  compelled  him  to  re 
tire.  He  is  a  native  of  Georgia,  and  has  been  thoroughly  edu 
cated,  and  his  family  noted  for  extensive  wealth.  One  of  his 
sisters  married  Gen.  Seth  P.  Myrick,  of  Baldwin  county,  Georgia, 
an  enterprising  and  successful  planter,  well  known  for  his  liberal 
hospitality,  and  contributions  to  the  Church.  Another  sister  mar 
ried  Dr.  A.  A.  Lipscomb,  and  another  married  William  F.  Sam- 
ford,  Esq. 

In  these  days  of  moral  depression,  from  causes  which  have  en 
tered  largely  into  the  experience  of  the  South  of  late  years,  it  is 
refreshing  to  study  the  character  and  the  example  of  such  a  man 
as  Col.  Dowdell.  Having  achieved  victories  in  the  field  of  poli 
tics,  and  having  acted  as  a  patriot  in  the  most  trying  situations, 
with  faculties  of  mind  and  an  amount  of  literary  culture  of  the 
highest  order,  and  still  in  meridian  vigor,  he  heartily  applies  him 
self  to  the  duties  of  the  school-room,  to  unfold  the  intellect  of 
youth;  and  better  than  all,  he  has  dedicated  himself,  in  the  gospel 
ministry,  to  the  work  of  saving  souls,  as  a  local  preacher  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church !  Such  a  man,  such  an  example,  and 
such  an  influence,  must  be  a  blessing  to  any  community. 

[NOTE. — The  lamented  death  of  Col.  Dowdell  occurred  in  1871,  after  the  above 
sketch  was  written.] 

HON.  FRANCIS  S.  LYON  is  a  native  of  North  Carolina,  and  em 
igrated  to  Alabama,  then  a  Territory,  in  1817,  and  first  settled  at 
St.  Stephens.  In  1822  he  was  elected  Secretary  of  the  Senate, 
and  was  reflected  each  year  for  eight  succeeding  years.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  Senate  at  the  sessions  of  1832,  1833,  and  1834,  and 
at  the  latter  was  elected  President  of  that  body. 


688  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

The  particulars  of  his  early  life  can  not  fail  to  be  interesting 
and  profitable,  and  so  far  as  I  have  been  able  to  ascertain,  he  was 
a  Clerk  in  the  old  Tombigbee  Bank,  located  at  St.  Stephens,  of 
which  his  uncle,  George  S.  Gaines,  was  Cashier.  This  was  previous 
to  1819.  The  presumption  is,  that  under  the  friendly  auspices  of 
his  relative,  the  Cashier,  and  of  his  uncle,  Major-General  E.  P. 
Gaines,  he,  about  this  time,  read  law  in  the  office  of  William 
Crawford,  Esq.,  who  attained  distinction,  and  was,  for  many  years, 
United  States  Judge  of  the  Southern  District  of  Alabama.  Judge 
Crawford  contested  for  a  seat  in  the  United  States  Senate,  in  1821, 
against  Col.  William  R.  King. 

As  I  have  stated,  Mr.  Lyon  was  eight  years  Secretary  of  the 
Senate,  and  such  a  Secretary !  The  records  made  by  him*  will 
bear  a  comparison,  in  accuracy  and  neatness,  with  any  ever  made 
in  the  State.  There  was  no  Journal  Secretary,  or  Clerk,  in  his  day, 
or  scarcely  need  of  an  Assistant.  The  enrolled  acts  of  his  times 
were  mostly  in  his  hand-writing,  and  can  now  be  seen  in  the  State 
Department,  a  proper  standard  for  all  good  Clerks  to  aspire  to ;  for 
he  kept  his  Journal,  and  enrolled  most  of  the  bills,  and  they  are 
all  stamped  with  the  marks  of  his  business  qualities  and  faithful 
ness.  No  interlineations,  or  blots,  or  irregularities;  and  these 
Journals  and  enrolled  bills  will  stand  as  a  model  of  clerical  excel 
lence  worthy  of  imitation,  as  long  as  they  remain  in  the  archives 
of  the  State.  Here  he  laid  the  foundation  of  his  future  success 
in  life,  and  gave  an  earnest  of  capacity  for  the  service  he  was  des 
tined  to  render  the  State,  in  his  peculiar  adaptation  to  business. 

In  1835,  he  was  elected  to  Congress  from  the  Mobile  District, 
and  reflected  in  1837,  serving  through  both  terms  to  the  satisfac 
tion  of  his  constituents,  with  a  very  respectable  rank  in  the  delib 
erations  and  doings  of  that  able  body  of  statesmen. 

The  Legislature,  in  the  act  of  1846,  constituting  a  Commission 
to  take  charge  of  the  assets  of  the  State  Bank  and  Branches,  could 
not  overlook  the  peculiar  fitness  of  Mr.  Lyon  for  a  place  in  it,  and 
in  bringing  his  abilities  to  the  aid  of  the  State  at  this  trying  crisis, 
was  eminently  fortunate.  Nothing  in  the  transactions  of  these 
critical  times  contributed  more  to  uphold  the  public  confidence  than 
the  name  of  Mr.  Lyon  in  connection  with  the  management  of 
these  assets.  In  1847  he  was  constituted  Sole  Commissioner  and 
Trustee,  with  extraordinary  powers  and  discretion  in  collecting  the 
debts,  and  taking  up  the  bonds  of  the  State,  at  that  time  consider 
ably  depreciated.  No  one  man  had  ever  received  such  proof  of 
confidence  in  the  management  of  the  finances  of  the  State.  He 
was  continued  in  1849,  and  again  in  1851,  with  the  same  unre 
stricted  powers. 

On  the  25th  November,  1853,  Mr.  Lyon  addressed  a  communi 
cation  to  the  Speaker  of  the  House  of  Representatives,  requesting 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  589 

him  to  lay  before  that  body  the  report,  then  enclosed,  of  his  trans 
actions  as  Commissioner  and  Trustee  to  settle  the  affairs  of  the 
State  Bank  and  Branches. 

That  report  was  referred  to  a  joint  Select  Committee,  and  after 
its  careful  examination,  the  Committee  made  a  report,  signed  by 
Mr.  Jemison  on  the  part  of  the  Senate,  and  by  Mr.  Bell,  on  the 
part  of  the  House,  from  which  the  following  is  an  extract : 

Our  bond  debt  when  the  banks  were  placed  in  liquidation,  as  will  be 

seen  from  the  accompanying  tabular  statement,  was $9,232,555.55 

Bearing  an  annual  interest  of 472,757.77 

Which  debt  is  now  reduced  to 3,584,666.67 

Bearing  an  annual  interest  of 178,523.33 

The   entire   circulation    of   the   banks    outstanding    1st   November, 

1847,  was         457,177.00 

Which  is  now  reduced  to .    290,237.00 

During  the  process  of  winding  up  the  Banks,  the  outstanding  circulation  has 
not  been  redeemed  with  specie,  but  the  fact  of  its  having  been  received  in  pay 
ment  of  taxes  and  other  public  dues,  and  the  general  confidence  felt  in  the  skill 
ful  management  of  the  Commissioner  in  closing  up  the  aifairs  of  the  Banks,  and 
in  the  good  faith  of  the  State,  has  caused  the  bills  to  pass  at  or  near  par,  and  they 
are  at  this  time,  for  all  ordinary  business  purposes,  quite  equal  to  the  notes  of  the 
specie  paying  banks  of  the  State. 

While  the  community  has  sustained  no  loss  by  their  circulation,  the  State  has 
derived  very  great  and  important  advantages  therefrom. 

The  most  sanguine  friends  of  the  system  adopted  and  pursued  in  winding  up 
and  closing  the  affairs  of  the  Banks  had  not,  in  its  commencement,  ventured  to 
predict  or  hope  so  favorable  a  result  as  has  been  witnessed. 

Your  Committee,  in  presenting  a  state  of  facts  so  auspicious  and  gratifying  to 
the  people  of  the  State,  regret  to  learn  that  the  officer  mainly  instrumental  in 
bringing  about  a  state  of  things  so  conducive  to  the  credit  and  flattering  to  the 
prospects  of  the  State,  finds  it  no  longer  convenient  to  remain  in  office  where  his 
labors  have  been  so  signally  useful  to  the  public. 

The  Committee  remark  that  in  the  sale  of  the  stock  which  the 
State  owned  in  the  Bank  of  Mobile,  amounting  to  $600,000,  Mr. 
Lyon  had  made  a  profit  of  $52,500  for  the  State  over  the  cost  of 
purchase.  From  beginning  to  end,  the  execution  of  his  trust,  as 
shown  by  the  Committee,  has  been  beneficial  to  the  State,  and 
most  honorable  to  the  skill  and  fidelity  of  the  Commissioner. 

Mr.  Lyon  was  called  to  preside  over  the  January  Convention  of 
1860,  preparatory  to  the  Charleston  Convention,  and  was  ap 
pointed  a  delegate  for  the  State  at  large,  and  also  to  Baltimore. 
In  1861,  he  was  elected  to  the  House,  to  fill  the  vacancy  occasioned 
by  the  death  of  Mr.  Leseur,  of  Marengo.  In  1861,  he  was  also 
elected  from  the  Marengo  District  to  the  Congress  of  the  Confed 
erate  States,  and  was  reflected  in  1863,  bringing  all  the  while  his 
great  powers  in  council  to  assist  the  Confederacy. 

Throughout  the  whole  period  of  his  life,  Mr.  Lyon  has  occupied 
a  high  position  legally  and  socially.  Without  attempting  to  be 
brilliant,  he  seems  to  prefer  the  quiet,  the  solid  attainments  of  a 
thorough  business  man,  and  profound  lawyer.  Faithfulness  in  all 
the  relations  of  life,  private,  professional,  and  public,  is  a  striking 


590  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

trait  in  his  character.  As  he  was,  as  Secretary  of  the  Senate^ with 
his  Journal  and  his  bills  in  hand,  so  he  was  as  Commissioner  and 
Trustee  of  the  Banks,  with  the  responsibilities  of  millions  upon 
him,  faithful  and  industrious,  anxious  to  meet  the  just  expectations 
of  the  State,  threatened  with  bankruptcy  on  the  one  hand,  or  ex*- 
cessive  and  burthensome  taxation  on  the  other  in  case  he  failed. 
But  it  should  be  recorded  and  held  in  remembrance,  in  estimating 
the  services  of  public  men  in  Alabama,  that  in  his  administration 
of  the  trust  committed  to  his  hands,  he  saved  to  the  State  by  his 
activity  and  vigilance,  coupled  with  an  integrity  that  can  not  be 
questioned,  millions  of  dollars,  and  it  was  done  so  quietly  that, 
but  for  the  publication  of  his  reports  in  the  newspapers,  as  re 
quired  by  law,  the  public  would  have  known  nothing  about  it. 
And  it  is  very  questionable  whether  he  made  an  enemy  or  gave 
just  grounds  of  offense  to  a  single  Bank  debtor  during  the  period 
of  his  administration. 

Mr.  Whiting  told  me  an  anecdote  which  illustrates  his  character 
in  this  respect.  He  said  that  a  Bank  debtor  was  pressing  terms 
upon  him,  as  Assistant  Commissioner,  for  the  settlement  of  his 
debt,  which  he  could  not  accept,  and  the  debtor  applied  to  Mr. 
Lyon,  confident  that  he  would  get  favorable  terms  of  compromise. 
He  did  so,  and  when  he  returned,  Mr.  Whiting  asked  him  of  his 
success.  He  replied  that  he  did  nothing;  that  Mr.  Lyon  was  so 
mild  and  reasonable,  and  so  very  conciliatory  in  his  talk,  and  was 
so  anxious  to  save  the  credit  of  the  State,  that  he  concluded  to  try 
and  pay  the  whole  debt;  that  his  denial  of  the  proposition  was  so 
gentle  that  it  was  really  agreeable. 

I  have  no  doubt  that  this  instance  is  only  one  of  hundreds  of 
cases,  and  is  one  of  the  secrets  of  his  success.  Few  men  in  the 
history  of  the  State  have  had  such  a  record  as  Mr.  Lyon,  and  few 
present  such  a  model  for  young  men,  and  business  men,  and  public 
men,  in  the  faithful  discharge  of  duty.  Without  parade  of  any 
kind,  he  prosecuted  his  work,  and  had  it  entirely  under  his  con 
trol.  His  visits  to  New  York  in  the  interest  of  the  State  were 
not  announced  in  the  papers,  nor  at  what  hotel  he  lodged.  He 
courted  not,  but  avoided,  such  distinction.  He  had  no  private 
secretary,  but  indorsed  the  reports  made  by  his  assistants  in  the 
different  Banks  himself,  and  carried  on,  as  he  must  have  done,  an 
extensive .  correspondence.  There  were  no  idlers  or  hangers-on 
about  him.  For  instance,  he  extended  four  or  five  millions  of 
Bonds  falling  due,  and  made  the  exchanges  with  no  extra  assist 
ance,  or  charge  to  the  State — a  transaction  that  in  these  days,  from 
the  way  such  matters  are  now  managed,  would  have  cost  the  State 
thousands  and  tens  of  thousands  of  dollars.  His  last  report  is  in 
itself  a  model  of  clearness  and  simplicity  in  statement  which  any 
citizen  can  comprehend. 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  591 

In  early  life,  Mr.  Lyon  married  Miss  Glover,  of  Marengo 
county,  and  still  resides  at  Demopolis,  where  he  first  settled,  and 
has  raised  a  large  family.  One  of  his  daughters  married  Mr. 
William  H.  Ross,  of  Mobile;  another  married  Oliver  H.  Prince, 
Esq.,  a  lawyer,  and  son  of  Edmund  Prince,  of  Tuskaloosa.  He 
himself  is  passing  into  the  "sear  and  yellow  leaf"  of  life,  and  his 
name  is  the  synonym  of  an  upright  gentleman. 

It  has  generally  been  the  good  fortune  of  most  commonwealths 
to  have,  at  some  period,  one  citizen  distinguished  from  all  the  rest 
by  qualifications  for  a  particular  service,  in  some  political  or  finan 
cial  pressure,  whose  ability  and  virtues  exactly  meet  the  demand. 
Such  has  been  the  relation  sustained  by  the  Hon.  Francis  S.  Lyoii 
to  the  people  of  Alabama,  in  relieving  them  from  embarrassments 
which  threatened  to  weigh  them  down  by  onerous  taxation,  or  to 
do  what  was  still  more  painful — suffer  the  public  faith  and  the 
good  name  of  Alabama  to  be  dishonored  by  a  protest.  The  man 
was  found  for  the  occasion,  from  1846  to  1853,  in  whose  praise 
there  is  perfect  unanimity  in  the  State.  No  picture  is  more  com 
plete  in  moral  grandeur  and  beauty. 

JOHN  WHITING,  who  had  long  held  the  office  of  Cashier  of  the 
Branch  Bank  at  Montgomery,  and  was  'Assistant  Commissioner 
under  Mr.  Lyon,  and  one  of  his  faithful,  confidential  advisers  in 
his  operations,  succeeded  that  gentleman  as  Commissioner ;  and  it 
may  be  said,  that  if  the  field  of  his  supervision  was  not  so  exten 
sive,  yet  in  sagacity,  and  in  fidelity  to  the  interests  of  the  State, 
he  "  followed  in  the  footsteps  of  his  illustrious  predecessor." 

Mr.  Whiting  possessed  business  qualifications  of  a  high  order, 
and  these,  coupled  with  indomitable  energy,  brought  him  a  large 
return  in  wealth  and  influence.  He  was  a  Virginian,  well  bred, 
intelligent,  high-toned,  and  honorable,  with  no  disguise  or  deceit 
in  his  composition. 

After  the  war,  he  was  elected  President  of  the  North  &  South 
Railroad  Company,  and  had  infused  new  life  into  that  almost  ex 
hausted  work.  His  election  as  President  secured  a  large  subscrip 
tion  to  the  road  by  the  city  of  Montgomery,  the  citizens  of  which 
had  unbounded  confidence  in  Mr.  Whiting.  In  1869,  he  visited 
New  York  on  the  business  of  the  road,  and  died  of  an  attack  of 
erysipelas.  In  his  death,  the  State  and  the  city  of  Montgomery 
lost  one  of  its  most  intelligent  and  useful  citizens.  He  was  a 
prominent  member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  and  ready  coop- 
erator  in  all  philanthropic  and  charitable  efforts. 

LYMAN  GIBBONS,  during  the  recess  of  the  General  Assembly, 
was  appointed  by  Gov.  Collier  Judge  of  the  Supreme  Court,  in 
the  place  of  Judge  Dargan,  resigned.  He  came  to  the  State  in 


592  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

1833,  when  a  young  man,  and  entered  upon  the  practice  of  the 
law  in  Mobile,  as  a  member  of  the  law  firm  of  Gibbons  &  Fisher. 
He  was  well  educated,  and  well  versed  in  the  elements  of  his 
profession.  His  attention  to  business  and  his  sound  judgment 
secured  him  a  fine  rank  at  the  bar. 

On  the  resignation  of  Judge  Bragg  in  1851,  he  was  appointed, 
and  then  elected,  Judge  of  the  Sixth  Circuit.  In  1853,  he  declined 
an  election  as  Judge  of  the  Supreme  Court,  being  satisfied  with 
the  Executive  appointment.  Soon  thereafter,  he  married  Emma, 
the  accomplished  and  only  daughter  of  the  late  Hon.  James  Del- 
lett,  and  became  a  planter  in  Monroe  county. 

Judge  Gibbons  was  elected  a  member  of  the  Convention  of 
January,  1861,  and  was  prominent  in  the  debates,  especially  on 
the  subject  of  taxation. 

In  May,  1845,  he  went  to  Europe,  studied  the  civil  law  in 
France,  and  returned  to  this  country  in  the  Autumn  of  1847. 

JOSEPH  P.  SAFFOLD  was  appointed  by  Gov.  Collier,  Chancellor 
of  the  Southern  Division,  in  place  of  Chancellor  Lessene,  resigned. 
He  was  permitted  to  wear  the  honors  of  his  office  but  a  short  time, 
as  he  died  in  the  Fall  of  1853,  of  yellow  fever,  then  prevailing 
at  Montgomery. 

It  was  not  extravagant  in  his  friends  to  predict  for  him  a  long 
and  honorable  career  in  the  judicial  department.  He  was  a  son 
of  Judge  Reuben  Saffold,  and  had  established  himself  fully  in  the 
confidence  and  esteem  of  the  community  in  which  he  lived,  and 
was  just  entering  upon  a  theater  of  action  promising  much  public 
usefulness.  In  stating  his  appointment,  in  his  annual  message, 
Gov.  Collier  said:  "It  is  ivith  profound  regret  that  I  announce 
the  death  of  Chancellor  Saffold.  He  was  a  man  of  great  purity 
of  character,  and  admirably  adapted,  by  his  attainments  and  the 
structure  of  his  mind,  to  the  station  to  which  he  had  been  called." 

WADE  KEYES,  elected  Chancellor  at  the  session  of  1853,  is  a 
North-Alabamian.  He  resided  in  Florida  several  years,  and  came 
thence  to  Montgomery,  where  he  engaged  in.  the  practice  of  the 
law.  About  the  year  1850  he  published  a  legal  work  of  which 
he  was  the  author,  on  the  Tenure  of  Personal  Property,  or  a  title 
of  similar  import,  which  evinced  considerable  research. 

He  discharged  the  duties  of  Chancellor  with  industry  and  faith 
fulness,  to  the  satisfaction  of  the  public,  but  resigned,  if  I  mistake 
not,  a  considerable  time  before  the  expiration  of  his  term.  Upon 
the  organization  of  the  Confederate  Government,  he  was  appointed 
Assistant  Attorney-General,  an  office  that  he  held  during  the  ex 
istence  of  that  Government.  Chancellor  Keyes  now  resides  in 
Florence,  pursuing  his  profession.  He  is  a  brother  of  Dr.  John 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  593 

W.  Keyes,  of  Montgomery,  who  married  a  daughter  of  Mrs.  Car 
oline  Lee  Heutz. 

Here  I  take  occasion  to  observe  the  frequent  resignations  of  the 
office  of  Chancellor  by  gentlemen  of  the  bar,  who  laudably  aspire 
to  the  station,  and  in  a  year  or  two,  occasionally  in  a  few  months, 
give  it  up.  The  reason  must  be  the  absence  of  jury,  witnesses, 
and  a  miscellaneous  audience,  to  interest  the  attention  pf  the  pre 
siding  functionary.  Further  reasons  might  be  assigned,  if  nec 
essary. 

STERLING  G.  CATO,  an  unsuccessful  candidate  for  the  Chancel 
lorship,  was  a  Georgian,  who  settled  in  Eufaula  in  the  practice  of 
the  law,  some  years  previously,  in  connection  with  his  brother, 
Lewis  L.  Cato,  Esq.  He  was  afterward  appointed  to  a  United 
States  Judgeship,  in  Kansas,  where  he  resided  for  several  years, 
and  died,  if  I  mistake  not,  during  the  war.  He  was  a  gentleman 
of  fair  legal  attainments,  and  had  a  good  standing  in  the  profession. 

SEPTIMUS  D.  CABANISS,  defeated  by  Judge  Walker,  was  a  law 
yer  of  Hunts villc,  where  he  settled,  a  young  man,  to  pursue  his 
profession.  Pie  held,  for  several  years,  the  place  of  Register  in 
Chancery,  and  established  a  good  character  for  efficiency  as  a  busi 
ness  man  and  attorney.  In  1861,  he  was  elected  to  the  House 
from  Madison  county,  and  shared  prominently  in  the  delibera 
tions  and  decisions  of  that  momentous  period.  He  still  resides  at 
Huntsville. 

JOHN  H.  CALDWELL,  defeated  for  Secretary  of  State,  was  a 
young  lawyer,  possessing  intelligence,  industry,  and  a  laudable 
ambition.  In  1857,  he  was  returned  a  member  of  the  House 
from  Calhoun  county,  and  in  its  organization  and  proceedings  took 
an  active  part,  being  Chairman  of  the  Committee  on  Internal  Im 
provement. 

In  1859  he  was  elected  Solicitor.  The  war  coming  on  in  1861, 
he  entered  service,  and  was,  I  think,  promoted  to  the  rank  of 
Colonel,  and  was  distinguished  for  gallantry  and  good  conduct.  In 
1863,  while  he  was  at  the  front,  his  election  came  on  for  Solicitor, 
and  the  regiment  to  which  he  was  attached,  from  Captains,  Lieu 
tenants,  and  privates,  joined  in  a  hearty  attestation  of  his  merit  in 
the  camp  and  field,  and  requested  his  reelection.  Of  course,  their 
wishes  were  respected.  In  1865,  on  the  reorganization  of  the 
State,  he  was  again  elected  Solicitor,  and  continued  in  the  office 
until  he  was  superseded  by  the  reconstruction  policy  of  Congress. 
He  resides  at  Jacksonville,  in  the  practice  of  his  profession. 
38 


594  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

GEN.  ROBERT  W.  HIGGINS,  another  defeated  aspirant  for  Sec 
retary  of  State,  was  also  a  lawyer.  He  started  in  Jackson  county, 
and  I  think  was  a  beneficiary  of  the  United  States  Military  Acad 
emy  at  West-Point,  but  I  am  not  certain  about  graduating.  He 
had  lived  in  DeKalb  county  a  few  years,  and  in  1854  or  '55,  went 
to  Talladega,  and  became  connected  with  the  editorial  department 
of  the  "  Watchtower." 

In  1857,  he  was  a  member  of  the  House  from  DeKalb,  and  in 
1859  was  elected  to  the  Senate  from  that  and  Marshall  counties. 
On  the  commencement  of  hostilities  between  the  North  and  South 
in  1861,  he  entered  the  service,  and  went  up  to  the  rank  of  Major; 
but  before  he  had  reached  the  middle  of  the  war,  or  had  satisfied 
his  patriotic  desires  to  serve  the  cause  which  he  had  espoused,  he 
sickened  and  died,  leaving  to  his  native  State  the  character  of  a 
brave  and  gallant  man.  Previous  to  the  war  he  was  elected  a 
Brigadier-General.  He  died  young,  and  unmarried. 

ALFRED  E.  VANIIOOSE,  elected  Solicitor  of  the  Seventh  Circuit, 
was  a  young  man  raised  in  Fayette  county,  and  had  lately  come  to 
the  bar.  His  conversational  powers  were  good,  and  he  possessed 
a  mind  capable  of  improvement — and,  with  popular  manners,  and 
a  fair  ambition,  he  was  regarded  as  having  a  fine  career  of  useful 
ness  in  prospect. 

He  was  very  efficient  as  a  prosecuting  officer  for  the  State,  and 
made  such  a  character  in  four  years,  that,  in  1857,  he  was  reflected 
without  difficulty.  In  1860,  while  returning  from  the  Court  in 
Walker,  he  was  thrown  from  his  buggy,  and  found  dead.  Like 
many  of  our  young  men  of  good  endowments,  he  yielded  to  a 
certain  influence  resulting  from  convivial  companionship,  which, 
it  is  to  be  feared,  in  this  case,  eclipsed  the  light  of  a  rising  star  of 
intellect  and  genius. 

ELLIOTT  P.  JONES  is  a  native  of  Lawrence  county,  Alabama, 
and  was  born  in  1819.  At  the  session  of  the  Legislature  in  1847, 
he  was  elected  Judge  of  the  County  Court  of  Fayette. 

His  first  service  in  the  Senate  was,  in  1850,  to  fill  a  vacancy 
caused  by  the  resignation  of  D.  Coggin,  Esq.  He  was  reflected 
in  1853, 1855,  and  1857.  In  1861,  he  was  a  member  of  the  Con 
vention  which  passed  the  Ordinance  of  Secession,  and,  in  1865,  he 
was  a  member  of  the  Constitutional  Convention  to  reorganize  the 
State.  He  was  also  elected  in  1865  to  the  Senate  from  the  Dis 
trict  composed  of  %Fayette  and  Marion  counties,  and  served  through 
the  sessions  of  1865-'6,  and  1866-7. 

Judge  Jones  was  honored  by  the  Legislature  of  1866  with  hav 
ing  his  name  given  to  a  new  county  then  established;  but  on  the 
coming  in  of  other  political  influences,  the  name  of  the  county 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  595 

was  changed  to  Sanford.  He  was  a  Democrat,  and  a  useful,  in 
dustrious  member  of  the  Senate,  bringing  to  the  discharge  of  his 
duties  a  large  experience  in  public  affairs,  and  an  honest  purpose. 
In  the  two  last  sessions  that  I  served  with  him,  he  was  often  called 
to  the  Chair,  and  displayed  intelligence  and  promptness  in  the  ad 
ministration  of  parliamentary  law,  giving  entire  satisfaction  to  the 
Senate.  He  still  resides  in  Fayette,  among  a  people  who  have 
long  honored  him  with  their  confidence,  and  whose  interests  he  has 
faithfully  served. 

WILLIAM  F.  PERRY,  elected  Superintendent  of  Public  Instruc 
tion,  was  a  teacher  of  high  grade,  and  brought  to  the  arduous  task 
of  launching  the  new  school  system,  abilities  that  were  considered 
equal  to  the  labor.  He  was  reelected  in  1857,  and  continued  to 
discharge  the  duties  of  his  station  for  some  time,  with  general  sat 
isfaction  to  the  Legislature  and  people. 

In  1862,  he  entered  the  Confederate  army,  and  was  advanced 
to  the  rank  of  Brigadier-General,  which  position  he  held  at  the 
surrender,  in  1865.  He  now  resides  in  Kentucky. 

Gen.  Perry  married  Miss  Brown,  a  daughter  of  George  P. 
Brown,  Esq.,  a  lawyer  from  Kentucky,  who  settled  at  an  early 
day  in  Talladega,  and  was  justly  regarded  as  one  of  the  most  tal 
ented  men  in  the  State.  Mr.  Brown  died  in  1839,  universally  re 
spected  in  his  life,  and  regretted  in  his  death.  His  wife  was  one 
of  the  accomplished  daughters  of  the  Hon.  Thomas  Chilton,  a 
gentleman  greatly  distinguished  in  his  day  as  a  lawyer,  as  a  mem 
ber  of  Congress,  and  as  a  minister  of  the  Gospel. 

ANDREW  A.  LIPSCOMB,  LL.  I),  was  born  and  educated  in  Vir 
ginia.  He  came  to  Alabama  in  early  manhood,  with  rare  faculties 
for  public  usefulness.  For  profound  and  varied  learning,  he,  per 
haps,  has  no  superior  in  the  country.  His  pulpit  ministrations, 
his  labors  as  a  teacher  in  schools,  seminaries,  and  colleges,  his 
accomplishments  as  a  writer,  the  grandeur  of  his  thoughts,  and 
the  earnestness  of  his  soul  for  the  welfare  of  men,  for  their  moral 
and  spiritual  illumination,  breathed  in  words  of  music,  place  him 
in  the  front  rank  of  scholars  and  divines  in  this  or  any  other  age. 
To  such  a  character,  it  is  scarcely  possible  to  do  justice  by  any 
effort  at  description,  however  strong  the  desire.  No  connected 
narrative  of  his  life  or  employments  will  be  attempted.  Mere 
fragments  must  suffice. 

A  Southern  gentleman  informed  me  that  while  he  was  on  a 
visit  to  the  city  of  New  York,  in  1857,  he  called  at  the  large 
publishing  house  of  Messrs.  Harper  &  Brothers,  and  was  politely 
shown  through  by  Mr.  Fletcher  Harper,  one  of  the  partners.  On 
seeing  the  presses  at  work,  throwing  off  the  monthly  edition  of 


596  «  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men,  in  Alabama. 

175,000  copies  of  the  "Magazine/7  the  visitor  remarked  to  his 
gentlemanly  guide,  that  he  was  surprised  to  find  any  one  man 
competent  to  write  the  articles  which  appeared  in  the  magazine 
under  the  head  of  "Editor's  Table,"  containing  such  a  variety  of 
learning  and  research  in  literature,  in  science,  and  philosophy,  all 
marked  with  intellect  of  the  highest  order.  Mr.  Harper  replied 
that  no  one  man  wrote  these  articles;  that  the  publishers  had  en 
gaged  the  very  ablest  men  in  different  parts  of  the  country  to  con 
tribute  in  this  department,  such  as  Dr.  Lipscomb,  of  Alabama, 
and  men  of  that  superior  class. 

About  the  year  1859,  Dr.  Lipscomb  was  formally  invited  by 
the  Trustees  of  the  University  of  Georgia  to  accept  the  new  office 
of  Chancellor  of  that  institution.  Since  that  time,  he  has  resided 
at  Athens,  performing  the  duties  of  that  honorable  and  useful  po 
sition,  much  to  the  prosperity  and  influence  of  a  seat  of  learning 
over  which  eminent  scholars  have  presided : 

1.  Josiah  Meigs,  Professor  of  Natural  Philosophy  and  Astron 
omy  in  Yale  College.     He  was  President  of  Franklin  College, 
or  University  of  Georgia,  from  1801  to  1811,  when  he  resigned. 

2.  Dr.  Brown,  Professor  of  Moral  Philosophy,  Columbia  Col 
lege,  South  Carolina,  succeeded,  and  resigned  in  1816. 

3.  Dr.  Finley,  of  New  Jersey,  was  then  elected  President,  who 
died  in  1819. 

4.  In  1819,  Dr.  Moses  Waddel,  of  South  Carolina,  took  charge 
of  the  University,  and  resigned  in  1829.     He  was  brother-in-law 
of  the  Hon.  John  C.  Calhoun. 

5.  Dr.  Alonzo  Church,  of  Brattleborough,  Vermont,  was  the 
next  President,  who  died  in  1859. 

In  November,  1860,  by  special  invitation  of  a  committee  of  the 
Georgia  Legislature,  Dr.  Lipscomb  delivered  a  discourse  before 
that  body  in  the  Representative  Hall,  which  was  listened  to  with 
almost  breathless  attention  from  first  to  last,  occupying  nearly  two 
hours.  The  audience  was  not  limited  to  members  of  the  General 
Assembly,  nor  to  official  persons,  but  included  a  large  concourse 
of  citizens  and  visitors.  It  was  afterward  published  by  order  of 
the  Legislature,  and  will  ever  rank  as  one  of  the  grandest  pro 
ductions  of  the  human  mind. 

The  health  of  Dr.  Lipscomb  having  been  impaired  by  his 
official  labors,  he  visited  Europe  in  the  Summer  of  186$,  from 
which  he  wrote  many  interesting  letters  for  publication,  giving  an 
account  of  the  institutions  of  learning  he  had  visited,  the  ancient 
establishments,  libraries,  and  works  of  note  he  had  seen,  together 
with  descriptions  of  his  journeys  from  important  points,  and  other 
matters  which,  dressed  up  in  his  fascinating  style,  were  truly  in 
teresting.  Most  of  these  "Letters"  were  addressed  to  the  Senior 


Meminiacerices  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  597 

Class  of  the  University,  and  if  collected,  would  form  a  very  in 
structive  volume. 

For  the  last  thirty  years,  Dr.  Lipscomb  has  been  a  contributor 
to  the  literary  and  religious  reviews,  and  other  periodicals  of  the 
country:  and  in  all  this  time,  and  upon  the  great  varjety  of  sub 
jects  which  he  has  examined  as  a  scholar  and  philosopher,  not  one 
of  his  articles  has  been  written  carelessly.  He  never  suffers  any 
thing  to  go  from  his  pen  that  is  attenuated  from  neglect.  No 
doubt  he  composes  rapidly,  yet  he  is  always  master  of  style  and 
taste  equal  to  the  finest  belles-lettres  standard.  In  this  respect, 
he  is  probably  in  advance  of  any  writer  of  the  day. 

Such  has  been  the  reputation  of  Dr.  Lipscomb  as  an  orator,  and 
as  a  mature  scholar,  that  he  has  been  called  upon  with  great  fre 
quency  to  address  literary  societies  at  college  commencements,  and 
other  similar  audiences,  even  in  different  States.  In  Alabama 
and  Georgia,  especially,  these  compliments  have  been  quite  pro 
fuse.  In  1845,  he  was  selected  by  the  Erosophic  and  Philoma- 
thic  Societies  of  the  University  of  Alabama,  and  on  the  19th  of 
December,  1845,  he  delivered  an  address  on  the  "Morbid  Exhi 
bitions  of  the  Mind,"  which  was  published  in  a  pamphlet  of  34 
pages.  A  committee,  consisting  of  M.  B.  Wellborn,  A.  L.  Har- 
alson,  and  O.  C.  Hall,  on  the  part  of  the  Erosophic,  and  of  E.  R. 
Ware,  J.  C.  Billingslea,  and  T.  J.  Molton,  on  the  part  of  the  Phi- 
lomathic  Society,  applied  to  Dr.  Lipscomb  for  a  copy  of  the 
address,  which  was  furnished,  frith  the  remark,  "I  feel  reluctant 
to  have  it  published,  prepared,  as  it  was,  in  great  haste,  and  amid* 
numerous  interruptions;  but  believing  that  you  are  entitled  to  the 
disposition  of  it,  I  waive  all  personal  considerations,  and  accede 
to  your  wishes." 

The  pulpit  discourses,  literary  addresses,  and  various  contribu 
tions  to  the  press,  by  Dr.  Lipscomb,  if  collected,  would  form  sev 
eral  volumes  in  print. 


598  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

CHAPTER  XXXIII. 

Session  of  1853  Concluded — Senators  and  Representatives  Sketched. 

At  the  session  of  1853,  several  new  Senators  took  their  seats. 
Some  of  these,  and  others  who  have  not  been  included  in  these 
"  Reminiscences,"  are  here  briefly  introduced. 

WILLIAM  A.  ASHLEY,  of  Conecuh,  was  the  youngest  man  in 
the  Senate,  although  he  had  served  through  the  sessions  of  1849 
and  1851.  What  he  lacked  in  experience,  he  made  up  in  ability. 
He  took  an  efficient  part  in  legislation,  and  was  a  good  debater. 
The  confidence  and  expectations  of  his  constituents  were  fully 
justified  by  his  public  course.  After  serving  his  term  of  four 
years  in  the  Senate,  he  retired,  to  engage  more  earnestly  in  his 
large  planting  pursuits.  Like  his  father,  he  was  a  Whig  in  poli 
tics,  and,  like  him,  had  represented  the  people  of  Conecuh  in  the 
other  end  of  the  Capitol.  They  were  both  men  of  influence. 

In  1865,  I  met  Mr.  Ashley  in  the  Senate,  to  which  he  had 
been  elected  from  Conecuh,  Covington,  and  Coffee,  and  we  served 
together  two  years,  were  upon  the  same  committee,  and,  in  fact, 
"messed  together  at  the  same  hotel.  I  thus  had  an  opportunity  of 
knowing  his  many  fine  qualities,  which  I  duly  appreciated.  His 
capacity  as  a  legislator  had  been  increased  by  experience,  though 
it  had  always  been  respectable.  In  his  friendships,  he  was  faith 
ful  and  sincere. 

While,  in  1860,  he  voted  for  Bell,  the  Union  candidate  ^for 
President,  and  was  opposed  to  secession  in  1861,  Mr.  Ashley  did 
not  falter  a  moment  in  sustaining  the  Southern  cause  throughout 
the  hard  struggle.  His  wealth  and  his  personal  services  were 
devoted  to  the  public  defense.  When  the  Reconstruction  policy 
of  Congress  came,  like  manacles,  upon  the  "rebel  States,"  he  de 
nounced  it  in  no  measured  terms. 

Mr.  Ashley  was  educated  at  the  Knoxville  University,  East- 
Tennessee.  While  completing  his  term  in  the  Senate,  his  health 
began  to  fail,  and  in  1869,  he  died — not  only  a  loss  to  his  family 
and  friends,  but  to  the  State  at  large.  He  had  not  attained  the 
meridian  of  life,  before  he  was  called  from  the  scene  of  his  use 
fulness. 

SAMUEL  R.  BLAKE,  of  Dallas,  was  a  North  Carolinian,  and  was 
raised  in  the  vicinity  of  Wilmington.  His  father  afterward  re 
moved  to  Macon,  Georgia,  where  he  married  a  second  time,  and 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  599 

became  a  party  in  a  very  extensive  litigation,  which  can  be  seen 
in  the  Georgia  Reports — Beall  vs.  Blake.  His  son  accompanied 
him  to  Macon,  where  he  opened  a  law  office,  and  for  several 
years  practiced  in  Bibb  and  the  adjoining  counties,  with  a  splendor 
of  eloquence  on  some  occasions  which  astonished  while  it  delighted 
his  listeners.  At  this  period,  he  seems  to  have  cultivated  the 
style  of  which  the  great  Irish  orator,  Phillips,  is  the  model. 
With  experience,  he  no  doubt  corrected  this  excess  of  imagina 
tion,  and  became  more  solid  in  his  forensic  displays. 

From  Georgia  he  removed  to  Alabama,  where,  by  some  turn  of 
fortune,  he  became  a  planter  of  considerable  means.  His  youth 
ful  aspirations  had  cooled  down  into  a  thoughtful,  even  reserved, 
mood,  so  much  so  that  it  was  with  difficulty  that  he  could  be  pre 
vailed  on  to  take  part  in  the  political  contests  of  the  day.  When 
aroused,  however,  he  showed  game  in  spirit,  and  vigor  in  action. 
In  1853,  he  was  elected  to  the  Senate,  and  had  the  unusual  honor 
of  being  appointed  Chairman  of  the  Judiciary  Committee  at  the 
first  and  only  session  in  which  he  served.  His  reports  sustained 
his  character  for  ability  and  industry,  while  in  debate  he  had  to 
grapple  with  such  men  as  Thomas  H.  Watts,  James  D.  Webb,  B. 
H.  Baker,  and  Charles  McLemore,  the  foremost  minds  of  the 
Senate;  and  in  the  Legislative  strife,  he  was  always  equal  to  the 
emergency,  which  is  no  small  praise. 

Mr.  Blake  had  a  very  engaging  personal  address,  and  was  a  re 
fined,  elegant  gentleman  in  social  life,  and  in  the  public  service. 
He  was  much  respected  by  those  who  knew  him.  In  1860,  he 
removed  to  Texas. 

GEX.  JACOB  TIPTOX  BRADFORD,  of  Talladega,  elected  in  1853, 
served  through  his  term  of  four  years  in  the  Senate  with  diligence 
and  activity  as  a  legislator.  He  had  great  experience  in  public 
aifairs,  was  master  of  all  political  questions,  and  could  give  such 
information  relative  to  men  and  events  as  to  make  his  society 
profitable  to  a  seeker  of  that  kind  of  knowledge. 

He  was  a  Tennesseean  by  birth.  His  family,  the  Tiptons  and 
Bradfords,  held  a  leading  position  in  the  State.  The  annals  of 
Tennessee  show  much  of  the  history,  the  actings  and  public  em 
ployments  represented  by  his  name.  Born  in  the  vicinity  of  Mor- 
ristown,  he  was  raised  and  grew  up  to  manhood  there  and  in  the 
vicinity  of  McMinnville.  In  youth,  he  was  generally  known  by 
the  short  name  of  Tip.  Like  many  of  the  sons  of  his  native 
State,  who  are  found  in  Indiana,  Missouri,  Mississippi,  and  Ala 
bama,  whose  energy  of  character  has  a  fair  prospect  of  reward,  he 
tried  his  fortunes  elsewhere,  after  closing  a  mercantile  business  at 
Winchester. 

About  the  year  1830,  he  married  Miss  Taul,  an  accomplished 


000  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

and  intelligent  lady,  daughter  of  Col.  Micah  Taul,  formerly  a 
member  of  Congress  from  Kentucky.  Not  long  afterward,  he  was 
appointed  by  President  Jackson,  Register  of  the  Land  Office,  then 
at  Montevallo,  but  subsequently  removed  to  Mardisville,  for  the 
Tallapoosa  Land  District;  a  situation  which  he  held  for  many 
years ;  and  although  a  Whig  in  politics,  such  was  his  efficiency  as 
a  public  officer,  and  the  strength  of  his  personal  character,  and 
that  of  his  family  name,  that  he  was  retained  amid  the  party  ran 
cor  of  that  day.  Indeed,  he  was  invulnerable,  and  I  never  heard 
of  any  movement  to  displace  him. 

In  1836,  he  was  elected  Major-General  of  the  Eighth  Division 
of  Alabama  militia,  and  he  forthwith  procured  suitable  equipments. 
At  a  military  review  in  1838  I  had  the  pleasure  of  seeing  him  in 
full  uniform,  every  inch  a  chief,  mounted  on  a  noble  charger,  and 
surrounded  by  a  brilliant  staff,  the  only  full  display  of  that  rank  I 
had  ever  seen.  The  sight  was  rare  then;  for  few  Major-Generals 
went  to  the  expense  of  equipping  themselves,  or  the  trouble  to 
attend  reviews.  But  Gen.  Bradford  did,  and  so  did  Brigadier- 
General  McClellan,  and  they  were  together,  each  with  his  staff; 
and  to  complete  the  array  there  was  also  present  the  Adjutant  and 
Inspector,  Gen.  James  G.  Carroll.  As  I  then  pondered  in  my 
mind,  I  mentally  exclaimed,  What  a  collection  of  fine-looking 
men,  well  mounted,  on  richly  comparisoned  steeds,  with  chapeaus, 
swords,  gold  lace,  and  epaulets  and  sashes,  with  whatever  else  was 
necessary  for  officers  of  this  rank ! 

By  an  act  of  the  General  Assembly,  passed  in  1836,  Generals 
Bradford  and  Crabb  were  appointed  to  digest  and  prepare  a  Mili 
tary  Code,  which  they  submitted  in  the  Fall  of  1837,  and  it  was 
adopted,  and  known  for  years  as  Bradford's  and  Crabb's  Digest. 

General  Bradford  continued  to  cooperate  with  the  Whig  party 
until  1851,  when  the  questions  of  absorbing  interest  to  the  South 
brought  him  into  alliance  with  the  Democratic  party.  His  per 
sonal  relations  and  influences  all  the  while  were  the  same,  and  al 
ways  respectable,  giving  him  in  all  assemblages,  Whig  or  Demo 
cratic,  a  commanding  position  in  society. 

In  1860,  he  was  a  delegate  to  the  National  Convention  at 
•  Charleston,  participating  warmly  with  the  leading  minds  of  that 
exciting  period,  in  measures  to  save  the  country,  if  possible,  from 
the  dangers  which  menaced  it.  After  secession,  in  1861,  when 
the  State  assumed  the  proprietorship  of  the  public  domain  within 
her  limits,  he  was  elected  Commissioner  of  the  General  Land- 
Office,  a  place  which  he  held  through  the  war.  His  health  had 
been  long  in  a  decline,  and  losing  his  excellent  wife,  he  died  a 
short  time  after  the  war  ended. 

For  upwards  of  thirty  years  Gen.  Bradford  was  prominently 
connected  with  the  politics  and  the  public  men  of  Alabama,  with 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  601 

with  a  very  extensive  acquaintance.  In  conversation  he  was 
guarded,  yet  fluent  and  entertaining.  While  in  the  Senate,  he 
took  part  in  the  debates,  and  was  a  good  public  speaker.  Clear 
headed,  cool,  always  self-possessed,  courageous,  without  bluster, 
he  was  respectful  in  his  intercourse  with  men,  and  always  main 
tained  the  bearing  of  a  gentleman.  One  son  represents  him,  the 
Hon.  Taul  Bradford,  of  Talladega,  a  prominent  lawyer,  and  mem 
ber  of  the  Legislature. 

JAMES  S.  DICKINSON  was,  in  1853,  the  Senator  from  the  Clarke 
District — his  only  term.  His  abilities  as  a  lawyer,  and  his  business 
capacity,  were  recognized  by  his  appointment  as  Chairman  of  the 
Committee  on  Finance  and  Taxation.  This  gave  him  rank  and 
influence  on  the  floor.  The  duties  of  the  place  were  competently 
performed.  His  address  was  pleasant. 

In  1863,  he  was  elected  from  the  Mobile  District  to  a  seat  in 
the  Confederate  Congress,  of  which  body  he  was  a  member  until 
its  dissolution  in  April,  1865,  when  Gen.  Lee's  line  of  defense 
was  broken,  and  the  Federal  army  marched  on  Richmond.  Since 
the  war  he  has  been  engaged  in  the  practice  of  the  law  in  Clarke 
county.  He  has  been  always  regarded  with  much  public  favor — 
being  an  agreeable  companion,  and  honorable  in  all  the  relations 
of  life.  In  politics  he  is  a  Democrat. 

GEN.  JOSEPH  P.  FRAZIER,  of  Jackson,  was  in  the  Senate  when 
I  became  connected  with  the  Legislature  as  Assistant  Clerk  of  the 
House,  in  1837,  and  served  a  term  of  three  years.  He  was  an 
officer  in  the  Indian  war,  in  Florida,  1836,  where  he  made  a  rep 
utation,  and  immediately  upon  his  return  he  was  elected  a  Major- 
General  of  militia.  He  was  elected  to  the  House  in  1843,  and 
has  served  in  one  branch  or  the  other  of  the  General  Assembly 
almost  every  session  to  the  close  of  1853,  which  terminated  his 
connection  with  the  Senate.  His  name  has  frequently  been  on 
the  Electoral  ticket  for  President  and  Vice-President  of  the 
United  States,  and,  of  course,  he  was  never  defeated  as  such. 

In  January,  1852,  lie  was  President  of  the  Democratic  State 
Convention,  and  by  his  political  strength  and  influence  greatly 
aided  in  reorganizing  the  divided  party.  At  the  commencement 
of  the  session,  in  1853,  he  was  the  nominee  of  the  Democratic 
party  for  President  of  the  Senate,  but  was  defeated  by  Col.  W.  B. 
Martin.  This  was,  no  doubt,  a  disappointment  to  Gen.  Frazier,  as 
it  was  to  his  party  friends,  who  thought  his  long  term  of  service, 
added  to  the  claims  of  the  county  of  Jackson  he  had  so  long  faith 
fully  represented,  entitled  him  to  the  compliment,  as  he  was  amply 
qualified  for  the  place. 

Gen.  Frazier  possessed  a  very  respectable  order  of  intelligence, 


602  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

with  much  solidity  of  character,  and  fine  practical  business  quali 
ties  as  a  legislator.  In  all  deliberations  with  which  he  was  con 
nected,  he  took  a  leading  part,  and  was  certainly  entitled  to  the 
appellation  of  a  faithful  public  servant,  honest  and  honorable  in 
ail  the  relations  of  life.  He  was  commanding  in  his  personal  ap 
pearance,  and  of  dignified  address,  which  would  cause  him  to  be 
noticed  in  any  collection  cf  men.  His  early  habits  of  life,  and 
strict  devotion  to  business,  made  him  somewhat  unsocial,  and  he 
was  not  much  inclined  to  mingle  in  society.  He  died  several 
years  ago. 

DR.  ALLEN  KIMBALL,  of  Tallapoosa,  by  birth  and  education  a 
Georgian,  was  elected  to  the  Senate  in  1853.  He  had  served  in 
the  House  through  the  sessions  of  1844  and  1845.  In  the  medi 
cal  profession,  he  was  reported  to  be  skillful.  He  certainly  dis 
played  fair  abilities  in  the  Legislature,  both  on  committees  and  in 
debate.  But  the  leading  quality  for  which  he  was  particularly 
distinguished  was  his  good  humor  and  pleasant  jokes,  to  which 
there  seemed  to  be  no  limit.  He  had  a  good  word  and  a  merry 
thought  on  every  occasion  when  such  a  disposition  could  be  prop 
erly  indulged. 

Dr.  Kimball  was  a  Whig,  devoted  to  his  party  and  his  princi 
ples — well  skilled  in  management,  and  had  great  influence  in  the 
councils  and  movements  of  his  party.  His  conversational  powers 
were  very  attractive,  and  he  was  the  life  of  every  circle  in  which 
Jie  moved. 

In  1860,  he  voted  for  Mr.  Bell  for  President,  and  in  the  Janu 
ary  Convention  of  1861,  he  voted  against  the  Ordinance  of  Seces 
sion  ;  but  after  the  State  had  planted  herself  upon  her  sovereignty, 
he  gave  all  the  aid  in  his  power  for  her  safety  and  defense.  As 
the  result  of  the  war,  Dr.  Kimball  experienced  his  share  of  re 
verses,  and  died  in  the  early  part  of  1871. 

.  JAMES  D.  WEBB,  of  Greene,  educated  at  the  University  of 
Alabama,  was  a  son  of  Judge  William  Y.  Webb,  and  was  distin 
guished  for  his  intellectual  faculties  when  a  mere  youth.  He 
served  in  the  House  as  early  as  1843,  and  at  other  periods,  as  a 
faithful  Representative.  He  was  a  lawyer,  and  his  professional 
character,  promising  and  respectable  from  the  start,  was  always 
advancing  with  his  experience. 

In  politics,  he  was  a  Whig,  and  was  rea^y  at  all  times  to  meet 
an  opponent  in  discussion.  While  assailing  the  policy  of  the  Dem 
ocratic  party,  and  denouncing  their  measures,  he  was  at  times  so 
animated,  and  so  carried  away  by  his  indignation,  applying  such 
terms  of  rebuke,  that  a  hearer  would  conclude  all  personal  court 
esies  were  at  an  end  after  the  debate.  r  But  such  was  not  the  fact. 


iiteminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabaina.  603 

He  would  instantly  resume  his  kind  and  friendly  manner  with, 
gentlemen  of  the  Democratic  party,  as  if  no  sparring  had  taken 
place.  His  talents  and  his  moral  elevation  always  sustained  him, 
and  commanded  respect. 

In  person,  he  was  below  the  medium  size,  but  well  formed,  and 
very  graceful  in  all  his  movements,  with  an  elasticity  of  address 
which  gained  universal  favor.  His  conversational  powers  were 
very  engaging.  Courteous  and  pleasant  in  social  intercourse,  and 
not  less  so  with  his  fellow-members  of  the  Legislature,  he  was 
bold  and  fearless  in  presenting  his  views  on  any  question  where 
his  sense  of  duty  led. 

Col.  Webb  was  a  delegate  in  the  Convention  of  January,  1861, 
and  took  an  active  part  in  its  proceedings.  He  supported  the 
Ordinance  of  Secession,  and  when  war  ensued,  he  entered  the 
service  of  the  Confederate  States,  devoting  himself  faithfully  to 
the  cause.  Pie  had  attained  the  rank  of  Colonel,  when,  in  one  of 
the  battles,  probably  in  Tennessee,  he  was  killed  while  gallantly 
leading  his  command.  I  have  endeavored  to  obtain  his  war  record 
for  insertion  here,  in  justice  to  the  memory  of  one  of  Alabama's 
noblest  sons,  but  have  failed. 

Judge  William  P.  Webb,  of  Eutaw,  is  a  brother  of  Col.  Webb, 
and  his  excellent  qualities  as  a  lawyer  and  citizen  are  in  harmony 
with  the  character  of  his  lamented  kinsman. 

MEMBERS  OF  THE  HOUSE. 

The  popular  branch  of  the  General  Assembly  contained  a  large 
amount  of  talent  and  experience,  and  many  gentlemen  who  served 
through  the  session  of  1853  have  been  previously  noticed  in  this 
work  —  among  whom  were  Major  Hubbard,  L.  P.  and  Percy 
Walker,  John  Cochran,  James  E.  Belser,  Thomas  J.  Judge,  D. 
C.  Humphreys,  R.  T.  Scott,  and  others.  There  were  many  young 
members  of  promise,  some  of  whom  will  be  noticed  in  this  chapter. 

i 

CHARLES  A.  ABERCOMBIE,  of  Macoii,  was  connected  with  the 
large  and  influential  family  of  his  name.  He  was  favored  with 
an  attractive  person,  had  fine  social  qualities,  was  good-humored 
and  companionable,  though  firm  and  positive  in  his  convictions 
and  conduct,  but  indulgent  in  his  friendships. 

He  had  been  Sheriff  of  Macon  county,  and  afterward,  for  three 
or  four  years,  kept  the  Madison  House,  in  Montgomery,  which 
gave  him  an  extensive,  acquaintance,  decidedly  favorable  by  the 
manner  in  which  he  dispensed  the  courtesies  of  his  house.  Re 
turning  to  his  county,  he  was,  in  1853,  elected  to  the  House  as  a 
Whig,  and  served  through  the  session,  maintaining  pleasant  rela 
tions  with  his  fellow-members.  He  was  no  speaker,  and  did  not 


604  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

occupy  the  floor  in  that  capacity,  but  was  otherwise  not  less  effi 
cient  and  useful.  A  few  years  thereafter,  he  removed  to  Texas, 
where  he  still  resides. 

ISAAC  BELL,  JR.,  of  Mobile,  was  returned  to  the  House  in 
1853,  and  served  through  the  session — his  only  one.  He  was  a 
Northern  man,  and  settled  in  the  city  of  Mobile  about  the  year 
1840,  and  engaged  in  commercial  pursuits,  in  which  he  was  emi 
nently  successful. 

Fully  in  alliance  with  the  Democratic  party,  he  had  for  years 
taken  an  active  part  in  the  political  movements  of  the  day,  and  in 
1853,  was  placed  on  the  ticket  of  his  party,  and  elected.  He  had 
been  well  educated,  especially  in  the  commercial  and  banking 
departments.  His  general  reading  was  good,  and  he  brought  to 
the  discharge  of  his  legislative  duties  business  capacity  and  intel 
ligence  which,  with  high  social  qualities,  made  his  service  profit 
able  and  pleasant.  As  a  member  of  the  Committee  of  Ways  and 
Means  (to  wThich  place  he  was  assigned  as  the  particular  repre 
sentative  of  the  interest  of  Mobile  in  the  matter  of  taxation),  be 
rendered  valuable  aid,  and  exercised,  in  the  deliberations  of  that 
Committee,  a  marked  influence. 

As  Chairman  of  the  Joint  Committee  upon  the  financial  situa 
tion  exhibited  in  Mr.  Lyon's  report,  he  made  a  report  to  the 
House  well  digested,  showing  the  progress  for  several  years  in 
reducing  the  public  debt,  which  was  much  commended  for  its 
clearness,  and  full  comprehension  of  the  subject-matter.  Mr. 
Bell  was  popular  in  the  Legislature,  and  was  selected,  by  the 
friends  of  the  measure,  to  introduce  a  bill  making  a  loan  of  $400,- 
000  to  the  Mobile  &  Ohio.  Kailroad  Company,  then  much  strait 
ened  ;  and  the  result  proved  the  wisdom  of  the  choice.  He  was 
much  enlisted  in  the  passage  of  the  bill,  and  when  it  was  taken 
up  for  consideration,  I  shall  never  forget  the  flush  of  excitement 
under  which  he  rose,  and  addressing  the  Chair,  said — "That,  Mr. 
Speaker,  is  my  bill."  Without  much  pretension  to  delivery,  he 
addressed  the  House  more  in  a  colloquial  style  than  with  the  for 
mality  of  a  set  speech,  and  with  such  blandness  of  manner  and 
earnest  sincerity,  that  when  he  concluded,  the  bill,  after  being 
amended  in  some  respects,  and  altogether  agreeable  to  him,  passed 
by  a  large  majority. 

I  notice  this  circumstance  in  justice  to  Mr.  Bell,  who  has  long 
since  ceased  his  connection  with  the  State  as  a  citizen.  After  the 
grant  of  this  loan,  many  others  were  proposed  by  the  friends  of 
different  roads,  but  they  failed.  It  was  his  gratifying  privilege  to 
return  to  his  constituents,  as  the  only  successful  applicant  for  such 
an  accommodation.  And  yet  it  was  a  dangerous  precedent,  and 
one  that  would  have  involved  the  State  in  serious  embarrassment, 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  605 

but  for  the  firm  opposition  of  the  Executive — Governor  Winston. 
Mr.  Bell  has  for  years  resided  in  New  York,  engaged  in  commer 
cial  and  financial  pursuits. 

AUGUSTUS  BEXNERS,  of  Greene,  is  a  native  of  North  Carolina, 
where  he  was  educated,  and  grew  to  manhood;  graduating  in  the 
University  at  Chapel  Hill,  in  the  class  of  1837.  Removing  to 
Alabama  when  young,  he  settled  in  Greenesboro  as  a  lawyer  pre 
vious  to  1840.  By  close  application  to  study,  by  manly  persever 
ance,  and  by  great  probity  of  character,  he  secured  a  high  rank  at 
the  bar  and  in  the  community. 

In  1853,  he  took  his  seat  in  the  House  for  the  first  time.  He 
was  placed  on  the  Judiciary  Committee,  and  rendered  efficient  aid 
by  his  industry  and  counsels.  In  the  debates  on  the  floor,  he 
exhibited  much  knowledge  of  government,  and  a  mastery  of  legal 
questions,  which  placed  him  on  the  list  of  rising  men.  Withal, 
his  social  qualities  were  agreeable  and  lively,  which  made  him  a 
general  favorite. 

In  1861  and  1863,  he  returned  to  the  House,  where  I  again 
met  him  in  legislative  council,  and  in  the  meantime  had  the  pleas 
ure  of  his  conversation  and  society,  which  I  esteemed  as  an  enjoy 
ment.  We  conversed  frequently  together  on  the  ways  and  means 
by  which  the  State  could  be*  kept  up.  He  was  Chdirman  of  the 
Committee  on  the  Military  in  1863-4,  and  labored  with  his  accus 
tomed  energy  and  ability  to  accomplish  the  best  ends  with  the 
means  at  command.  Pie  knows  the  hard  work  he  accomplished, 
and  has  the  satisfaction  to  reflect,  that  in  this  trying  period  his 
efforts  were  untiring. 

Mr.  Benners  was  a  Whig  under  the  oid  classification,  open  and 
firm  in  his  principles.  He  still  resides  in  Greenesboro,  now  Hale 
county,  where  he  is  justly  esteemed  for  his  legal  attainments  and 
personal  qualities. 

NEW  BERN  HOBBS  BROWN,  of  Tuskaloosa,  was  raised  in  the 
county,  and  completed  his  education  at  the  University,  near  his 
father's  residence.  He  studied  law,  and  was  admitted  to  the 
practice.  In  1853,  he  was  elected  to  the  House  for  the  first  time, 
and  was  reflected  in  1855,  1857,  and  1859,  which  embraces  a 
period  of  eight  years  of  public  service,  without  abatement  in  the 
confidence  of  his  constituents.  Considering  the  times,  and  the 
many  new  questions  presented,  this  was  no  slight  compliment  to 
his  intelligence  and  force  of  character. 

At  his  first  session,  being  young  and  diffident,  he  remained 
quiet  on  the  floor  until  toward  the  close,  when  some  measure  im 
mediately  affecting  the  interests  of  his  county  was  taken  up, 
especially  the  appropriation  to  complete  the  Hospital  for  the  In- 


606 *  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

sane.  In  support  of  this  bill,  he  made  a  good  speech,  which  had 
a  favorable  impression  upon  the  House,  and  gave  him  a  respecta 
ble  standing  in  debate.  I  remember  how  embarrassed  he  was 
upon  rising  to  address  the  House,  and  how  he  was  oppressed  by 
a  sense  of  the  importance  of  the  occasion,  and  the  subject;  but  he 
stood,  as  a  Representative,  almost  in  the  attitude  of  entire  re 
sponsibility,  and  proved  himself  equal  to  the  task.  Dr.  Creagh 
came  to  his  aid,  and  the  bill  passed,  but  encountered  Gov.  Win 
ston's  veto,  and  was  lost  for  that  session.  If  I  mistake  not,  Mr. 
Brown  still  resides  in  Tuskaloosa  county. 

THOMAS  J.  BURNETT,  of  Butler,  came  to  the  House  as  a  mem 
ber  in  1853.  He  had  been  several  years  a  merchant,  with  fine 
intelligence  and  business  capacity,  which  made  him  at  once  a  use 
ful  member.  His  legislative  duties  were  faithfully  performed. 
In  1857,  he  was  returned  to. the  Senate,  and  again  to  the  House 
in  1861. 

In  1856,  he  was  a  delegate  to  the  National  Democratic  Conven 
tion  at  Cincinnati,  which  nominated  Mr.  Buchanan  for  the  Pres 
idency;  and  in  1860,  he  was  a  delegate  to  the  Charleston  Con 
vention.  In  Major  Burnett's  connection  with  public  life,  he  de 
veloped,  as  he  advanced,  abilities  of  a  very  respectable  class,  and 
became  an  earnest  and  animated  speaker.  I  heard  him  at  the 
Charleston  Convention,  where  it  required  a  good  deal  of  nerve  to 
speak  before  such  an  assemblage,  and  was  impressed  with  his  self- 
possession,  and  the  ease  and  fluency  with  which  he  expressed 
himself.  He  entered  the  Confederate  service  and  was  promoted 
to  the  rank  of  Major,  and,  so  far  as  I  have  been  informed,  ren 
dered  gallant  aid  to  a  cause  which  he  had  espoused  with  a  warmth 
and  zeal  of  a  sanguine  temperament.  He  resides  in  Greenville. 

WALTER  COOK,  of  Lowndes,  a  young  lawyer,  took  a  seat  for 
the  first  time  in  the  House  in  1853.  He  was  liberally  educated, 
had  a  fine  person,  was  ardent  in  his  feelings,  and  especially  sensi 
tive  for  the  honor  and  rights  of  his  native  South.  He  was  a  good 
representative  of  Southern  character  in  its  first  stages  of  devel 
opment.  He  had  seen  much  of  the  world,  and  knew  its  crooked 
ways,  and  especially  the  traps  and  pitfalls  set  for  inexperienced 
youth. 

Whecr  a  bill  was  before  the  House  to  punish  and  suppress  gam 
ing,  Mr.  Cook  frankly  gave  his  experience  to  the  House  while  on 
his  travels  among  strangers.  He  described  the  tricks  of  the  shark 
to  attract  young  men  to  the  den  of  the  tiger — what  ingenious  plans 
and  devices  were  used  to  make  him  a  victim.  It  was  successful 
to  a  certain  extent,  but  not  enough  to  do  him  serious  injury.  The 
lesson  it  taught  had  been  of  great  advantage  to  him,  and  he  earn- 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  607 

estly  appealed  to  the  House  to  harpoon  the  shark,  and  muzzle  the 
tiger,  so  as  to  prevent  the  mischief  they  were  inflicting  upon 
society.  The  gaming  table,  he  maintained,  was  a  great  evil  in 
the  land,  and  ought  to  be  suppressed. 

The  speech  and  experience  of  Mr.  Cook  had  a  salutary  eifect  on 
the  members  of  the  House,  and  contributed  to  give  a  proper 
direction  to  the  bill.  His  age  placed  him  in  the  circle  of  young 
men,  yet  his  thoughts  were  mature,  and  as  a  member  of  the  Com 
mittee  on  Education,  he  assisted  in  getting  up  the  bill  establish 
ing  a  system  of  public  schools,  and  became  identified  with  that 
important  measure. 

After  the  session  closed,  he  engaged  in  planting ;  but  the  war 
aroused  his  Southern  blood,  and  he  entered  the  service  as  Cap 
tain,  and  displayed,  by  his  constancy  and  zeal,  the  character  of  a 
patriot  and  brave  man.  In  one  of  the  battles  of  Virginia,  he  was 
mortally  wounded,  and  died  a  martyr  to  the  cause  which  his  convic 
tions  of  duty  led  him  to  espouse  heartily.  In  his  death,  the  State 
lost  a  noble  and  true  son. 

DR.  MEMORABLE  W.  CREAGH,  of  Marengo,  was  first  elected 
to  the  House  in  1849,  and  was  again  returned  in  1853.  His 
father,  Mr.  Thomas  B.  Creagh,  was  one  of  the  early  settlers  upon 
the  rich  lands  of  Wilcox,  and  died  an  opulent  planter,  leaving 
several  sons: 

1.  Col.  Gerard  W.  Creagh,  long  time  a  Senator,  and  heretofore 
noticed  in  this  work. 

2.  Judge  John  G.  Creagh,  of  Clarke — for  many  years  Judge  of 
the  County  Court,  and  a  member  of  the  Legislature,  a  lawyer  of 
very  respectable  legal  position,  and  planter  of  solid  substance — who 
died  many  years  ago,  leaving  an  intelligent  and  accomplished 
widow,  who  became  the  wife  of  A.  B.  Cooper,  Esq. 

3.  Alexander  Creagh,  an  intelligent  planter,  and  a  gentleman 
of  fine  culture  and  standing,  who  has  been  dead  several  years. 

4.  Dr.  M.  W.  Creagh,  now  specially  noticed. 

This  family,  father  and  sons,  had  as  much  wealth  and  character 
as  any  in  South-Alabama,  and,  as  the  record  shows,  a  warm  and 
devoted  public  spirit. 

Dr.  Creagh  has  been  well  educated,  and  carries,  in  his  address 
the  evidence  that  he  has  been  raised  in  polished  society.  Always 
accustomed  to  wealth  and  refinement,  it  is  natural  that  he  should 
be  a  high-toned  Southern  gentleman,  of  which  class  he  is  a  true 
representative.  While  ardent  in  his  attachments,  and  indulgent 
in  his  feelings,  his  soul  takes  fire  when  the  rights  and  the  honor 
of  the  South  are  drawn  in  question,  or  put  to  hazard.  These  he 
is  at  all  times  ready  to  support  and  defend  at  any  peril.  Under 
the  old  classification  of  parties,  Dr.  Creagh  was  a  Whig. 


608  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

I  have  long  and  closely  observed  the  course  of  public  men;  but 
in  my  whole  acquainiance  I  have  never  known  one  more  sincerely 
devoted  to  the  interests,  honor,  and  prosperity  of  the  State  than 
Dr.  Creagh.  He  was  a  good  speaker,  and  had  considerable  influ 
ence  on  the  floor  of  the  House.  In  the  debate  on  the  appropria 
tion  to  complete  the  Hospital  for  the  Insane,  he  made  a  strong 
and  beautiful  effort.  The  question  was  wholly  free  from  politics, 
and  his  soul  overflowed  with  arguments  in  behalf  of  a  class  not 
capable  of  appealing  for  themselves.  The  fountains  of  humanity 
were  opened,  and  his  language  was  so  forcible  and  eloquent  that 
many  gentlemen  changed  their  purpose  and  voted  for  the  bill. 
This,  if  I  mistake  not,  was  the  last  speech  of  any  moment  he 
made  in  the  House,  and,  whether  by  design  or  not,  it  was  not 
likely  that  he  could  have  improved  upon  it.  Dr.  Creagh  died 
in  1872. 

ROBERT  S.  HATCHER,  of  Dallas,  was  a  member  of  the  House 
as  far  back  as  1841,  and  was  several  times  elected  to  one  or  the 
other  end  of  the  Capitol.  He  again  appeared  in  the  House  in 
1853.  He  was  a  planter  of  large  means,  a  Whig,  and  a  jovial, 
good-humored,  kind-hearted  man,  who  generally  had  a  pleasant 
word  or  a  good  joke  for  his  fellow-members,  without  regard  to  po 
litical  associations.  He  seldom  said  anything  in  the  way  of  a 
speech,  but  he  was,  nevertheless,  attentive  to  his  duties  as  a  mem 
ber  and  a  committee-man,  and  mindful  of  the  interests  of  his  con 
stituents,  including  those  of  the  State.  He  was  usually  the  center 
of  a  good-humored  circle,  and  was  regarded  with  much  favor  by 
his  fellow-members. 

NOTE. — It  is  painful  to  add  that  Mr.  Hatcher  was  killed,  and  his  body  horribly 
mangled  by  a  railroad  train,  near  Selma,  March  30,  1872. 

GIBSON  F.  HILL,  of  Chambers,  served  only  through  the  session 
of  1853,  in  the  House.  He  was  a  lawyer,  and  had  received  a 
good  education  in  Georgia,  where  he  was  raised,  but  he  never  en 
gaged  much  in  the  practice  of  his  profession. 

He  came  to  the  Legislature  with  the  project  of  a  lottery,  to  raise 
money  for  the  endowment  of  a  Military  and  Scientific  Academy, 
in  Chambers  county,  where  he  proposed  to  teach  and  educate  a 
certain  number  of  indigent  young  men,  and  his  efforts,  quietly 
directed,  succeeded  in  getting  such  a  bill  through  both  Houses, 
without  that  due  reflection  and  examination  which  ought  to  have 
governed.  The  measure  was  fraught  with  mischief.  The  Agency 
was  given  to  a  sharp  man,  Mr.  Samuel  Swan,  and  every  appli 
ance  brought  to  bear  on  the  public  mind  to  excite  it  to  dealing  in 
tickets,  with  a  prospect  of  getting  rich.  Some  drew  prizes,  of 
course,  and  this  was  heralded  over  the -country,  and  others  ven- 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  609 

tured ;  and  on  it  went  in  its  influences  and  ravages,  taking  money 
out  of  the  pockets  of  men  of  all  classes,  and  appropriating  it  to 
individual  uses,  until  the  country,  in  many  portions,  was  impover 
ished  of  money. 

The  Agent,  in  the  meantime,  from  being  an  operative  in  a  jew 
eler's  store,  rose  to  the  position  of  a  banker,  and  with  the  surplus 
of  his  abundant  means  planned  and  built  (at  a  cost,  it  is  said,  of 
$40,000)  the  fine  residence  in  Montgomery,  owned,  in  his  life 
time,  by  Col.  Seibels.  How  much  fell  to  the  lot  of  Col.  Gibson 
F.  Hill,  in  this  transaction,  I  never  heard;  but  he  ought  to  have 
received  a  good  sum  to  compensate  for  the  "wear  and  tear"  of 
such  a  proceeding,  gotten  up  by  him  with  the  most  plausible  pre 
texts,  to  obtain  money  without  a  valid  consideration,  from  an  over- 
credulous  people.  This  is  the  only  measure  with  which  he  was 
identified  during  his  service  in  the  Legislature.  Col.  Hill  was 
favored  with  an  attractive  person,  and  cultivated,  insinuating  man 
ners,  which  secured  him  access  to  the  better  feelings  of  his  fellow- 
members. 

KiCHABD  F.  INGE,  of  Greene,  served  only  through  the  session 
of  1853.  He  was  a  young  man,  Avell  educated,  and  a  planter,  with 
strong  family  alliances  and  the  prestige  of  name  which  gave  him 
at  once  a  favorable  reception.  He  held  a  very  respectable  rank 
with  the  young  members  of  the  House,  was  diligent  and  watchful, 
and  always  able  to  advocate  or  oppose  on  the  floor  any  measure 
wrhich  he  approved,  or  disapproved.  He  was  particularly  vigilant 
in  relation  to  the  Treasury,  and  of  the  many  leakages  by  which  the 
public  money  goes  out.  I  think  he  was  a  son  of  Dr.  Richard  Inge. 

In  the  late  troubles,  Major  Inge  entered  the  service  of  the 
Confederate  States  with  a  zeal  and  courage  which  might  be  ex 
pected  from  his  raising,  and  the  influence  of  his  paternal  example. 
The  last  time  I  saw  and  talked  with  him  was  in  1863,  returning 
through  Montgomery  to  his  command  in  Virginia,  after  a  short 
furlough.  Soon  afterward,  in  one  of  the  battles  in  that  State,  he 
was  killed  while  leading  his  command  in  action.  Thus  bravely 
fell  another  of  the  sous  of  Greene  county,  who  sacrificed  their 
lives  to  the  Southern  cause. 

ANDREW  JAY,  of  Conecuh,  was  returned  to  the  House  for  the 
first  time  in  1853,  and  was  reflected  in  1855.  He  had  fair  abili 
ties  for  legislation,  was  an  attentive  observer  of  proceedings,  al 
ways  at  his  post,  and  was  much  respected  by  his  fellow-members. 
In  a  party  sense,  he  was  a  Whig,  and  on  all  questions  purely  polit 
ical,  he  adhered  rigidly  to  his  party  principles;  but  in  other  re 
spects  he  was  liberal,  and  gave  his  support  to  such  measures  of 
State  policy  as  he  deemed  most  likely  to  promote  the  public  wel- 
39 


610  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

fare.  He  still  resides  in  Conecuh  county,  occupying  a  respectable 
place  in  the  pulpit  of  the  Baptist  Church,  and  is  much  respected 
for  his  moral  teachings. 

ROBERT  MURPHY,  of  DeKalb,  concluded  a  long  term  of  service 
in  the  Legislature  at  the  session  of  1853.  He  was  first  elected  to 
the  House  in  1843,  and  from  that  time  there  were  few  meetings 
of  the  General  Assembly  that  Bob  Murphy,  as  he  was  familiarly 
called,  was  not  there  with  credentials  to  take  his  seat.  I  think  he 
was  never  beaten.  He  watched  the  political  elements,  and  never 
ventured  out  in  murky  weather,  but  would  make  some  plausible 
excuse  for  staying  at  home.  He  possessed  a  far-seeing  sagacity 
and  discretion,  and  seldom  failed  in  carrying  any  one  of  his  meas 
ures.  His  fund  of  wit  and  good-humor  was  inexhaustible,  and  he 
was  seldom  at  a  loss  for  a  reply,  which  was  generally  pointed  and 
pithy,  as  could  be  shown  if  I  had  room  for  some  of  the  specimens. 

Soon  after  his  last  session  in  Alabama,  Mr.  Murphy  removed  to 
Arkansas,  where  it  was  not  long  before  he  attracted  the  notice  of 
the  people,  by  whom  he  was  elected  to  the  State  Senate,  in  which 
capacity  he  was  serving  when  the  Federal  troops  overrun  that 
State  during  the  war.  He  was  arrested,  and  required  to  take  the 
oath  of  allegiance  to  the  United  States,  which  refusing  to  do,  as 
he  had  taken  the  oath  to  the  Confederate  Government,  he 'was 
cast  into  prison,  and  there  died.  In  this  act,  he  exhibited  the 
steadfastness  of  purpose  which  belonged  to  his  character,  and  which 
marked  his  whole  public  life  in  Alabama. 

Few  men  said  more  things,  in  his  way,  to  be  laughed  at;  and 
at  this  distance,  whenever  the  events  and  men  of  that  period  are 
canvassed  among  friends,  in  social  review,  Bob  Murphy,  with  his 
droll  wit,  and  humor,  and  waggery,  comes  up  in  kind  and  tender 
remembrance. 

SIDNEY  B.  PAYNE,  of  Macon,  was  a  Captain  in  the  Mexican 
war,  from  which  he  returned  with  a  fine  reputation  for  gallantry 
and  good  conduct,  which  won  for  him  great  esteem.  In  politics, 
he  was  a  Whig. 

He  was  elected  to  the  House  in  1853,  and  with  bland  and  gentle 
manners,  and  with  a  fair  capacity  for  legislation,  he  soon  obtained 
the  good  opinion  of  all  who  came  within  the  circle  of  his  acquaint 
ance.  He  was  modest  and  retiring  in  his  disposition,  and  without 
seeking  public  favor,  he  was  largely  a  recipient  on  the  merits  of 
his  character.  He  had  the  entire  confidence  and  respect  of  his 
fellow-members.  Honest  and  faithful  in  all  situations,  he  was  a 
gentleman  to  be  trusted  and  to  be  loved.  All  his  virtues  were 
crowned  by  a  deeply  religious  principle,  and  he  exhibited  every 
where  the  graces  and  attractions  of  a  true  Christian  gentleman. 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  611 

Captain  Payne  had  no  taste  for  public  life,  nor  for  the  competi 
tions  and  management  by  which  it  is  usually  attained.  By  birth 
and  education,  he  was  a  Georgian,  and  also  a  member  of  the  bar, 
and  a* planter.  He  still  resides  in  Macon  county. 

GEORGE  C.  PHILLIPS,  of  Dallas,  had  served  in  the  Legislature 
previous  to  1853,  when  he  was  again  elected  to  the  House.  His 
father,  Dr.  George  C.  Phillips,  in  former  days,  and  his  brother, 
William  S.  Phillips,  more  recently,  had  a  long  experience  in  the 
General  Assembly,  where  their  superior  judgment  and  general 
strength  of  character  commanded  respect.  They  belonged  to  the 
Whig  school  of  politicians. 

Mr.  Phillips,  the  member  now  under  review,  was  a  planter  of 
considerable  wealth,  energetic  and  intelligent.  He  was  not  very 
communicative  in  his  intercourse  with  his  brother  legislators,  but 
was  rather  retired  and  taciturn,  devoted  to  the  dispatch  of  public 
business,  and  administering  the'government  faithfully  and  econom 
ically.  He  was  efficient  on  the  Committee  of  Ways  and  Means, 
and  upon  the  floor  of  the  House,  addressing  himself  to  questions 
in  a  plain,  matter-of-fact  way,  that  was  easily  understood,  and  had 
its  influence.  In  his  sound  judgment,  in  the  integrity  of  his  pur 
poses  and  character,  there  was  general  confidence,  and  no  little 
prestige  in  his  name.  He  still  resides  in  Dallas. 

RICHARD  O.  PICKETT,  of  Lawrence,  was  the  colleague  of  Maj. 
Hubbard  in  1853.  He  was  first  a  member  of  the  House  in  1849, 
and,  before  that  time,  was  Judge  of  the  County  Court.  In  1861, 
he  was  again  returned  to  the  House,  and  during  that  session,  was 
elected  Adjutant  and  Inspector-General  of  the  State.  The  exi 
gencies  were  considered  important,  and  it  was  believed  General 
Pickett,  by  his  intelligence  and  energy,  would  be  able  to  organize 
and  enthuse  the  military  spirit.  But  he  did  not  continue  a  great 
while  in  the  office.  He,  however,  became  connected  actively  with 
the  defenses  of  the  country,  but  I  am  not  advised  of  their  nature 
and  extent. 

Under  the  old  organization  of  parties,  General  Pickett  was  a 
Whig;  but  in  1860,  he  adapted  himself  upon  principle  to  the  plat 
form,  with  Gen.  Breckinridge  for  President.  He  was  regarded  in 
the  Legislature  as  possessing  good  legal  abilities,  and  was  assidu 
ous  in  his  attention  to  business.  In  1861,  the  sphere  of  his  opera 
tions  was  enlarged,  and  he  took  a  prominent  part  in  the  proceed 
ings  of  that  year.  He  now  resides  in  Florence,  in  the  practice  of 
the  law. 

DANIEL  S.  ROBINSON,  of  Chambers,  was  a  substantial,  intelli 
gent  planter,  a  native  of  Georgia,  but  settled  in  Alabama  at  the 


612  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

opening  of  the  Creek  country,  and,  by  industry  and  good  manage 
ment,  had  grown  rich.  He  was  a  quiet  man,  attentive  to  business, 
and  rendered  the  State  good  service.  He  was  several  times  hon 
ored  with  the  confidence  of  the  people  of  his  county,  his  first  ses 
sion  in  the  Legislature  being  in  1845.  That  of  1853  was  his  last. 
His  health  was  declining — so  much  so  that  he  was  unable  to  attend 
regularly  upon  the  sittings  of  the  House,  or  to  meet  the  Com 
mittee  of  Ways  and  Means,  of  which  he  was  a  member.  He  con 
tinued  to  decline  until  the  Summer  of  1855,  when  he  died.  Mr. 
Robinson  was  a  Whig,  and  was  greatly  respected  as  a  citizen  by 
all  parties. 

N.  G.  SHELLEY,  of  Talladega,  concluded  at  this  session  a  service 
of  four  years  in  the  House.  He  was  young,  possessed  an  intelli 
gent  mind  and  sprightly  intellect — a  Whigj  and  in  the  frequent 
contests,  became  well  versed  in  the  questions  of  the  day.  His 
struggles  with  fortune,  to  overcome  the  difficulties  of  dependence, 
had  exerted  a  good  influence  in  developing  his  mental  faculties 
and  energies.  He  was  a  ready,  fluent,  off-hand  speaker,  at  all 
times  prepared  for  a  tilt;  but  unfortunately,  perhaps,  he  had  grown 
up  under  political  bias,  that,  to  some  extent,  warped  his  judgment 
and  cramped  his  usefulness. 

Mr.  Shelley  was  warmly  enlisted  in  the  cause  of  education,  and 
took  an  active  part  as  a  member  of  the  committee  in  getting  up 
the  system  of  free  public  schools  that  was  adopted  at  the  session 
of  1853.  Soon  after  this  service,  he  removed  to  Texas.  He  was 
a  vigorous  political  writer,  and,  if  I  mistake  not,  connected  for  a 
time  with  the  Whig  press  of  Talladega. 

ALPHONZO  A.  STERRETT,  of  Shelby,  after  a  long  retirement, 
was  a  member  of  the  House  in  1853.  He  had  previously  been 
a  Representative,  and  was  for  many  years  Judge  of  the  County 
Court.  He  brought  much  experience  and  practical  informa 
tion,  with  legal  knowledge  and  fair  ability,  into  the  House, 
which  constituted  him  quite  an  efficent  legislator.  He  was  indus 
trious  in  the  preparation  of  business,  and  very  attentive  to  public 
duty,  with  a  quietness  and  modesty  that  amounted  almost  to  diffi 
dence.  The  Speaker  committed  to  him,  as  Chairman  of  a  Joint 
Committee  raised  for  the  purpose,  the  task  of  reporting  appropri 
ate  resolutions  on  the  death  of  Col.  William  R.  King.  His  self- 
distrust  was  such  that  he  made  application  to  be  excused,  upon 
the  ground  that  he  did  not  feel  competent;  but  the  Speaker  de 
clined  granting  a  request  which  modesty  alone  prompted.  He 
brought  in  his  report  and  resolutions,  which  were  adopted,  with 
only  one  dissenting  voice.  These  appear  in  a  preceding  chapter. 

Had  Judge  Sterrett  made  no  other  report  during  the  session, 


Reminiscences  of  Public-  Men  in  Alabama.  613 

this  will  stand  as  a  memorial  to  show  the  estimation  in  which  he 
held  the  character  of  Col.  King,  responsive  to  the  public  judg 
ment.  Such  passages  in  the  life  of  a  public  man  it  is  pleasant  to 
record.  Judge  Sterrett  still  resides  in  Shelby  county,  occupied 
in  his  profession. 

GEN.  E.  G.  TALBERT,  of  Perry,  a  South  Carolinian  and  a  Dem 
ocrat,  was  elected  to  the  House  in  1853,  the  only  session  in  which 
he  consented  to  serve.  He  was  a  planter,  and  preferred  the  tran 
quillity  of  private  life,  and  the  cultivation  of  the  soil. 

He  was  Chairman  of  the  Committee  on  the  Military,  the  duties 
of  which  place  lie  performed  with  marked  vigilance  and  fidelity. 
The  rectitude  of  his  course,  and  his  gentle  manners,  won  the  con 
fidence  and  esteem  of  his  fellow-members.  He  rossessed  a  cul 
tivated  taste,  and  amiable  feelings  toward  all  mankind,  under  the 
influence  of  Christian  sympathy,  and  the  most  enlarged  benevo 
lence.  He  was  incapable  of  doing  wrong  to  any  one.  In  his 
strong  and  expressive  face  could  be  seen  the  upright  character  of 
the  man,  and  true  nobility  of  soul. 

It  was  my  privilege  to  be  much  in  the  society  of  Gen.  Talbert 
during  the  session.  We  occupied  adjoining  rooms,  and  many 
pleasant  hours  have  we  passed  together,  after  the  toils  and  anxie 
ties  of  the  day  had  ceased.  It  is  a  satisfaction  to  revive  in  mem 
ory  the  friendship  and  confidence  of  former  years.  To  know 
Gen.  Talbert  well,  is  only  to  love  him  with  sincere  affection.  He 
is  a  worthy  member  of  the  Baptist  Church,  and  still  resides  in 
Perry  county. 

MALCOLM  D.  GRAHAM,  although  not  a  member,  deserves  a 
place  in  conclusion,  as  the  Clerk  of  the  House  at  the  session  of 
1853.  He  was  raised  and  educated  in  Alabama,  and  setttled  in 
Wetumpka  as  a  lawyer.  His  father,  John  G.  Graham,  Esq.,  was 
a  gentleman  of  great  respectability  and  moral  worth. 

Mr.  Graham  entered  upon  his  duties  as  Clerk  of  the  House 
without  experience  of  that  kind.  But  he  was  intelligent,  and  by 
close  attention  to  business,  and  to  the  labors  of  his  office,  he  soon 
overcame  all  inconveniences.  His  Journal  will  compare  favora 
bly  with  that  of  any  other  Clerk,  in  the  clearness  and  perspicuity 
of  its  entries,  and  in  the  regular  order  of  business  as  it  is  intro 
duced  and  acted  upon. 

His  Journal  was  always  made  up  and  his  papers  properly  ar 
ranged,  so  that  there  was  no  delay  when  they  were  called  for  on 
the  calender,  or  as  special  orders.  His  reading  was  prompt, 
agreeable,  and  distinct,  while  his  whole  bearing  at  the  desk  was 
respectable. 

In  1854,  or  thereabout,  Mr.  Graham  removed  to  Texas,  and 


614  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

engaged  in  the  practice  of  his  profession.  He  must  have  taken 
rank,  as,  at  the  time  the  State  seceded,  he  was  Attorney-General, 
elected  by  the  people,  which  gave  him  a  strong  legal  position. 
He  was  elected  one  of  the  members  of  the  Confederate  Congress 
at  the  first  election,  and  was  continued  in  that  place  by  renewals 
at  the  ballot-box.  While  on  his  journey  from  Richmond  to  Texas, 
on  important  business,  in  the  early  part  of  1865,  and  while  at 
tempting  to  cross  the  Mississippi  River,  he  was  taken  by  Federal 
troops,  and  carried  to  Johnson's  Island,  Lake  Erie,  where  he  was 
left  a  prisoner  until  the  close  of  the  war.  A  widower,  he  married 
a  daughter  of  Col.  T.  B.  Bethea,  of  Montgomery,  where  he  now 
resides,  engaged  in  the  practice  of  the  law. 


CHAPTER  XXXIV. 

Pestilence  in  1854 — Elections  of  1855 — Legislature — Gov.  Winston's 
Vetoes — Judicial  Elections  and  Sketches. 

The  year  1854  will  long  be  remembered  by  the  people  of  Mo 
bile  and  Montgomery,  for  the  prevalence  of  the  yellow  fever,  of 
a  malignant  type.  Many  citizens  of  both  places  died;  some  of 
them  prominent  in  business  and  social  position.  In  Montgomery, 
among  those  who  fell  a  prey  to  the  disease,  was  Judge  NIMROD  E. 
BENSON,  who,  though  not  connected  with  the  State  Government 
officially,  deserves  a  notice  in  this  work. 

JUDGE  BENSON  came  to  Alabama  a  young  man,  about  the  pe 
riod  of  the  formation  of  the  Territorial  Government,  and  became 
a  leading  citizen,  not  only  of  Montgomery,  but  of  the  State.  He 
was  a  South  Carolinian,  educated  at  Columbia  College,  and  there 
prepared  for  the  practice  of  the  law.  He  soon  acquired  a  high 
rank  in  his  profession,  and  his  judgment  on  legal  subjects  was 
much  confided  in.  He  was  repeatedly  elected  to  the  Legislature, 
and  was  Judge  of  the  County  and  Orphans'  Court,  and  Mayor 
of  the  city,  at  different  periods. 

Many  years  before  his  death,  he  was  appointed  Receiver  of 
Public  Moneys  at  the  Land  Office  at  Montgomery;  and,  although 
interrupted  in  the  occupancy  by  political  changes  in  the  Federal 
Government,  he  held  the  place  at  the  time  of  his  death,  and  had 
just  returned  from  Mobile,  whither  he  had  gone  to  make  his  peri- 


lleniiniscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  615 

odical  deposits  of  the  public  money,  in  September,  1854,  when  he 
sickened  and  died  suddenly. 

He  was  a  Democrat  of  the  old  Jackson  school,  but  so  prudent 
and  respectful,  where  differences  of  opinion  existed,  that  his  per 
sonal  and  fraternal  relations  were  strong  and  harmonious.  At  the 
time  of  his  death,  he  was  the  oldest  Mason  in  Alabama,  and  had 
filled  the  office  of  Grand  Master  of  the  Grand  Lodge  in  the  in 
fancy  of  the  Order  in  the  State,  besides  occupying  honorable  posi 
tions  in  the  Grand  Chapter. 

In  estimating  Judge  Benson,  it  would  be  enough  to  say  that  he 
was  the  legal  patron  of  Gov.  Fitzpatrick,  Judge  Henry  Goldthwaite, 
Gov.  George  W.  Towns,  of  Georgia,  and  Senator  George  Gold 
thwaite,  all  of  whom,  if  I  have  been  correctly  informed,  studied 
law  under  his  direction,  and  took  from  him  their  first  lessons  in 
legal  knowledge.  The  public  career  of  each  reflects  honor  upon 
their  preceptor,  and  connected  Judge  Benson  with  some  of  Ala 
bama's  leading  men. 

For  many  years,  indeed  from  the  time  I  first  knew  him,  he  had 
abandoned  the  bar  and  had  engaged  in  other  pursuits  more  suited 
to  his  taste  as  he  advanced  in  age.  Gov.  Fitzpatrick  very  properly 
nominated  him  as  one  of  the  Directors  to  take  charge  of  the  assets 
on  the  liquidation  of  the  Branch  Bank  at  Montgomery ;  and  in  all 
the  public  trusts  which  he  held,  1  never  heard  a  whisper  of  dis 
trust  of  his  ability  and  integrity.  Upon  the  occasion  of  building 
the  new  Capitol  at  Montgomery,  after  the  removal  of  the  Seat  of 
Government  had  been  determined,  he  was  elected  Mayor,  with 
an  eye  to  his  energy  and  good  judgment  in  over-looking  the  work, 
and  he  came  fully  up  to  the  trust. 

Judge  Benson  was  not,  nor  did  he  try  to  be,  a  showy  man.  His 
attainments  were  solid,  and  his  character  was  based  upon  the  prin 
ciple  of  right  and  justice  in  his  transactions  with  his  fellow-men, 
and  in  the  discharge  of  public  trusts;  and  in  the  practical  exhibi 
tion  of  these,  he  was  equal  to  any  gentleman  I  have  known  in 
the  State.  He  possessed  moral  courage  and  frankness,  and  in  his 
intercourse  with  society  he  practiced  no  disguise,  and  never  hesi 
tated,  when  He  thought  it  was  right,  to  tell  his  friend  of  a  fault,  or 
to  warn  him  of  approaching  danger.  Alabama  has  had  few  such 
citizens,  in  all  the  attributes  of  an  upright  man,  and  a  true  Mason, 
as  Nimrod  E.  Benson.  He  represented  a  class  of  men  who  have 
pretty  much  passed  away,  leaving  the  savor  of  a  good  name  and 
example  for  the  men  of  this  day. 

ELECTION   FOR  GOVERNOR. 

A  new  organization  presented  itself  in  1855,  and  entered  into 
the  elections,  from  Governor  down  to  the  lowest  office  within  th$ 


616  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

gift  of  the  people.  In  the  contest  for  the  Executive,  Gov.  Win 
ston  stood  for  reelection,  as  the  representative  of  the  Democratic 
party,  which  this  year  had  the  appendage  of  Anti-Know-Nothing. 
Many  Democrats  went  into  the  new  organization,  no  doubt,  from 
various  motives,  and  a  good  many  Whigs  refused  to  adhere  to  it, 
and  thus  came  into  the  Democratic  and  Anti-Know-Nothing  or 
ganization.  The  canvass  opened  early,  and  upon  both  sides  there 
was  activity,  a  good  deal  of  crimination  and  intense  excitement. 
The  organization  of  the  Know-Nothing  party  was  doubtless  ex 
tensive  and  close  at  the  opening  of  the  Spring,  and  that  party, 
counting  numbers,  relied  upon  an  easy  victory.  But  the  Virginia 
elections  came  off  in  May,  in  which  Gov.  Wise,  the  Democratic 
candidate,  was  elected  over  Mr.  Flournoy,  breaking  the  organiza 
tion  by  a  thorough  canvass  of  the  State,  and  reforming  the  Demo 
cratic  masses.  The  influence  of  this  result  was  seen  everywhere 
throughout  the  South.  Alabama  followed  Virginia  at  the  polls, 
and  after  an  exciting  and  bitter  canvass,  Gov.  Winston  was  re- 
elected  by  a  large  majority.  The  official  vote  as  announced  in 
convention  of  the  two  Houses  was,  for — 

John  A.  Winston 42,228 

George  D.  Shortridge 30,639  —  11,539 

Scattering 2 

Total 72,869 

For  no  candidate  for  the  Executive  had '  so  large  a  vote  been 
cast  as  that  received  by  Gov.  Winston,  nor  had  the  popular  vote 
at  any  time  previously  been  so  large.  In  the  Presidential  election 
of  1852,  it  was  41,919;  in  the  contest  of  1856,  it  was  74,291. 

CONGRESSIONAL    ELECTIONS. 

The  canvass  in  this  department  was  earnest  and  spirited,  espe 
cially  South  of  the  mountain.  In  the  several  Districts  the  follow 
ing  was  the  result,  as  to  the  candidates: 

Elected.  Defeated. 

1.  Percy  Walker,  K.  N., James  A.  Stalhvorth,  Dem. 

2.  Eli  S.  Shorter,  Dem., Julius  C.  Alford,  K.  N. 

3.  James  F.  Dowdell,  Dem., Thomas  II.  Watts,  K.  N. 

4.  Sampson  W.  Harris,  Dem., William  B.  Martin,  Indept. 

5.  William  R.  Smith,  K.  N., Sydenham  Moore,  Dem. 

6.  George  S.  Houston,  Dem., Opposition  nominal. 

7.  W.  li.  W.  Cobb,  Dem., Opposition  nominal. 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  61? 

COL.  ELI  S.  SHORTER  was  named  for  an  uncle,  the  late  Judge 
Eli  Sims  Shorter,  one  of  the  most  distinguished  jurists  of  the 
South,  long  an  ornament  to  the  Bench  and  Bar  of  Georgia.  In 
that  State,  Col.  Shorter  was  born  and  educated.  His  father,  the 
late  Gen.  Reuben  C.  Shorter,  removed  to  Alabama,  and  settled  in 
Barbour  county,  in  1836.  Here  the  son  began  his  career  as  a 
lawyer  and  politician.  His  first  effort  to  reach  Congress  was  in 
.1855,  when  he  was  successful — which  is  good  evidence  of  standing 
and  influence  in  his  profession  and  on  the  hustings.  He  belonged 
to  the  extreme  Southern  school,  and  made  several  speeches  in 
Congress,  marked  by  a  defiant  boldness,  from  one  of  which,  deliv 
ered  April  2, 1856,  a  few  passages  are  selected,  in  a  detached  rela 
tion,  yet  all  showing  the  spirit  and  firmness  with  which  he  hurled 
thunderbolts  in  the  National  councils. 

Do  you  believe  the  South,  less  patriotic  now  than  in  the  days  of  the  Revolution, 
will  quietly  submit  to  the  sacrifice  of  her  rights,  and  still  cling  to  the  Union  ?  If 
such  is  public  opinion  at  the  North,  let  it  be  at  once  undeceived.  We  understand, 
gentlemen,  what  our  rights  are  under  the  Constitution,  and,  with  the  blessing  of 
God,  we  mean  to  maintain  them.  We  ask  for  nothing  more — will  be  content  with 
nothing  less. 

I  hope  and  pray  God  that  my  section  of  the  Union  may  never  again,  in  an  evil 
hour,  be  inclined  to  "compromise"  with  the  North  on  the  subject  of  slavery. 

I  believe  in  the  right  of  a  sovereign  State  to  secede  from  the  Union  whenever 
she  determines  that  the  Federal  Constitution  has  been  violated  by  Congress,  and 
that  this  Government  has  no  Constitutional  power  to  coerce  such  seceding  State. 

I  think  South  Carolina  mistook  her  remedy;  secession,  and  not  nullification, 
ought  to  have  been  the  watchword. 

The  extraordinary  exertions  made  by  Massachusetts  and  the  Black  Republican 
party  of  the  North,  to  rob  the  South  of  her  equal  rights  in  the  Territories,  have 
had  one  effect:  You  have  thoroughly  aroused  the  Southern  States  to  a  sense  of 
their  danger^  You  have  caused  them  coolly  to  estimate  the  value  of  the  Union; 
and  we  are  determined  to  maintain  our  equality  in  it,  or  independence  out  of  it. 

The  South  has  planted  itself  where  it  intends  to  stand  or  fall,  Union  or  no 
Union,  and  that  is,  upon  the  platform  laid  down  by  the  Georgia  Convention. 

We  tell  you  plainly  that  we  take  issue  with  you ;  and  whenever  you  repeal  the 
fugitive  slave  law,  or  refuse  to  admit  a  State  on  account  of  slavery  in  her  Consti 
tution,  or  our  equality  in  the  Territories  is  sacrificed  by  an  act  of  Congress,  then 
the  star  of  this  Union  will  go  down  to  rise  no  more. 

Should  we  be  forced  to  dissolve  the  Union  in  order  to  preserve  Southern  insti 
tutions  and  Southern  civilization,  we  will  do  it  in  peace,  if  we  can — in  war,  if  we 
must;  and  let  the  God  of  Battles  decide  between  us. 

The  shadows,  sir,  of  the  coming  storm  already  darken  our  pathway.  It  will 
soon  be  upon  us  with  all  its  fury. 

Col.  Shorter  was  reflected  to  Congress  in  1857,  and  retired  at 
the  end  of  his  term,  in  deference,  it  was  said,  to  the  position  and 
claims  of  Col.  James  L.  Pugh,  who  succeeded  him.  When  the 
war  broke  out  between  the1  States,  he  entered  the  service  as  Colonel 
of  a  regiment,  and  participated  in  the  battle  of  Shiloh,  April,  1862. 
Afterward,  he  was  connected  in  some  form  with  the  Confederate 
Government,  but  as  I  am  not  advised  of  its  nature  and  extent,  I 
can  give  no  particulars.  Col.  Shorter  still  resides  at  Eufaula,  en 
gaged  in  his  profession. 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

JULIUS  C.  ALFORD  was  a  Representative  in  Congress  frdm 
Georgia  in  1839-42.  He  had  previously  served  in  the  Legisla 
ture  of  that  State,  and  was  noted  for  his  fearless  and  stormy  decla 
mation  in  popular  assemblies — so  much  so  that  he  was  called  the 
"  War-Horse  of  Troup."  He  commanded  a  company  in  the  Creek 
war  of  1836,  and  the  day  he  entered  Congress,  it  is  said  that  a 
Northern  member,  on  the  floor,  alluded,  in  terms  of  great  sym 
pathy  to,  and  rebuke  of,  the  manner  in  which  the  Indians  of  Geor 
gia  had  been  treated  by  the  whites.  Indignant  at  such  blindness  • 
and  effrontery,  Mr.  Alford,  having  just  taken  the  oath  of  qualifi 
cation  from  the  Speaker,  rushed  to  his  seat,  and  with  stentorian 
voice  exclaimed:  "The  gentleman  from  Massachusetts  never  saw 
an  Indian,  never  was  scalped  in  his  life — never  heard  the  savage 
war-whoop.  I  can  enlighten  him."  Here  Mr.  Alford  gave  the 
war-whoop  in  fine  imitation,  and  brandished  his  long  arms  as  if  he 
would  let  fly  the  tomahawk  at  the  eulogist  of  the  red  man  of  the 
forest.  Then  came  a  tempest  of  denunciation  upon  the  Northern 
fanatics,  who  busied  themselves  in  matters  of  which  they  were 
wholly  ignorant;  the  imaginary  sorrows  of  a  brutal  Indian  out 
weighed  in  their  tender  consciences,  the  misery  of  innocent  women 
and  children  whom  he  had  butchered.  Away  with  such  contemp 
tible  stuff,  said  Mr.  Alford.  It  has  disgraced  this  Hall  long 
enough,  and  I  will  hold  any  member  personally  responsible  who 
shall  dare  to  impeach  the  honor  or  the  humanity  of  the  people  of 
my  State,  in  their  peaceful  and  lawful  efforts  to  have  the  Indian 
tribes  removed  beyond  her  jurisdiction,  under  the  compact  of 
1802,  with  the  United  States. 

The  manner  of  Mr.  Alford,  and  his  character  for  courage  and 
resolution,  put  a  stop  to  such  whinings  of  philanthropy  during  his  * 
term  of  service  in  Congress.     He  was  commanding  in  person,  and 
looked  as  if  fear  was  as  much  a  stranger  to  him  as  it  was  to  the 
great.  Roman  general,  Julius  Csesar,  whose  name  he  bore. 

Mr.  Alford  removed  to  Alabama  about  the  year  1850,  and  set 
tled  in  Pike  county.  Age  had  begun  to  show  its  work  upon  him ; 
but  he  entered  with  spirit  into  the  political  contests  of  the  day, 
and  was  a  prominent  member  of  the  Union  Convention  that  as 
sembled  in  Montgomery,  in  1852.  After  his  defeat  for  Congress, 
in  1855,  he  made  no  further  attempt  to  renew  his  former  positions 
in  public  life.  He  died  several  years  ago. 

THE  LEGISLATURE. 

The  elections  for  members  of  the  General  Assembly  terminated 
largely  in  favor  of  the  Democratic  party.  Several  prominent 
Whigs  allied  themselves  with  that  party,  in  opposition  to  the  prin 
ciples  of  the  new  organization,  and  were  elected — as  Mr.  Pattoiij 


tleminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama* 

and  Richard  W.  Walker  j  of  Lauderdale — and  a  goodly  number  of 
the  leading  men  of  that  party  (the  Know-Nothings)  were  defeated, 
among  them,  Col.  Charles  McLemore  and  Col.  Thomas  H.  Watts ; 
while  a  considerable  number  of  new  men  came  to  the  surface,  who 
had  never  before  occupied  place,  and  a  number  were  never  re 
turned  to  their  seats  afterward. 

The  two  Houses  met  at  the  Capitol  on  the  12th  of  November, 
1855,  and  the  attendance  of  members  was  large.  In  the  Senate, 
there  was  a  primary  contest  (in  caucus)  for  President,  mainly  be 
tween  William  Acklin,  Esq.,  of  Madison,  and  Col.  James  R. 
Powell,  of  Coosa,  which  attained  such  intensity  that  neither  could 
command  a  majority  of  a  two-thirds  vote,  and  the  result  was  a 
concentration  on  Mr.  Benjamin  C.  Yancey,  of  Cherokee,  who  was 
unanimously  elected  by  the  Senate.  Joseph  Phelan  was  reflected 
Secretary;  Micah  Taul,  Assistant  Secretary,  and  W.  B.  Padgett, 
Door-Keeper. 

In  the  House,  Mr.  Richard  W.  Walker  was  unanimously  elected 
Speaker.  While  he  was  eminently  qualified  for  the  place,  his 
selection  was  a  concession  to  the  Whig  element  of  the  Anti- 
Know-Nothing  party.  Mr.  Albert  Elmore  was  elected  Clerk, 
Robert  H.  Chapman,  Assistant  Clerk,  C.  C.  Gordon,  Engrossing 
Clerk,  and  -  — Beason,  Door-Keeper. 

The  two  Houses  presented  a  strong  array  of  character  and  tal 
ent.  Many  strong  men  were  brought  out  of  retirement,  where 
they  had  long  rested,  by  the  force  of  political  questions,  and  sev 
eral  new  ones  came  upon  the  stage  who  were  not  before  known 
in  public  life. 

In  the  Senate,  the  Committees  were  arranged,  with  the  follow 
ing  gentleman  at  the  head : 

Mr.  Acklin,  of  the  Judiciary; 

Mr.  Taylor,  of  Greene,  on  Education; 

Mr.  Bradford,  on  Banks  and  Banking; 

Mr.  Felder,  on  Federal  Relations; 

Mr.  Prince,  on  the  Military; 

Mr.  Wilson,  of  Jackson,  on  Accounts  and  Claims. 

In  the  House : 

Mr.  Cochran,  on  the  Judiciary; 

Mr.  Curry,  on  Internal  Improvement; 

Mr.  E.  K.  Beck,  on  Federal  Relations ; 

Mr.  Jackson,  on  the  Military; 

Mr.  Winston,  on  Ways  and  Means; 

Mr.  Taylor,  of  Chambers,  on  Accounts  and  Claims, 


620  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

MESSAGE. 

The  annual  message  of  Gov.  "Winston  was  transmitted  to  the 
two  Houses  on  Tuesday,  a  document  short  and  pithy  >  not  occupy 
ing  more  than  thirteen  pages  of  the  printed  Journals.  The  sec 
ond  paragraph  alludes,  in  a  very  appropriate  manner,  to  the  death 
of  ex-Gov.  Collier,  his  immediate  predecessor. 

GOVERNOR'S  INSTALLATION. 

Gov.  Winston,  having  been  formally  notified  of  his  reelection, 
and  a  Committee  appointed  to  make  suitable  arrangements,  en 
tered  upon  the  second  term  of  office  on  the  18th  of  December, 
1855,  in  presence  of  the  two  Houses,  and  a  large  audience  in  the 
galleries  of  the  Representative  Hall. 

A  pamphlet  of  seventy-six  pages,  compiled  by  P.  H.  Brittan, 
Esq.,  has  been  published,  entitled,  "The  Veto  Messages  of  Gov. 
John  A.  Winston:  Session  of  the  Alabama  Legislature  of  1855- 
'56,  with  a  Memoir  and  Appendix/'  From  this  document,  it  ap 
pears  that  Gov.  Winston  exercised  the  veto  power  in  disapprov 
ing  and  returning  thirty-three  bills,  general  and  local. 

The  veto  messages  of  the  GoJtfernor  were  all,  as  a  matter  of 
course,  entered  upon  the  Journal  of  the  House,  to  which  they 
were  addressed.  Much  irritation  must  have  existed  between  the 
two  departments,  leading  to  acrimony  in  the  debates.  The  Gov 
ernor  held  his  ground  firmly,  and,  although  he  exercised  the 
power  with  unusual  frequency,  there  can  be  no  doubt  that  some 
of  his  vetoes  saved  the  State  much  embarrassment,  and  the  people 
from  heavy  losses. 

The  Legislature  took  a  recess  from  the  21st  of  December 
to  the  7th  of  January,  and  finally  adjourned  on  the  15th  of 
February,  1856.  Several  elections  were  had  during  the  session, 
which  will  be  noticed,  and  remarks  made  in  connection  with  them. 

Gov.  Fitzpatrick  was  elected  by  a  vote  of  79,  over  Luke  Pry  or, 
who  received  45,  for  a  full  term  in  the  Senate  of  the  United 
States. 

MR.  PRYOR  was  a  member  from  Limestone,  and  was  compli 
mented  by  his  party,  of  which  he  was  a  prominent  member,  with 
their  vote.  He  was  a  lawyer  of  some  reputation,  a  gentleman  of 
public  spirit,  and  was  at  this  session  enlisted  in  the  general  pro 
jects  of  internal  improvements  which  had  been  brought  forward. 
He  was  a  leading  man  in  this,  the  only  session  he  served. 

For  Judge  of  the  Supreme  Court,  there  was  a  stubborn  contest, 
mainly  between  George  W.  Stone,  Robert  B.  Brickell,  and  David 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  621 

Clopton.  In  its  progress,  James  B.  Clark,  William  G.  Jones, 
Andrew  B.  Moore,  E.  Woolsey  Peck,  and  Joseph  W.  Lessene,  were 
brought  forward.  After  the  greater  part  of  three  days  spent  in 
the  election,  on  the  23d  ballot,  Judge  Stone  was  elected,  receiv 
ing  61— Brickell,  59. 

MR.  BRICKELL  resides  in  Huntsville,  where  he  came  forward 
many  years  ago  as  a  lawyer,  and  has,  by  application  and  persever 
ance,  attained  a  high  place  in  his  profession.  He  has  lately 
brought  out  a  digest  of  Alabama  Reports,  which  no  doubt  affords 
much  information  to  the  members  of  the  bar,  while  it  is  likely  to 
advance  him  still  more  in  legal  circles. 

JAMES  H.  WEAVER,  of  Coosa,  was  elected  Secretary  of  State  to 
succeed  Mr.  Benham,  who  had  signified  his  intention  to  retire.  Mr. 
Weaver  was  originally  from  Georgia,  but  removed,  when  young, 
to  Alabama,  and  settled  in  Coosa  county,  where  he  served  a  term 
as  Sheriff.  In  1853,  as  a  Democratic  nominee,  he  was  elected  to 
a  seat  in  the  House.  He  was  elected  Secretary  of  State  in  1857, 
and  retired  at  the  end  of  his  term. 

WILLIAM  J.  GREENE  was  elected  Comptroller  of  Public  Ac 
counts,  by  a  vote  of  72,  against  42  for  Joel  Riggs.  Mr.  Greene 
was  from  Jackson  county,  and  was,  in  1847,  elected  Engrossing 
Clerk  of  the  House,  and  reelected  for  several  sessions,  giving 
satisfaction  as  an  officer. 

He  was  continued  in  the  office  of  Comptroller,  by  successive 
elections,  until  the  surrender,  in  1865.  At  the  regular  session  of 
that  year,  under  the  reorganization  of  the  State  Government,  he 
was  before  the  General  Assembly,  seeking  his  former  place;  but 
was  defeated  by  M.  A.  Chisolm,  Esq.,  the  appointee  of  Gov.  Par 
sons.  The  length  of  time  he  retained  his  place — ten  years — is 
evidence  of  his  business  capacity.  Following  in  the  wake  of  Mr. 
Riggs,  he  no  doubt  found  the  business  of  the  office  systematized, 
so  that  it  was  no  difficult  matter  to  keep  it  in  good  condition. 

EGBERT  B.  ARMSTEAD  was  elected  Solicitor  of  the  Sixth  Cir 
cuit,  by  a  vote  of  64,  against  43  for  Leonard  F.  Summers.  He  was 
born  and  educated  in  the  Old  Dominion,  and  was  a  son  of  Col. 
Robert  Armstead,  who,  for  many  years,  was  the  United  States 
Marshal  for  the  Southern  District  of  Alabama — a  Virginia  gen 
tleman  of  the  old  school,  in  his  impulses  and  bearing.  His  son 
possessed  many  qualities  of  person  and  disposition  to  make  friends 
and  keep  them,  and  justly  ranked  among  the  promising  young 
men  of  his  day,  in  mind  and  ambition  to  command  success.  On 
the  commencement  of  the  late  war,  he  entered  the  service,  and 


622  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

was  promoted  to  the  rank  of  Major,  and  was  in  the  army  of  Vir 
ginia,  a  brave  soldier,  when,  in  one  of  the  sanguinary  battles,  he 
was  killed.  Thus  Alabama  lost  by  the  casualties  of  war,  in  the 
Old  Dominion,  another  of  her  many  noble  sons;  but  no  purer 
patriot,  or  gentler  spirit,  laid  down  his  life  on  the  battle-field  in 
defense  of  his  native  South,  than  Eobert  Armstead. 

LEONARD  F.  SUMMERS  was  a  lawyer  of  Mobile,  of  respectable 
talents  and  culture.  He  had  been  previously  defeated  for  this 
office,  but  not  dismayed,  he  abided  his  time,  directing  his  efforts 
to  the  accomplishment  of  his  purpose,  and  in  1859,  he  was  elected, 
with  a  fair  prospect  of  rendering  efficient  service  to  the  State  as 
the  representative  of  its  criminal  justice.  He  promptly  entered 
the  service  of  the  Confederate  States  as  a  soldier,  and  Captain  of 
a  company,  and  was  killed  in  one  of  the  battles  of  Virginia. 

YOUNG  L.  ROYSTON,  elected,  without  opposition,  Solicitor  of 
the  First  Circuit,  is  a  lawyer  and  planter  of  Perry  county,  where, 
he  now  resides.  In  person,  he  is  remarkable  for  his  height,  being 
considerably  over  six  feet.  He  was  reflected  in  1859,  and  again 
in  1863.  He  engaged  warmly  in  the  Confederate  service,  and 
was  promoted  to  the  command  of  a  regiment,  and  was  wounded 
in  one  of  the  battles  of  Virginia.  He  was  afterward  assigned  to 
duty  in  Alabama,  and  was  in  Selma,  perhaps  in  command  of  that 
post,  when  he  was  taken  prisoner  by  the  Federal  troops  in  1865. 
Since  the  surrender,  Col.  Royston  has  been  retired,  engaged  in 
private  and  professional  pursuits. 

JOHN  FOSTER,  of  Benton  county,  also  had  the  fortune  to  have 
no  competitor  for  the  office  of  Chancellor  of  the  Northern  Divis 
ion,  to  which  he  was  elected  in  1855.  He  was  a  Georgian,  and 
settled  in  Jacksonville  as  a  lawyer,  about  the  year  1836. 

I  remember  an  incident  connected  with  him  in  1837.  He  had 
lately  removed  to  Alabama,  and  had  returned  to  Georgia  on  busi 
ness,  when  a  rumor  got  abroad,  nobody  knew  how,  that  in  a  remote, 
lonely  part  of  the  country  lying  east  of  Jacksonville,  a  man  had 
been  way-laid  and  murdered,  and  was  supposed  to  be  a  young  law 
yer  but  lately  removed  from  Georgia,  named  Foster.  The  report 
had  a  fine  run,  and  increased  in  every  respect,  except  in  the  num 
ber  killed — it  remained  one;  yet  in  every  other  way  the  exagge 
ration  was  prodigious;  nor  did  the  excitement  subside  until  it  was 
known  that  Mr.  Foster,  whose  supposed  death  at  the  hands  of 
ruffians  and  robbers  had  exhausted  the  vocabulary  of,  "poor  man," 
"what  a  pity  for  wife  and  children,"  "Oh,  my!"  etc.,  etc.,  was  in 
his  law-office  at  Jacksonville,  poring  over  his  books. 

The  writer  feels  persuaded  that  Judge  Foster  will  excuse  this 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  623 

allusion,  pot  to  any  "indiscretion  of  his  youth,"  but  to  an  event,  or 
more  properly  a  conjecture  which  gave  rise  to  many  lamentations 
for  his  early  and  cruel  death,  when  in  fact  he  was  wholly  innocent 
of  the  transaction,  which  caused  him  to  be  known  all  over  the 
county  much  sooner  than  he  otherwise  would  have  been. 

Judge  Foster  was  reflected  Chancellor  in  1861,  and  continued 
upon  the  Bench  until  the  surrender  and  overthrow  of  the  Govern 
ment — a  period  of  ten  years,  during  which  time  he  exhibited  the 
profound  legal  learning,  and  high  sense  of  justice  so  necessary  in 
this  office.  No  position,  probably,  could  have  suited  his  taste  and 
qualifications  better;  for  while  he  was  a  ripe  scholar  and  a  sound 
jurist,  he  had  no  inclination  to  practice  the  "ways  and  means"  by 
which  success  with  the  populace  is  usually  obtained.  He  never 
could  electioneer  among  the  masses.  He  preferred  his  office  and 
books,  and  personal  friends.  Still,  from  his  very  first  settlement 
in  the  county,  he  was  much  respected,  not  only  as  a  lawyer,  but 
for  his  bearing  as  a  gentleman. 

In  1865  his  acknowledged  ability  and  long  residence  suggested 
him  to  the  people  as  a  delegate  to  the  Constitutional  Convention 
in  September  of  that  year.  He  was  elected,  and  took  a  prominent 
part  in  its  proceedings.  Since  then  he  has  been  retired  under  the 
operation  of  the  Fourteenth  Amendment,  and  yet  resides  in  Jack 
sonville,  a  profound  lawyer  and  worthy  citizen. 


624  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 


CHAPTER  XXXV. 

Session  of  1855  Concluded — Senators  and  Representatives  Specially 

Noticed. 

Several  gentlemen  took  seats  in  the  Legislature  at  the  session 
of  1855  who  had  not  previously  been  members,  or  who  have  not 
been  heretofore  specially  noticed  in  this  work.  Among  the  Sen 
ators  were — 

DR.  E.  J.  BACON,  of  Chambers,  who  was  a  physician  of  good  re 
pute  in  LaFayette,  and  an  Old  Line  Whig.  Upon  the  issues  in 
1855,  he  allied  himself  with  the  Democratic  party  in  opposition  to 
the  Know-Nothings,  and  was  adopted  as  a  competitor  of  Col. 
Charles  McLemore.  Unpromising  as  the  prospect  seemed  at  the 
commencement  of  the  canvass,  he  succeeded,  after  an  exciting  con 
test,  by  a  majority  of  thirty-seven  votes  in  the  county.  This  result 
was  aided,  no  doubt,  by  the  high  social  position  of  Dr.  Bacon,  and 
the  influence  he  had  in  the  Whig  ranks.  His  election  over  such  a 
champion  won  for  him  great  prestige,  and  he  took  his  seat  in  the 
Senate  under  favorable  auspices.  He  was  a  gentleman  of  fine 
person  and  address,  and  bore  his  honors  with  a  consciousness  that 
he  was  observed,  but  without  arrogance  or  vanity. 

Dr.  Bacon  was  a  Georgian,  well  educated  and  intelligent,  kind 
and  companionable.  He  took  good  position  in  the  Senate,  and 
was  made  Chairman  of  an  important  Committee.  In  debate,  he 
was  a  ready  and  fluent  speaker,  and  had  much  influence  in  the 
Legislature.  He  was  an  enthusiastic,  consistent  and  faithful 
Mason,  and  filled  in  Alabama  a  large  space  in  the  fraternity.  Not 
long  after  his  term  in  the  Senate  expired,  he  removed  to  Arkan 
sas,  in  the  vigor  of  his  manhood  and  profession. 

T.  B.  BETHEA,  of  Mobile,  who  for  many  years  was  a  lawyer  in 
Wilcox.  He  also  engaged  in  planting,  in  which  his  success  has 
been  abundant.  In  1848,  he  was  upon  the  Electoral  ticket  for 
Cass  and  Butler,  and  voted  for  those  gentlemen  in  the  Electoral 
College.  Afterwards  settling  in  Mobile,  in  1853,  he  came  to  the 
Senate  a  Democrat,  and  took  an  active  part  in  the  proceedings 
and  debates.  In  1855,  he  was  elected  as  the  representative  of 
the  Know-Nothing  organization,  and  cooperated  with  that  party 
in  the  Legislature  upon  political  questions. 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  625 

Changing  his  residence  to  Montgomery,  in  1863  he  was  elected 
a  member  of  the  House,  and  again  in  1865.  Col.  Bethea  has 
been  an  active  speaking  member  of  the  General  Assembly  when 
he  occupied  a  seat,  and  took  an  active  part  in  shaping  the  legisla 
tion  of  his  day.  The  renown  of  his  great  wealth,  and  success  as 
a  planter,  and  his  skill  in  accumulation,  gave  much  force  to  his 
character,  and  made  him  a  man  of  influence  in  financial,  political, 
and  social  circles.  He  still  resides  in  Montgomery. 

NATHANIEL  HOLT  CLANTON,  of  Macon,  was  first  elected  to 
the  House  from  that  county  as  far  back  as  1838;  but  owing  to  the 
failure  of  his  health,  he  returned  home  before  the  close  of  the 
session,  and  remained  in  private  life  many  years.  He  was  a 
Georgian,  and  settled  a  large  planting  interest  on  Callebee  Creek, 
where  he  found  the  cultivation  of  the  soil,  and  the  endearments 
of  domestic  life,  more  suited  to  his  taste  than  political  contests, 
though  he  was  always  popular,  and  had  no  difficulty  of  an  election. 

In  1853,  he  was  elected  to  the  Senate,  and  served  through  the 
session  with  marked  efficiency,  and  returned,  at  the '  session  of 
1855,  to  complete  his  term,  but  his  health  was  such  that  he  was 
unable  to  take  his  seat,  and  on  the  27th  of  November,  he  died. 

Col.  Clanton,  in  his  political  alliances  was  a  Whig,  but  tolerant 
in  his  opinions,  and  remarkably  kind  in  his  social  relations.  He 
was  a  Christian  gentleman  of  great  worth  in  society,  useful  and 
upright  as  a  citizen,  and  his  loss  was  sensibly  felt,  and  greatly  de 
plored  by  the  people  among  whom  he  lived,  and  by  all  who  knew 
him. 

JOHN  N.  MALONE,  the  Senator  from  Limestone  and  Morgan, 
graduated  at  LaGrange  College,  and  read  law  in  the  office  of  Col. 
James  W.  McCluug,  at  Huntsville.  He  was  elected  to  the  Sen 
ate  in  1851,  and  again  in  1854,  making  six  years  of  service  as  a 
legislator.  In  1852,  he  was  a  delegate  to  the  National  Democratic 
Convention,  at  Baltimore,  and  aided  in  the  nomination  of  Pierce 
and  King.  In  1860,  he  supported  Mr.  Douglas  for  the  Presi 
dency,  and  was  opposed  to  secession  earnestly  and  honestly;  but 
after  Alabama  passed  the  Ordinance  of  Secession,  he  went  with 
her,  heart  and  soul,  sympathy  and  prayers.  Since  the  disastrous 
results  of  the  war,  he  has  found  it  far  more  difficult  to  accept  the 
situation,  under  Federal  rule,  than  to  acquiesce  in  what  he  con 
sidered  the  rash  and  unwise  policy  of  dissolving  the  Union.  He 
is  now  laboring  under  the  disabilities  of  the  Fourteenth  Amend 
ment,  and  is  cheered  with  the  hope,  and  the  signs,  that  the  sands 
in  the  hour-glass  of  Eadicalism  are  fast  running  out,  and  that  better 
days  await  the  Southern  people. 

As  a  Senator,  Mr.  Malone  was  constant  in  attention  to  business. 
40 


626  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

and  courteous  in  his  bearing  and  intercourse  with  his  associates, 
but  firm  and  decided  in  his  positions  and  votes.  In  debate,  while 
he  never  inflicted  long  speeches,  his  remarks  were  clear,  concise, 
and  pointed.  In  his  personal  relations,  he  was  confiding  and  social 
in  a  high  degree,  and  withal  a  most  affable  gentleman,  controlled 
and  directed  by  a  proper  regard  for  Christian  character  and  prin 
ciple.  Sometimes  in  the  heat  of  political  combat,  he  was  excited, 
but  it  proceeded  from  convictions  of  right,  even  in  the  amenities 
of  partisan  warfare,  but  he  was  not  bitter  or  spiteful. 

He  retired,  at  the  close  of  the  session,  to  his  cherished  avoca 
tions,  and  still  resides  in  Limestone.  The  name  of  Mr.  Malone, 
has  a  highly  respectable  significance  in  North  Alabama,  where  he 
has  long  resided;  and  his  brother,  Mr.  James  C.  Maloue,  has  long 
occupied  the  place  of  a  leading  man  in  the  Church  and  community 
where  he  resides. 

DR.  F.  C.  WEBB,  of  Lowndes,  first  took  his  seat  in  the  House 
in  1853,  and  at  the  next  election  he  was  returned  to  the  Senate, 
in  which  he  served  only  through  the  session  of  1855.  He  was  a 
Whig,  quiet,  and  attentive  to  business,  was  highly  educated,  and 
somewhat  accomplished  in  letters.  He  frequently  indulged  his 
taste  in  writing  squibs  in  prose  and  poetry  for  his  amusement,  and 
that  of  his  friends.  In  these  he  exhibited  fair  artistic  skill  and 
good  humor,  of  which  he  happened  to  possess  a  liberal  fund  that 
made  him  an  agreeable  companion.  On  the  floor  he  was  modest, 
respectful,  and  retiring  in  manner,  and  was  regarded  truly  as  a 
well  bred  and  cultivated  gentleman. 

DR.  B.  F.  WILSON,  of  Pickens,  was  brought  into  the  Senate  by 
the  force  of  the  political  questions  of  the  day.  He  was  a  gentle 
man  of  intelligence,  and  held  a  respectable  rank  on  Committees, 
and  in  the  science  of  legislation.  His  tastes  led  him  away  from 
the  scramble  for  public  place,  and  he  retired  at  the  end  of  the 
session. 

BENJAMIN  C.  YANCEY,  of  Cherokee,  is  a  native  of  South  Car 
olina.  His  father,  for  whom  he  was  named,  was  a  distinguished 
lawyer  of  that  State,  and  was  Chairman  of  the  Judiciary  Com 
mittee  in  the  Legislature,  in  1816,  and  died  in  the  morning  of 
life,  in  1817. 

My  first  acquaintance  with  Mr.  B.  C.  Yancey,  was  in  the  Dem 
ocratic  State  Convention  of  1839.  He  then  resided  at  Wetumpka, 
and  jointly  with  his  brother,  W.  L.  Yancey,  edited  the  "Argus." 
He  returned  to  South  Carolina,  and  was  several  times  elected  to 
the  Legislature  in  that  State.  Settling  afterward  in  Cherokee 
county,  Alabama,  where  he  purchased  a-  large  landed  estate  on  the 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  627 

Coosa  River,  he  was  brought  out  in  1855  by  the  Democracy,  and 
elected  to  the  Senate,  and  at  his  first  and  only  session  was  made 
President  of  that  body.  For  this  position  he  was  well  qualified  by 
legislative  experience,  and  he  sustained  his  reputation  as  a  presid 
ing  officer.  Soon  afterward  he  left  the  State,  and  settled  in  Athens, 
Georgia.  Under  the  administration  of  President  Buchanan  he 
was  appointed  Minister  to  the  Argentine  Republic  in  South  Amer 
ica,  and  remained  abroad  until  about  the  time  the  war  commenced. 

Mr.  Yancey  frequently  participated  in  the  debates  of  the  Sen 
ate,  upon  important  questions,  with  marked  ability.  He  was  justly 
regarded  as  a  gentleman  of  high  character,  and  possessed  colloquial 
powers  of  no  ordinary  kind,  which  attached  much  interest  to  his 
society,  when  coupled  with  his  superior  intelligence  and  agreeable 
address. 

For  several  years  Mr.  Yancey  was  President  of  the  State  Agri 
cultural  Society  of  Georgia,  and  gave  much  attention  to  its  pros 
perity  and  usefulness.  He  is  a  citizen  of  large  public  spirit,  and 
by  his  energy,  and  enlightened  labors  to  recuperate  the  depressed 
condition  of  the  South,  he  has  gained  the  public  applause.  High- 
toned,  and  above  all  concealment,  his  fame  is  in  worthy  relation 
to  that  of  his  distinguished  brother,  the  late  William  L.  Yancey, 
of  Alabama. 

MEMBERS   OF   THE   HOUSE. 

The  rule  adopted,  to  bring  forward,  in  the  order  of  service,  the 
names  of  gentlemen,  applies  to  the  following: 

FRANKLIN  K.  BECK,  of  Wilcox,  was  raised  and  educated  in 
Alabama,  and  was  favored  with  a  large  family  influence,  in  coming 
forward  as  a  lawyer.  He  was  a  nephew  of  Col.  William  R. 
King,  whose  friendship  and  patronage  he  enjoyed. 

In  1843,  Mr.  Beck  was  elected  Solicitor  of  the  Second  Circuit, 
which  brought  him  forward  as  prosecuting  attorney,  and  contrib 
uted  to  develop  his  future  character.  In  1851,  he  was  elected  to 
the  House  as  the  colleague  of  Judge  Sterrett,  as  a  Union,  or  Com 
promise  man,  and  cooperated  with  that  organization  generally 
through  the  session.  But  the  Democratic  party  having  reorgan 
ized  upon  the  Georgia  Platform-,  he  reestablished  his  relations,  and 
went  for  Pierce  and  King  in  1852.  He  was  again  elected  in 
1855,  and  took  a  leading  part  in  the  proceedings  of  the  House, 
and  was  assigned  the  respectable  position  of  Chairman  of  the 
Committee  on  Federal  Relations. 

Mr.  Beck  was  a  member  of  the  Convention  of  1861,  and  voted 
for  secession.  On  a  resolution  offered  by  Mr.  Coleman,  to  pledge 
the  power  of  Alabama  to  aid  in  resisting  any  attempt  on  the  part 
of  the  United  States  to  coerce  any  of  the  seceding  States,  he  said : 


628  Reminiscenees  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

The  cause  of  South  Carolina  was  the  cause  of  Alabama ;  indeed  of  the  whole 
South ;  but  particularly  were  the  States  that  contemplated  secession  interested  in 
sustaining  each  other.  Alabama  can  not  stand  by  and  see  force  used  against  a 
seceding  State.  It  would  be  the  policy  of  the  Federal  Government  to  conquer  the 
States  in  detail.  They  must,  therefore,  sustain  each  other.  This  matter  was  well 
understood  in  Virginia,  who,  though  she  had  taken  no  step  toward  secession,  had 
already,  through  her  Legislature,  resolved,  almost  unanimously,  that  she  would 
resist  by  force  any  attempt  to  coerce  a  seceding  State.  We  owed  it  to  ourselves 
and  to  the  position  we  now  occupy,  not  to  be  behind  Virginia  in  giving  prompt 
expression  to  our  determination  to  stand  by  and  uphold  the  seceding  States  in 
their  efforts  to  resist  Black  Republican  rule. 

In  the  late  war,  he  entered  with  zeal  into  the  Confederate 
service,  and  raised  a  regiment,  cf  which  he  was  made  Colonel. 
He  was  in  the  department  of  Mississippi,  and  shared  actively  in 
the  defense  of  Yicksburg,  when  that  post  was  captured  by  the 
enemy  in  July  1863.  His  command  was  then  ordered  to  Georgia, 
and  in  one  of  the  battles  just  before  the  surrender  he  was  killed. 
Col.  Beck  was  a  gentleman  of  fine  character  and  rising  talents, 
with  a  bright  future  apparently  before  him,  when  thus  suddenly 
cut  down  in  the  meridian  of  life.  When  quite  young,  he  married 
a  daughter  of  James  Tait,  Esq.,  of  "Wilcox,  a  gentleman  of  great 
substance  in  property  and  in  moral  worth. 

WILLIAM  P.  DAVIS,  of  Benton,  was  first  elected  to  the  House 
in  1851,  and  reflected  in  1853,  and  again  in  1855,  serving  a  course 
of  six  years.  He  was  raised  and  educated  in  the  State,  adopting 
the  profession  of  the  law,  and  entered  public  life  too  soon  to  ac 
complish  anything  solid  in  legal  pursuits.  The  times  in  which  he 
commenced  his  career,  were  exciting  and  somewhat  demoralizing 
upon  politicians  who  had  not  become  well  set  in  their  principles. 

Mr.  Davis  was  sprightly  and  showy,  with  a  good  deal  of  self- 
esteem — rather  more  sail  than  ballast — increased  by  the  fact  of 
having  influential  family  relations.  He  was  much  flattered  by 
being  consulted  on  the  direction  of  political  and  legislative  move 
ments,  which  inspired  more  confidence  in  his  abilities,  and  fre 
quently  exposed  him  to  criticism,  and  produced  embarrassment. 
In  political  organization  he  was  often  a  disorganizer,  and  began  to 
delight  in  being  the  center  of  a  disorganizing  wing  of  his  party. 
Sometimes  this  feeling  carried  him  to  great  excess,  and  he  was  left 
to  himself,  as  in  1853,  when  he  rec6rded  his  vote  alone  against  the 
resolutions  of  the  General  Assembly,  expressive  of  their  sense  of 
the  character  of  the  Hon.  William  R.  King,  Vice-President  of 
the  United  States,  and  which  surprised  everybody.  He  was 
erratic  and  impulsive,  and  hasty  to  a  fault;  and  these,  in  connec 
tion  with  good  qualities  of  mind  and  heart,,  presented  a  strange 
medley. 

It  was  a  misfortune  that  Mr.  Davis  entered  political  life  so 
young,  and  at  such  a  time;  for  he  possessed  intellectual  faculties 


Remmisoences  oj  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  629 

which,  if  properly  cultivated  and  directed,  would  have  led  to  sub 
stantial  developments  and  character.  He  was  a  ready  speaker, 
and  occupied  a  good  deal  of  time  upon  the  floor.  Having  full 
confidence  in  himself,  he  never  turned  aside  from  any  tilt  in  dis 
cussion,  in  which  he  would  sometimes  get  the  better,  and  at  other 
times  he  came  off  badly  worsted.  But  whatever  errors  he  may 
have  fallen  into,  they  were  more  in  the  nature  of  mistakes  than  a 
vicious  disposition;  for  the  impulses  of  his  heart  were,  in  the  main, 
good  and  generous.  Upon  the  leading  political  principles  of  the 
day,  he  was  fixed  and  stable.  He  was  a  Democrat  of  the  South 
ern  Rights  wing,  and  received  his  early  bent  of  character  under 
the  influence  of  the  notions  then  entertained  by  a  good  many  of 
the  class,  that  "Young  America7'  was  the  giant  of  the  day,  and 
had  a  right  to  put  on  airs. 

Not  long  after  he  retired  from  the  Legislature,  Mr.  Davis  re 
moved  West,  leaving  behind  him  many  kind  remembrances,  of 
political  and  personal  associations  among  the  many  who  knew  him. 

THOMAS  H.  HOBBS,  of  Limestone,  took  his  seat  for  the  first 
time  in  the  Legislature  at  the  session  of  1855.  He  was  a  young 
man,  who  had  been  raised  with  all  the  care  which  wealth  and  pa 
rental  tenderness  could  bestow.  His  education  had  been  well 
attended  to,  and  finished;  and  he  developed  at  an  early  day  moral 
qualities  which  ga\  e  beauty  to  his  character.  A  Christian  in  prin 
ciple  and  practice,  the  open  advocate  and  friend  of  the  Temperance 
cause,  and  of  every  movement  looking  to  the  elevation  of  the 
public  morals;  with  an  ample  fortune,  a  good  person,  an  amiable, 
open  countenance  that  seemed  to  rest  upon  a  conscience  void  of 
oifense,  he  presented  a  model  of  tho  polished  religious  gentleman. 
And  such  he  was,  urbane,  respectful,  and  dignified  in  his  deport 
ment  to  his  fellows,  faithful  to  his  trusts  and  friendships,  and  true 
to  the  State  and  land  of  his  nativity,  which  he  loved  so  well.  He 
discharged  his  duties  at  this  session  with  marked  ability  and 
fidelity,  but  with  the  modesty  which  indicated  that  he  felt  the  re 
straints  of  being  a  new  member. 

In  1857,  Mr.  Hobbs  was  again  returned,  and  took  a  prominent 
position  in  the  organization  of  the  House  and  in  the  proceedings 
of  the  session.  As  Chairman  of  the  Committee  on  Education,  he 
had  a  field  of  duty  and  labor  opened  to  him  which  suited  his  taste 
and  aspirations. 

.  During  the  latter  session,  the  public  faith  was  imperiled  by  the 
force  of  the  monetary  revulsion  which  had  set  in  during  the  Fail; 
but  the  calamity  was  averted  by  the  energy  and  patriotism  of  Mr. 
John  Whiting,  which  drew  from  Mr.  Hobbs  a  complimentary  reso 
lution,  to  be  found  .on  the  House  Journal,  p.  331,  as  it  passed. 
His  constituents,  among  whom  he  was  raised,  were  so  pleased 


630  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

with  his  course  in  the  Legislature,  that,  in  1859,  they  elected  him 
a  third  time  to  the  House.  With  the  experience  he  had  gained, 
he  passed  through  the  latter  session  with  increased  influence,  which 
made  him  one  of  the  leading  members  in  all  the  essentials  of  a 
wise,  practical  statesmanship.  - 

When  hostilities  between  the  North  and  the  South  commenced, 
in  1861,  Mr.  Hobbs  entered  the  service  of  the  Confederate  States, 
and  attained  the  rank  of  Major.  While  on  duty  at  the  siege  of 
Petersburg,  and  in  one  of  the  desperate  charges  which  marked 
the  battles  in  Virginia,  he  was  killed.  In  his  death,  Alabama  lost 
a  virtous  and  useful  citizen,  whose  future,  illumined  by  talent  and 
bright  hopes,  seemed  to  promise  a  rich  harvest  of  fame.  His 
record,  in  the  hearts  of  the  people,  will  not  soon  be  obliterated. 

NATHANIEL  R.  KING,  of  Shelby,  son  of  Edmund  King,  Esq., 
formerly  of  Montevallo,  (a  gentleman  of  great  energy  and  wealth,) 
was  a  native  Alabamian,  liberally  educated,  and  a  young  man  of 
superior  intelligence.  In  1855,  he  was  elected  to  the  House,  and 
served  through  the  session,  his  only  term  in  public  life.  Even 
then,  it  was  evident  from  the  state  of  his  health,  that  he  had  a 
disease,  which  continued  to  progress  until  it  carried  him  off  a  few 
years  afterward.  Favored  with  ample  means,  and  the  indulgence 
of  a  kind  father,  he  had  previously  visited  Europe,  in  the  hope  of 
improving  his  physical  condition  by  a  change  of  climate,  and  by 
travels  in  a  foreign  land;  but  all  to  little  purpose.  He  was  cut 
down  in  early  life,  yet  not  until  the  people  of  his  county,  among 
whom  he  was  raised,  had  honored  him  with  their  confidence  in  the 
councils  of  the  State.  He  had  a  good  mind,  and  prepossessing 
person,  and  was  highly  respected  in  the  social  walks  of  life. 

E.  G.  PORTIS,  of  Monroe,  represented  the  people  of  that  county 
only  at  the  session  of  1855.  He  was  a  merchant,  liberally  educated, 
well  read,  had  a  very  attractive  person,  and  a  face  so  expressive  of 
character  as  to  draw  notice  in  any  assembly.  He  was  ill  at  ease  in 
the  Legislature.  They  moved  too  slow  for  him,  and  too  much 
public  time  was  spent  to  no  profit,  in  his  estimation.  He  had 
evidently  been  accustomed  to  an  active  life,  and  to  great  economy 
of  time  and  means,  which,  doubtless,  contributed  to  his  success  in 
business,  and  to  his  fine  stock  of  intelligence.  He  was  a  native  of 
North  Carolina,  but  had  long  resided  in  Alabama,  and  was  fully 
identified  with  her  interests.  He  possessed  the  elements  of  char-, 
acter  for  a  useful  and  enterprising  citizen,  and  was  a  Democrat. 
In  a  few  years  after  the  session,  he  died,  much  regretted  by  the 
community. 


ileminiscenees  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  631 

WESLEY  M.  SMITH,  of  Franklin,  was  first  elected  to  the  House 
in  1845,  and  filled  his  place  well  as  one  of  the  younger  members- 
of  that  body.  In  1851,  and  in  1855,  he  was  again  returned,  show 
ing  the  confidence  reposed  in  him  by  his  constituents,  among  whom 
he  grew  to  manhood.  As  his  experience  in  public  life  increased, 
his  capacity  as  a  useful  legislator  was  developed  in  his  familiarity 
with  the  forms  of  proceeding,  and  with  questions  of  public  policy. 
He  was  generally  connected  with  all  political  movements  within 
his  influence  as  a  Democrat  of  the  State  Rights  school,  and  used  to 
say  that  he  was  a  disciple  of  Major  David  Hubbard  and  Col.  F.  G. 
Norman,  both  prominent  men  of  their  day,  capable  of  teaching  in 
this  department,  at  least. 

Mr.  Smith  was  esteemed  a  worthy  gentleman,  and  representa 
tive  of  his  people,  and  was  watchful  of  the  public  interest.  An 
active  man  on  committees,  well  versed  in  the  details  of  business, 
he  filled  his  place  well.  Since  this  session,  he  has  been  in  retire 
ment,  pursuing  the  avocations  of  a  citizen,  in  which  he  has  suc 
ceeded,  and  enjoys  the  respect  of  those  who  know  him  best,  in 
the  possession  of  comfort  and  competency  as  the  fruits  of  honest 
service  to  the  public  and  to  himself. 

GEORGE  TAYLOR,  of  Coosa,  was  elected  in  1855,  a  Democrat. 
He  was  a  planter ;  and  from  the  humble  walks  of  life  in  property, 
he  had,  by  well-directed  industry,  acquired  a  large  competency, 
and  dispensed,  at  his  home  near  Wetumpka,  a  warm-hearted,  lib 
eral  hospitality.  He  had  no  public  aspirations,  else  he  might  have 
represented  his  county  for  many  years,  so  closely  identified  was  he 
with  the  people  around  him.  Without  early  advantages,  he  pos 
sessed  a  good  share  of  practical  knowledge  and  information,  and 
was,  in  every  sense  of  the  term,  a  respectable  citizen.  He  was 
elected  to  the  January  Convention,  1861,  as  a  Cooperationist;  but 
before  the  Ordinance  of  Secession  was  voted  upon,  his  convictions 
led  him  to  support  it,  as  the  best  that  could  be  done.  He  was 
never  a  candidate  again,  and  died  a  few  years  thereafter. 

DR.  GEORGE  F.  TAYLOR,  of  Chambers,  was  a  Georgian,  and  an 
Old-Line  Whig,  who,  in  the  organization  of  parties  in  1855,  upon 
the  Know-Nothing  basis,  allied  himself  with  the  Democratic  and 
Anti-Know-Nothiug  party;  and  being  a  gentleman  of  intelligence 
and  large  influence,  he  was  placed  on  the  ticket,  and  elected.  He 
was  made  Chairman  of  an  important  Committee,  and  acquitted 
himself  as  a  useful,  industrious  member.  He  was  well  educated, 
possessed  good  qualities  and  extensive  information,  an.d  was  much 
respected  by  his  fellow-members  in  the  Legislature.  This  was 
his  only  session.  He  still  resides  at  LaFayette,  engaged  in  the 
practice  of  his  profession. 


632  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

TOLIVER  TOWLES  was  on  old  stager,  who  first  made  his  appeaf- 
^ance  from  Chambers,  as  a  member  of  the  House  in  1839,  the  col 
league  of  Arnold  Seale,  Esq.,  a  gentleman  of  wealth  and  worth, 
intelligence  and  energy.  Mr.  Towles  was  a  Democrat,  and  it  took 
him  several  years  to  fix  up  so  as  to  go  successfully  through  the 
ballot-box  in  Chambers,  where  the  political  majority  was  against 
him ;  so  he  did  not  return  until  1847,  and  again  in  1855 — eight 
years  between  times. 

Mr.  Towles  belonged  to  a  valuable  class  of  members  who  saved 
time  by  not  speaking,  and  rendered  ready  service  in  carrying  for 
ward  the  business  of  the  House  with  an  eye  to  its  dispatch,  and 
the  public  interest.  Socially,  he  rendered  himself  quite  agree 
able,  and  possessed  a  generous  nature.  He  was  a  Georgian,  a 
planter,  and  a  good  citizen. 

In  1865,  he  was  elected  a  member  of  the  Constitutional  Con 
vention  for  reorganizing  the  State,  and  was  also  a  member  of  that 
in  1867,  organized  under  Congressional  rule  ;  but  I  do  not  think 
he  voted  for  the  Constitution  that  was  adopted  by  that  body.  And 
while  it  is  to  be  regretted  that  a  gentleman  who  so  long  enjoyed 
the  confidence  of  his  fellow-citizens,  should,  in  after-life,  become 
embarrassed  in  his  political  relations  by  causes  of  such  a  vital 
nature,  fair  allowances  should  be  made  for  surroundings  and  pre 
judices  which,  if  known,  perhaps  would  relieve  Mr.  Towles  from 
misapprehension,  at  least  so  far  as  his  motives  are  concerned. 

The  observation  of  a  life-time  satisfies  me  that  one  misstep,  or 
a  step  in  the  wrong  direction  by  an  old  man  of  pride  of  character, 
and  position,  and  opinion,  is  difficult  to  retrace,  and  that  relations 
thus  impaired  are  seldom  reestablished.  Confidence  is  destroyed, 
and  when  that  is  gone  in  public  men,  or  when  men  find  them 
selves  deceived,  the  feelings  revolt  from  any  further  reliance. 
Looking  at  Mr.  Towles  away  back  twenty  and  thirty  years,  in  the 
freeness  of  political  associations  and  personal  friendships,  I  confess 
that  my  mind  rests  with  more  satisfaction  upon  his  early  political 
history ;  and  I  have  no  doubt  he  finds  more  pleasure  in  reflecting 
upon  those  days  and  associations,  than  he  does  upon  his  recent 
experience  and  attachments  as  a  politician. 

JAMES  H.  CLANTON  was  a  student  in  the  University  of  Alaba 
ma  when  I  first  formed  his  acquaintance,  about  the  year  1845. 
His  father,  Nathaniel  H.  Clanton,  an  opulent  planter  of  Macon 
county,  was  a  Representative  in  the  Legislature  in  1838,  who,  hav 
ing  very  little  inclination  or  taste  for  public  life,  soon  retired,  and 
his  next  election  was  to  the  Senate  in  1853.  He  died  not  long 
thereafter. 

The  son,  Mr.  J.  H.  Clanton,  read  law  (to  the  best  of  mv  recol 
lection),  with  the  late  N.  W.  Cocke,  Esq.-,  and,  after  his  admission 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  633 

to  the  bar,  settled  in  the  town  of  Montgomery  to  pursue  the  prac 
tice  of  his  profession.  He  married  a  daughter  of  the  Hon.  James 
Abercrombie,  late  a  Representative  in  Congress,  by  which  connex 
ion  he  secured  a  large  family  influence.  In  1855,  he  was  elected 
a  Representative  from  Montgomery  county,  and  subsequently 
obtained  the  commission  of  Brigadier  General  in  the  State  Militia. 
He  also,  in  1855,  attached  himself  to  the  American  party.  By 
special  invitation,  he  and  the  late  Hon.  James  E.  Belser  attended 
a  large  Mass  Convention  of  that  party  at  the  city  of  Macon,  Geor 
gia,  where  both  were  called  out  by  the  multitude,  and  both  made 
eloquent  speeches.  In  1860,  Gen.  Clanton  served  on  the  Union 
ticket  as  a  candidate  for  Presidential  Elector  in  favor  of  Bell  and 
Everett.  He  was  a  decided  Whig  in  politics  from  early  manhood, 
and  was  opposed  to  secession  until  the  Ordinance  was  passed,  after 
which  he  acted  on  the  principle  of  paramount  allegiance  to  the  State. 

On  the  breaking  out  of  the  war  in  1861,  General  Clanton  was 
among  the  first  to  raise  a  company  for  Southern  defense,  and,  with 
his  cavalry,  operated  on  the  coast  and  about  Pensacola.  He  after 
ward  raised  a  regiment  of  cavalry,  of  which  he  was  appointed 
Colonel,  and  subsequently  he  was  promoted  to  the  rank  of  Briga 
dier  General  by  President  Davis.  He  continued  in  the  service 
until  the  surrender  of  the  Confederate  armies,  in  1865.  He  was 
a  bold,  gallant  and  impetuous  leader,  and  such  are  now  his  quali 
ties  in  the  contests  of  civil  life. 

At  the  Convention  at  Selma  in  1866,  Gen.  Clanton  was  appoint 
ed  Chairman  of  the  Executive  Committee  of  the  Democratic  and 
Conservative  party,  which  position  he  still  retains,  always  vigilant 
and  fearless,  and  ready  to  expose  error  and  corruption.  He  has 
rendered  efficient  service  to  the  State  by  his  wise  and  patriotic 
counsels,  supported  by  his  able  associates  on  the  Committee. 

The  personal  qualities  of  Gen.  Clanton  are  most  decided.  His 
name  is  of  high  authority  when  the  honor  of  men  is  involved, 
and  when  the  principles  of  justice  and  right  are  at  stake.  Were 
he  to  perceive  a  manifest  wrong  about  to  be  practised  on  a  politi 
cal  enemy,  or  on  the  humblest  man  living,  he  would  stand  by  him 
at  every  peril,  to  prevent  or  to  redress  the  wrong.  Whatever  is 
elevated  and  honorable,  finds  in  him  a  cordial  support,  and  he  will 
incur  every  hazard  to  carry  out  his  principles.  His  character  in 
this  respect  is  so  generally  known,  that  he  has  been  called  the 
Chevalier  Bayard  of  Alabama — a  man  without  fear  and  without 
reproach. 

He  still  resides  at  Montgomery,  and  is  engaged  in  the  practice 
of  the  law,  being  a  member  of  the  very  able  legal  firm  of  Stone, 
Clopton  &  Clanton.  No  citizen  of  Alabama  has  a  stronger  hold  on 
the  confidence  of  the  people,  and  no  one  has  a  brighter  prospect 
of  usefulness,  to  crown  his  labors  for  the  public  good. 


634  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama* 

DEATH  OF  GENERAL  CL ANTON. 

Since  the  foregoing  sketch  was  written,  the  life  of  this  distin 
guished  gentleman  was  terminated  in  a  tragical  manner,  at  Knox- 
ville,  Tennessee,  on  27th  September,  1871.  His  remains  were 
brought  to  Montgomery,  where  they  lay  in  state  at  the  Capitol, 
and  were  visited  by  a  multitude  computed  at  ten  thousand  per 
sons.  The  Mayor  and  Aldermen  adopted  proceedings  suitable  to 
the  occasion.  A  public  meeting  of  the  citizens  was  held,  and 
every  demonstration  of  respect  was  paid  to  his  memory.  Colonel 
Joseph  Hodgson  pronounced  an  eloquent  eulogy  on  the  character 
and  public  services  of  the  deceased.  The  funeral  procession  was 
the  largest  ever  seen  in  the  State.  Numerous  public  meetings 
were  held  throughout  Alabama,  and  Town  Councils  united  in 
paying  tribute  to  his  memory. 

At  a  meeting  held  by  the  Montgomery  Bar,  the  following  reso 
lutions  were  unanimously  adopted : 

Resolved,  That  as  members  of  the  Bar  we  can  but  express  our  deepest  sorrow 
at  the  unexpected  death  of  our  brother,  Gen.  James  H.  Clanton.  He  was  a  law 
yer  of  rare  gifts — enthusiastic  in  the  pursuit  of  whatever  was  right,  and  marking 
and  adorning,  with  the  highest  sense  of  professional  honor,  his  intercourse  with 
his  brethren.  He  had  attained  an  .enviable  reputation,  both  as  an  advocate  and 
counsellor.  His  past  success,  so  brilliant  in  its  nature,  gave  promise  of  a  full 
measure  of  professional  renown  and  prosperity.  His  sudden  death  forcibly 
teaches  us  "what  shadows  we  are — what  shadows  we  pursue." 

Resolved,  One  great  merit,  crowning  merit  of  the  many  great  merits  of  our  de 
ceased  brother,  was  that  there  was  nothing  negative  in  his  character.  Wherever 
right  led,  he  was  always  ready,  willing  and  anxious  to  follow,  and  did  follow  with 
all  the  force  and  impulse  of  an  energetic  nature ;  and  in  pursuing  and  carrying 
out  his  conscientious  convictions  of  right,  no  danger  could  deter  nor  obstacle 
retard. 

Resolved,  Our  deceased  brother  was  devotedly  and  sincerely  patriotic ;  he  loved 
his  native  land  and  his  State,  and  there  was  no  sacrifice,  however  great  in  its 
nature,  that  he  would  hesitate  to  make  in  behalf  of  either. 

Resolved,  His  whole-hearted,  unwavering  devotion  to  truth,  right,  friends  and 
country,  together  with  his  acknowledged  ability  in  maintaining  the  cause  which 
his  judgment  approved,  gave  him  a  large  space  in  the  public  eye;  and  a  warm 
reception  in  the  affections  and  hearts  of  his  countrymen. 

Resolved,  Possessed  of  the  highest  generosity  and  benevolence  for  the  suffering 
and  afflicted — of  an  indomitable  courage  under  all  circumstances — of  sincere 
devotion  and  adherence  to  truth,  utter  detestation  of  falsehood — he  was  the  em 
bodiment  of  the  noblest  and  purest  type  of  true  manhood. 

Resolved,  We  condole  with  his  bereaved  family,  tender  them  our  sympathies, 
give  our  sanction  and  bestow  our  encouragement  on  all  measures  for  their  relief. 

Resolved,  That  a  copy  of  these  resolutions  be  presented  to  the  Circuit,  City  and 
Chancery  Courts  of  this  county,  by  a  Committee  of  five,  to  be  appointed  by  the 
Chairman ;  and  that  each  of  said  Courts  be  requested  to  spread  said  resolutions 
upon  its  minutes. 

The  Chairman,  in  conformity  to  the  resolutions,  appointed  the  following  gentle 
men  to  constitute  said  Committee :  Judge  A.  J.  Walker,  Chairman ;  ex-Gov.  T.  H. 
Watts,  Col.  M.  D.  Graham,  Col.  J.  W.  A.  Sanford,  and  Col.  D.  S.  Troy. 

On  motion,  the  meeting  adjourned  sine  die. 

DAVID  CLOPTON,  Chairman, 

C.  R.  HUBBARD,  Secretary. 


iteminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

From  the  Montgomery  "Mail  and  Advertiser,"  of  November 
23d,  the  following  extract  is  subjoined : 

In  the  United  States  District  Court,  Judge  Busteed  presiding,  proceedings  were 
had  yesterday  relative  to  the  death  of  our  late  esteemed  and  distinguished  towns 
man,  Gen.  James  H.  Clanton.  Soon  after  the  opening  of  the  Court,  Judge  A.  J. 
Walker  stated  that  he  was  deputized  by  the  Bar  of  Montgomery  to  present  to  the 
Court  the  resolutions  of  that  body  upon  the  subject  of  General  Clanton' s  decease, 
and  read  them  to  the  Court.  These  we  have  heretofore  published. 

Judge  Walker  suggested  that  members  of  the  Bar  of  other  parts  of  the  District 
than  Montgomery  respond  to  the  motion  which  he  had  submitted,  and  Gen.  John 
T.  Morgan,  of  Selma,  seconded  Judge  Walker's  motion  in  a  speech  replete  with 
the  deepest  feeling,  and  more  than  even  his  accustomed  eloquence ;  after  which, 
Judge  Busteed  said  in  reply : 

"My  own  grief  at  the  untimely  death  of  General  Clanton  is  too  fresh  to  admit 
of  my  making  any  extended  remarks  on  this  occasion,  notwithstanding  that  I 
fully  anticipated  this  motion  would  be  made.  The  deceased  was  my  personal 
friend,  arid  his  loss  is  a  personal  bereavement.  James  H.  Clanton  was  not  an  ordi 
nary  man.  In  all  his  relations  to  society,  he  was  distinguished.  Rugged  hon 
esty,  peerless  bravery,  unfaltering  loyalty,  fidelity  to  friends,  and  generosity  to 
foes,  were  the  constituent  elements  of  his  being.  He  was  full  of  the  qualities 
which  make  men  good,  and  of  his  failings  it  may  truthfully  be  said,  'they  leaned 
to  virtue's  side.'  Such  a  man  is  great,  for  it  is  in  these  qualities  that  greatness 
rests.  It  is  sad  to  think  his  voice  shall  never  more  be  heard  by  us — inexpressibly 
sad  that  the  grave  hides  him  forever  from  our  mortal  companionship  ! 

'  Sweet  in  manners,  fair  in  favor, 
Soft  in  temper,  fierce  in  fight ; 
Lawyer  nobler,  warrior  braver, 
Never  shall  behold  the  light.' 

"Let  the  resolutions  be  entered  at  once  upon  the  minutes,  and  as  a  further 
mark  of  respect  for  our  deceased  brother,  this  Court  will  now  adjourn  until  to 
morrow  morning." 

On  21st  November,  1871,  Governor  Lindsay  transmitted  his 
annual  message  to  the  Legislature,  in  which  he  thus  alludes  to 
Gen.  Clanton : 

From  the  very  first  instant  of  my  struggle  with  the  Alabama  and  Chattanooga 
Railroad  to  the  sad  and  melancholy  hour  of  his  death,  I  was  strengthened  by  the 
advice  and  determination  of  the  noble  and  lamented  Clanton.  Faithful,  zealous 
and  unselfish  in  his  devotion  to  Alabama,  with  an  unwavering  fortitude.,  he  labored 
to  promote  her  interests;  and  shrinking  from  no  sacrifice,  he  ever  sought  to  vin 
dicate  her  honor.  It  is  a  reflection  of  mingled  sorrow  and  pleasure  that  my  course 
received  the  co-operation  and  sanction  of  such  a  generous  and  earnest  patriot. 
Remote  from  home  when  he  perished,  and  in  the  service  of  the  State,  no  admoni 
tion  from  me  is  necessary  to  prompt  the  General  Assembly  to  render  a  just  tribute 
to  his  memory,  and  an  adequate  recompense  to  his  bereaved  family. 

In  the  House  of  Representatives,  November  23d,  the  following 
proceedings  were  had : 

Mr.  Lowe,  from  the  Special  Committee  on  that  part  of  the  Governor's  message 
relating  to  the  services  and  death  of  the  late  General  James  H.  Clanton,  reported 
the  following  series  of  resolutions  : 

Be  it  ttesovlvcd,  That  the  House  of  Representatives  of  the  State  of  Alabama  hag 
received,  with  sincere  and  profound  sensibility,  the  intelligence  of  the  death  of 


B36  Hcmmiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

Gen.  James  Holt  Clanton — a  statesman  without  guile,  a  soldier  without  fear,  and 
a  citizen,  in  every  respect,  of  the  most  noble  and  exemplary  character. 

Resolved,  That  the  officers  and  members  of  the  House  will  wear  the  usual  badge 
of  mourning  for  thirty  days,  as  a  testimony  of  their  respect  for  the  memory  of 
the  deceased. 

Resolved.  That  the  proceedings  of  this  House  be  communicated  by  the  Clerk  to 
the  family  of  the  deceased,  and  that,  as  a  further  mark  of  respect  for  the  memory 
of  the  deceased,  the  House  now  adjourn. 

In  support  of  these  resolutions,  Mr.  Lowe  said : 

Mr.  Speaker — I  rise,  in  support  of  these  resolutions,  to  perform  a  melancholy 
duty :  to  call  the  attention  of  the  House  to  an  occurrence  which  has  excited  pop 
ular  sympathy  and  sorrow  throughout  all  parts  of  the  State — the  sudden  and 
calamitous  death  of  General  Clanton — which  has  found  an  appropriate  place  in 
the  Governor's  message,  and  which  should  not  be  passed  in  silence  by  the  House 
of  Representatives. 

General  Clanton,  Sir,  was,  in  the  highest  sense,  a  representative  Southern  man. 
He  was  the  embodiment  of  our  best  popular  characteristics.  He  occupied  a  peculiar 
place  in  the  hearts  of  our  people,  and  no  man  enjoyed  to  a  more  unqualified  extent 
their  general  confidence  and  affection.  Everywhere,  from  the  mountains  to  the 
gulf,  the  people  knew  and  loved  him.  In  speaking  of  him  now,  it  is  not  neces 
sary  to  strain  the  truth  to  magnify  his  virtues.  It  is  no  exaggeration  to  say  of 
him,  that  in  lofty  and  genuine  patriotism,  in  moral  and  physical  courage,  in 
sagacity  and  common  sense,  in  personal  integrity  and  devotion  to  duty,  he  has  not 
been  surpassed  by  any  of  his  contemporaries.  There  was  something,  also,  in  the 
union  of  these  high  qualities  in  him — a  blending  of  mind  and  character,  a  per 
sonal  magnetism,  a  genius  for  executive  affaire,  and  a  peculiar  and  subtle  power 
o-ver  men — which  combined  to  make  him,  all  in  all,  one  of  the  most  marked  and 
conspicuous  figures  that  has  appeared  at  any  time  in  the  public  affairs  of  the  State. 
I  believe,  Sir,  of  all  the  men  I  ever  knew,  he  was  the  loftiest,  most  heroic  spirit. 
In  pronouncing  his  eulogy,  it  is  not  necessary  to  borrow  the  guarded  phrases  of 
mere  panegyric.  He  had,  doubtless,  his  imperfections — he  was  human — yet  they 
were  but  the  human  part  of  an  instinctively  great  and  noble  nature.  They,  too, 
were  the  characteristics  of  our  Southern  land,  and  assisted  to  make  him  more  and 
more  the  ideal  representative  of  our  people. 

I  need  not  recount,  at  this  time,  the  events  of  his  brief  but  eventful  life :  every 
one  knows  them.  Every  one  is  familiar  with  his  brilliant  and  stainless  record  as 
a  soldier  of  the  South  in  the  late  war  between  the  States.  During  its  latter  period, 
I  served  near  him  as  one  of  his  brigade.  I  have  seen  him  often  "on  the  perilous 
edge  of  battle,"  when  he  looked  like  some  belted  knight  of  feudal  days,  that  had 
merely  .doffed  his  case  of  mail,  and  come  again  in  flesh  and  blood  to  teach  us  chiv 
alry.  That  age,  that  institution,  is  indeed  gone,  but  never  yet  did  any  knight  in 
olden  time  better  illustrate  its  essential  soul  and  spirit — "the  unbought  grace  of 
life,  the  cheap  defense  of  nations,  the  nurse  of  manly  sentiment  and  heroic  enter 
prise." 

In  our  recent  grave  and  bitter  political  complications  with  the  Government,  he 
enjoyed  the  unqualified  confidence  of  our  people.  He  was  famed  throughout  the 
South  as  a  bold  and  defiant  partisan  leader — the  acknowledged  civic-champion  of 
the  white  race  of  this  Commonwealth. 

Everybody  knew  his  reputation  at  the  Bar  as  an  able  and  generous  advocate  of 
the  unfortunate,  the  defenseless,  the  oppressed.  In  these  varied  relations,  no  one 
of  his  contemporaries  was  more  noted  and  prominent.  But  there  is  another  and 
closer  view  of  him  in  his  private  and  personal  relations — a  nearer  and  better 
observation,  disclosing  his  real  simplicity  of  character,  his  native  generosity,  his 
love  of  truth,  his  fidelity  to  friends,  his  loyalty  to  woman,  and  reverence  for  sacred 
things — -home-virtues — which  only  those  who  knew  him,  as  I  knew  him,  in  the 
unreserve  of  social  intercourse,  or  in  the  intimacy  of  the  home-circle,  can  ever 
fully  understand  and  appreciate. 

But  I  will  not  trust  myself  further  in  this  direction.  In  view  of  the  sudden 
and  most  distressing  character  of  this  calamity,- 1  have  no  words  adequate  to 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  637 

express  the  personal  bitterness  of  my  own  feelings  to  mingle  a  private  with  a 
public  sorrow.  Even  now,  in  this  draped  hall,  I  can  scarcely  realize  that  he  whom 
we  lately  saw  in  the  prime  and  vigor  of  life,  and  occupying  so  large  a  space  in  our 
thoughts,  is  indeed  no  more — that  Harry  Percy's  spur  is  cold — that  the  chivalrous 
soldier,  the  patriotic  citizen,  the  ardent  advocate,  the  fearless  and  irreproachable 
Clanton,  has  been  stricken  down  in  the  glory  of  his  manhood,  and  in  the  zenith  of 
his  active  and  useful  career.  I  will  not  say  we  ne'er  shall  look  on  his  like  again; 
but  I  do  say,  that  in  all  our  borders,  we  have  no  one  that  can  altogether  fill  his 
place. 

It  might  be  invidious,  Mr.  Speaker,  to  enter  now  into  the  details  of  his  untimely 
death,  but  there  is  a  thought  in  this  connection  which  is  entitled  to  our  grave  con 
sideration.  It  is  that  Gen.  Clanton  was  killed  while  in  the  employment  and  repre 
senting  the  interests  of  Alabama.  He  lost  his  life  while  on  duty.  He  had  been 
warned  by  prudent  friends  not  to  go  to  East-Tennessee.  He  had  been  repeatedly 
threatened,  as  the  Agent  of  Alabama,  by  the  desperate  minions  of  that  corrupt, 
defaulting  railroad  company  with  which  he,  in  behalf  of  the  State,  was  then  in 
litigation.  He  had  reason  to  expect,  and  did  expect,  an  attack  at  any  moment. 
At  the  final  crisis  of  the  affair,  when  the. fatal  assault  is  actually  being  made  upon 
him,  he  infers,  and  naturally  infers,  from  its  singular  and  unprovoked  character, 
as  well  as  from  pxevious  significant  threats  and  warnings,  that  it  was  aimed  at  him 
in  his  representative  capacity.  Impressed  with  this  idea,  yet  fearless  under  all 
circumstances,  he  promptly  met  the  issue.  Evidently  believing  (whether  errone 
ously  or  not)  that  his  official  relation  to  the  State  was  the  latent,  but  real,  cause  of 
the  attack  upon  him,  he  died  in  that  belief.  His  last  brave  words,  "  I  hare  done 
all  I  could,"  were  his  dying  message  to  his  people — his  final  report  to  the  authority 
that  had  intrusted  him,  in  that  matter,  with  the  interests  and  honor  of  the  State. 
It  is  to  the  grateful  consideration  of  this  thought  that  I  invoke  the  attention  of 
the  House.  Gen.  Clantou  has,  indeed,  "done  all  he  could"  for  the  State.  He  has 
sacrificed  a  life  dear  to  us,  but  inestimable  to  his  family,  in  the  discharge  of  a 
professional  duty,  in  defense  of  a  public  trust.  What  more  can  we  say  of  this 
last  and  crowning  act  of  his  life?  He  leaves  behind  him  as  his  debtors,  in  a  high 
sense,  every  true  and  patriotic  citizen  of  Alabama.  He  has  placed  us  under  such 
sacred  obligations  that  public  gratitude  instinctively  demands  that  his  widow  and 
children  shall  be  adopted  and  cherished  as  the  wards  of  the  State.  In  full  accord 
with  that  sentiment  I  would  be  glad,  as  a  member  of  this  body,  to  give  it  official 
sanction.  If  necessary,  I  would  favor  a  direct  appropriation.  If  requisite  to 
shield  his  widow  and  orphans  from  vicissitude,  I  would  throw  around  them  the 
protecting  cegis  of  the  State.  Whatever  a  generous  patriotism  may  suggest  in  this 
respect,  should  be  freely  done  by  us  or  our  constituents.  Alabama,  in  her  fiduciary 
capacity,  as  guardian  of  Gen.  Clanton' s  children,  should  proudly  see  to  it  that 
their  heritage  is  amply  supplied  by  the  gratitude  of  a  generous  and  noble  people. 

Mr.  Speaker,  the  spontaneous  outburst  of  popular  feeling  which  greeted  the 
sad  intelligence  of  the  death  of  our  lamented  friend,  indicates,  to  some  extent,  the 
popular  appreciation  of  his  eminent  and  unselfish  services  to  the  State.  The  peo 
ple  feel,  sir,  that  in  honoring  him  they  honor  themselves.  The  House,  in  its  action 
on  these  resolutions,  will  respond  in  like  spirit  to  the  people.  History  will  do  the 
rest  and  complete  the  record.  The  memory  of  his  lofty  character,  and  the  influ 
ence  of  his  rare  example  will  not  be  lost  to  those  who  come  after  us.  Wre  can  an 
ticipate  the  time  when  the  historian  of  Alabama,  free  from  present  vicissitudes, 
will  gather  together  the  records  and  traditions  of  our  distinguished  dead,  for  their 
respective  places  in  the  archives  of  the  State.  In  that  better  day,  our  noble  friend 
will  illustrate  an  elevated  and  distinct  position  among  the  statesmen,  patriots,  and 
heroes  of  the  South.  He  will  surely  stand  exalted  among  contemporary  Alabam- 
ians  as  in  life  the  best  beloved,  and  in  death  the  most  lamented,  of  them  all; 
therefore,  Mr.  Speaker,  in  behalf  of  the  Committee,  I  offer  the  foregoing  reso 
lutions. 

Mr.  Gates,  in  support  of  the  resolutions,  spoke  as  follows ; 

Mr.  Speaker — After  what  has  been  said,  and  so  well  said,  by  the  learned  gentle 
man  from  Madison  (Mr,  Lowe)  concerning  the  character  and  distiguished  services 


638  Reminiscences  of  Piiblic  Men  in  Alabama. 

rendered  to  the  people  of  the  State  by  our  lamented  friend,  I  shall  not  undertake 
to  pronounoe  a  eulogy  upon  him.  I  arise,  sir,  merely  to  express  my  most  cordial 
concurrence  in  what  has  been  said. 

No  man  who  ever  lived  within  her  borders  was  more  devoted  to  his  State  than 
was  the  deceased  to  his  beloved  Alabama.  Every  measure  calculated  to  redound 
to  her  glory,  and  add  to  her  material  prosperity,  found  in  him  a  sincere  friend 
and  fearless  advocate.  Whatever  tended  to  her  dishonor,  foremost  among  her 
staunch  defenders,  he  was  ever  ready  to  resist  to  the  utmost  extremity.  His  cour 
age,  both  physical  and  moral,  was  of  the  highest  order,  yet  it  did  not  surpass  his 
generosity  and  benevolence.  In  his  charge  at  r;ofcneville,  like  tne  leader  of  the 
Old  Guard  at  Waterloo,  he  displayed  a  sublimity  of  courage  equal  to  the  French 
Marshal  whose  response  to  the  demands  of  his  enemies  was,  "A  Marshal  of 
France  never  surrenders  !"  He  excited  in  his  enemies  both  terror  and  admiration, 
as  Murat  did  of  the  Cossack;  yet  all  the  blows  he  ever  inflicted,  all  his  exertions, 
both  mental  and  physical,  were  but  the  outpourings  of  his  generous  nature  for 
the  relief  of  the  oppressed,  and  in  the  cause  of  right.  Notwithstanding  his  im 
petuosity,  when  the  exigency  demanded  it  he  was  cool,  deliberate,  and  cautious  in 
counsel. 

But  he  is  gone  from  us  forever;  we  shall  not  look  upon  his  like  again.  "God 
made  but  one  such  man,  and  broke  the  die  that  molded  Clanton." 

Mr.  Lewis  said: 

Mr,  Speaker — Since  our  last  adjournment  a  great  calamity  and  sorrow  has  fallen 
upon  our  people.  The  public  heart  was  wrung  as  never  before,  when  the  sharp, 
awful  pang  ran  through  the  land,  upon  the  tidings  of  the  death  of  Gen.  Clanton. 
Why  this  great  lamentation  ?  What  was  it  in  the  life  and  character  of  the  deceased 
that  gave  him  snch  a  hold  on  the  affections  of  his  fellow-citizens  ?  Why  is  it  that 
this  grief  is  even  more  poignant  than  any  this  people  has  ever  experienced — 
greater  than  when  the  faultless,  noble,  self-poised  Gen.  Lee  was  gathered  to  his 
fathers  ?  Mr.  Speaker,  Lee  was  our  representative  man  when  we  were  clothed 
with  the  habiliments  and  sovereignty  of  a  free  people ;  when  we  could  marshal  our 
hosts  to  battle,  and  cross  sabre  with  sabre,  meet  bayonet  with  bayonet,  and  give 
full  force  to  our  power  as  a  nation.  But  when  the  dark  hour  of  defeat  came — when 
we  sat  down  by  the  rivers  of  Babylon  and  wept,  a  conquered  and  subdued  people, 
with  our  political  institutions  shattered,  our  social  fabric  and  labor  system  broken 
up — there  was  needed  some  clarion  voice  to  rouse  our  people  to  duty.  It  was 
then  that  the  brave,  chivalrous,  ardent,  heroic  Clanton  came  forward,  and  with  one 
accord  and  acclaim  the  people  looked  to  him  as  a  leader.  He  told  us  by  words 
and  example  that  all  was  not  lost  to  us,  that  much  for  good  still  remained,  that 
these  people  still  held  intact  one  great  essential  element  of  civilization  in  the  in 
dividuality  of  her  sons  and  daughters,  and  that  no  earthly  power  could  ever  rob 
us  of  the  courage  and  manliness  of  the  one,  or  the  delicacy  and  chastity  of  the 
other.  Well  had  nature  fitted  him  for  this  arduous  position,  and  right  well  did  he 
meet  the  emergency.  From  that  clay  to  the  hour  of  his  untimely  death,  his  career 
had  been  one  of  ceaseless  vigilance,  untiring  zeal  and  self-sacrificing  devotion  fy> 
the  public  weal. 

In  the  relations  of  private  life,  a  warm,  unselfish,  sincere  devotion  to  his  friends 
•was  his  chief  characteristic.     In  prospect  of  power,  no  consideration  of  promotion 
could  ever  induce  him  for  a  moment  to  swerve  from  his  self-imposed  allegiance. 
"  He  grappled  them  to  hie  soul  with  hooks  of  steel." 

It  is  a  matter  of  history  that,  when  he  was  transferred  to  the  Department  of 
Mississippi,  he  was  told  that  if  he  abstained  from  taking  the  part  of  a  friend  then 
involved  in  misunderstanding  with  the  General  commanding,  he  could  be  the  head 
of  the  cavalry.  He  disdained  the  proposition — proclaimed  in  season  and  out  of 
season  that  his  friend  had  been  wronged  and  he  would  share  his  fate.  He  lost 
his  prospect  of  promotion,  and  was  transferred  to  another  field,  where  his  capacity 
for  war  was  forever  circumscribed. 

As  an  advocate,  he  shone  with  a  peculiar  lustre.  Gifted  with  quick  perceptions, 
a  warm  sensibility,  and  keen  insight  into  human  nature,  combining  the  strength 
of  the  war  horse  with  the  fleetness  of  the  racer,  making  the  cause  of  the  client 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  639 

his  own,  and  throwing  into  it  all  the  zeal,  ardor  and  strength  of  his  nature,  he 
won  verdicts  where  greater  jurists  would  have  failed. 

But,  Mr.  Speaker,  why  should  I  attempt  to  portray  the  character  of  this  re 
markable  man  ?  Upon  the  spontaneous  outpouring  of  public  grief  at  the  time  of 
his  death,  so  much  was  so  eloquently  said  and  written,  that  an  attempt  upon  my 
part,  at  this  time,  would  be  vain  and  futile.  I  will  refrain. 

"  I  knew  our  brother ;  his  mute  dust 

I  honor,  and  his  living  worth ; 
A  man  more  pure,  and  bold,  and  just 
Was  never  born  into  the  earth.1" 

Impetuous,  daring,  as  clear  as  a  fair  day  in  his  own  sunny  South,  unsullied  in 
his  honor,  a  hater  of  all  that  was  mean  and  sordid,  "a  lover  of  his  kind  and  a 
sacrificer  of  himself,"  graceful,  generous,  knightly;  cautious  in  counsel,  but  rapid, 
decided,  sudden  in  action — with  a  high,  imperious  will — he  presents  to  us  a  pic 
ture  of  loftiness  and  grandeur,  of  sweetness  and  amenity. 

It  is  a  pleasant  thing  to  dwell  upon  his  memory  ;  it  is  a  precious  heritage  which 
he  has  bequeathed  to  his  people ;  it  makes  us  better  satisfied  with  ourselves  and 
our  country.  As  has  been  well  said,  he  was  a  true  type  of  a  Southern  leader. 
His  faults  were  identified  with  the  open-heartedness  of  the  man.  Like  light  and 
shade,  they  mutually  assisted  in  an  attractive  picture  to  human  eyes.  Let  all  the 
true  sons  of  Alabama  embalm  his  name  forever  in  their  heart  of  hearts ;  let  us  rear 
some  fit  testimonial  of  our  appreciation  of  his  services :  let  a  grateful  people 
throng  to  his  tomb  and  bedew  it  with  their  tears,  whence  perennial  blossoms 
springing  may  ever  co\er  his  grave. 

Mr.  Semmes,  of  Mobile,  said : 

I  come  from  the  Gulf  City  to  join  my  feeble  voice  to  those  of  the  eloquent  gen 
tlemen  from  Middle  and  North-Alabama,  in  sounding  the, fame  and  perpetuating 
the  name  of  the  heroic  Clanton.  It  is  througn  the  influence  of  such  men  as  was 
he  to  dnite  all  Alabamians,  North,  South,  East,  and  West,  within  the  fold  of  one 
va^  band  of  confiding,  loving  brothers.  A  representative  of  the  grand  old  cavalier 
whose  deeds  of  daring  and  devotion  have  emblazoned  the  finest  and  brightest  pages 
of  the  history  of  every  age  and  nation,  a  representative  who  truly  represented  the 
class  from  which  he  sprung ;  one  who  carried  his  purse,  his  heart  and  his  life  in 
his  hand,  always  at  the  command  of  a  friend,  those  in  distress,  or  his  country's 
cause.  Oh  !  my  native  Alabama :  What  a  loss  we,  your  representatives,  are  called 
to  commemorate  on  this  occasion  ! 

The  great  Clanton  is  no  more.  He  has  passed  away  from  amidst  those  he  was 
wont  to  fight  for,  and  to  whose  welfare  it  was  his  greatest  pleasure  to  devote  every 
thought  of  his  mind,  and  every  energy  of  his  powerful  frame. 

Where  is  it  most  meet  to  honor  the  great  Clanton  ? 

"Here,  in  Montgomery's  central  roar. 

Where  the  feet  of  those  he  fought  for. 

And  the  voices  of  those  he  wrought  for, 

Shall  resound  around  his  grave  for  evermore.1'1 

Prior  to  the  war,  a  quiet  citizen  following  the  peaceful  avocations  of  civil  life, 
he  grasped  his  sword  and  rushed  to  the  front  when  the  first  tocsin  of  war  sounded, 
there  to  offer  his  fortune,  his  life,  and  his  honor,  in  his  country's  cause.  Well 
might  I  portray  the  actions  of  himself  and  his  noble  troops,  during  the  exciting 
scenes  of  that  mighty  struggle,  in  the  words  of  England's  Poet  Laureate : 

Eight  on  the  Clanton  troop  went  rushing, 
All  opposition  before  them  crushing- 
Stormed  at  with  shot  and  shell, 
Thro'  the  jaws  of  death,  into  the  mouth  of  hell, 
These  gallant  heroes  went  dashing 
With  a  thousand  muskets  all  flashing. 
Then  cheer  the  noble  Clanton  boys, 
Who  took  the  hostile  guns  like  toys ; 
Honor  the  wild  charges- they  made — 
Honor  those  who  ftraght  and  bled — 
Honor  our  great,  our  mighty  dead. 


640  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

After  the  war  was  over,  and  our  loved  South  shrouded  in  gloom,  he  returned  to 
his  home  and  the  privacy  of  domestic  life,  yet  naver  for  a  moment  did  he  cease  to 
devote  his  whole  life  and  time  to  the  advancement  of  the  interests  of  Alabama ;  so 
great  was  his  influence  that  even  we,  on  the  far  southern  sea-coast,  looked  to  Clan- 
ton  as  a  beacon  light  which  would  infallibly  lead  to  a  peaceful  harbor  surrounded 
by  plenty  and  ease.  Aye,  Mr.  Speaker,  I  as  a  representative  man  from  South- 
Alabama,  felt  that,  whilst  the  mighty  Clanton  lived  the  liberties  of  Alabama  could 
never  die. 

Mr.  Crook  spoke,  in  substance  as  follows : 

Mr.  Speaker — The  pathetic  eulogiums  pronounced  by  gentlemen  who  have  pre 
ceded  me  are  truly  appropriate,  but  rather  suggestive  than  exhaustive  of  the  supe 
rior  virtues,  the  ennobling  attributes,  and  exalting  characteristics  which  so  emi 
nently  distinguished  him,  who  lived  for  his  country,  who  died  for  his  country, 
and  in  dying  left  to  her  an  heritage  of  tears.  It  is  not  my  purpose  to  speak  at 
length  upon  this  melancholy  and  exhaustless  theme,  but  merely  to  unite  in  a  gen 
eral  expression  of  sorrow  over  the  untimely  and  tragical  death  of  one  of  Ala 
bama's  noblest  and  worthiest  sons.  Although  dead  and  lost  to  us,  we,  Mr.  Speaker, 
have  a  pleasing  consolation  in  the  assurance,  that  he  has  not  died  "unwept,  un- 
honored  and  unsung."  Sung  of  poets,  honored  and  loved  by  every  admirer  of 
true  chivalry,  he  is  wept  by  a  bereaved  mother — our  beloved  Alabama — and  when 
the  future  historian  shall  lift,  to  wield,  the  unprejudiced  pen  of  destiny  in  record 
ing  the  names  of  our  noble  dead,  methinks  he  will  inscribe,  with  others,  upon  the 
frontis  page  of  immortality  the  name  of  James  H.  Clanton. 

Mr.  Duskin  said,  in  substance,  that,  although  he  differed  from  Gen.  Clanton 
in  politics,  and  was,  therefore,  not  so  intimately  associated  with  him  in  his  life  as 
other  gentlemen  of  the  House  had  been,  yet  he  had  known  him  well  enough  to  re 
spect  him  for  his  bold  advocacy  of  what  he  believed  to  be  the  right,  and  to  honor 
him  for  his  many  shining  virtues.  He  had  not  intended, to  do  more  than  give  his 
hearty  indorsement  to  the  remarks  of  the  gentlemen  who  had  preceded  him,  but 
this  much  he  would  add:  The  genuine  honesty  and  integrity  of  Clanton' s  charac 
ter  was  such  that  he  never  suspected  dishonesty  in  others.  It,  therefore,  hap 
pened  that  he  questioned  the  motives  of  no  antagonist,  but  gave  full  faith  and 
credit  to  the  sincerity  of  the  convictions  of  all.  But  when  he  found  a  rascal,  he 
hated  him  with  an  implacable  hatred,  a  hatred  which  knew  neither  abatement  nor 
forgiveness.  So  pure  was  he  himself  in  this  respect  that  he  could  not  look  upon 
the  sins  of  others  with  the  least  degree  of  tolerance.  He  was  a  man  of  whom  his 
friends  had  just  cause  to  be  proud,  and  to  whose  memory  it  was  right  and  proper 
that  some  such  tribute  as  that  offered  by  the  resolutions  of  the  Committee,  should 
be  paid  by  his  bereaved  fellow-citizens.  Gen.  Clanton  had  loved  Alabama,  and  the 
speaker,  as  an  Alabamian,  claimed  the  right  to  share  in  this  tribute  to  his  memory 

Mr.  Smith,  of  Sumter,  said : 

Mr.  Speaker — The  objects  of  the  resolutions  are  such  as  to  touch  the  sympathies 
and  hearts  of  every  true  Alabamian. 

One  of  our  prominent,  and  leading  citizens  has  been  taken  from  us,  in  the  very 
prime  of  his  manhood  and  usefulness,  not  by  the  ordinary  dispensation  of  Provi 
dence,  but  by  the  hand  of  a  murderer.  Gen.  Clanton  was  singularly  devoted  to 
Alabama.  Whenever  her  interests  or  honor  were  involved,  he  was  ever  ready  to 
defend  her,  without  estimating  the  personal  consequences  to  himself.  The  points 
of  his  character  were  marked  and  well  defined.  Of  a  quick  and  susceptible  tem 
perament,  accompanied  with  an  invincible  resolution,  his  attachments,  when  once 
formed,  were  strong;  and  amongst  the  strongest  attachments  of  his  life  was  his 
devotion  to  the  State  of  Alabama.  All  great  reforms  in  life  seem  to  be  effected  at 
the  cost  of  great  sacrifices.  This,  sir,  is  an  evil  day  for  Alabama;  she  has  been 
beset  by  untoward  troubles  and  difficulties,  and  she  found  a  friend,  in  one  of  her 
best  and  bravest  citizens,  whose  martyred  blood  attests  his  patriotism  and  devotion 
to  his  beloved  State. 

Gen.  Clanton  was  on  a  mission  of  the  first  importance  to  the  State  when  he  lost 


Reminiscenoes  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  641 

his  life.  His  name  must  ever  be  dear  to  the  State  he  served  so  well  and  faithfully. 
Although  he  has  gone  from  our  midst,  we  will  ever  recur  with  pleasure  to  his 
many  noble  traits  of  character ;  and  every  true  Alabamian  will  cherish  his  memory. 
Mr.  Speaker,  the  few  brief  remarks  I  have  made,  but  feebly  indicate  the  estimation 
in  which  Gen.  Clanton  is  held  by  those  whom  I  have  the  honor  to  represent,  in 
part,  on  this  floor. 

Mr.  Bullock  said:  . 

Mr.  Speaker — I  can  not  suffer  this  occasion  to  pass  without  expressing  the  emo 
tions  awakened  in  the  hearts  of  those,  in  common  with  myself,  whom  I  have  the 
honor  to  represent  on  this  floor,  at  the  sad  event  which  we  so  much  deplore — the 
death  of  Gen.  James  H.  Clanton.  If  I  should  here,  sir,  attempt  to  do  justice  to 
his  virtues,  I  would  feel  that  words  would  be  inadequate  to  perform  that  duty. 
Therefore,  it  will  not  be  my  object  .to  pronounce  an  eulogium  upon  his  character. 
As  to  his  faults,  I  may  merely  say : 

When  cold  in  the  grave  lies  the  friend  thou  hast  loved, 
Be  his  faults  and  his  foibles  forgot  by  thee  then ; 
And  if  from  his  slumbers  the  veil  be  removed, 
Weep  o'er  them  in  silence  and  close  it  again. 

It  is  more,  sir,  to  give  expression  to  the  sentiments  of  love  for  his  person  and 
admiration  of  his  character,  entertained  by  the  people  of  Alabama,  particularly 
of  those  of  my  county,  with  whose  sentiments  I  am  familiar,  than  to  pronounce 
encomiums  upon  his  virtues,  that  I  address  the  House.  Truly,  the  people  through 
out  the  entire  borders  of  the  State  weep  tears  of  bitterness  and  sorrow  at  his  loss; 
none  will  mingle  those  tears  more  freely  over  the  grave  of  Alabama's  most  unself 
ish  and  patriotic  son  than  the  people  of  the  county  of  Greene.  They  loved,  hon 
ored  and  admired  him,  as  a  true  type  of  Southern  manhood.  The  beautiful  and 
the  fair  will  do  honor  to  his  memory,  for  he  was  woman's  defender.  The  thoughts 
of  her  doubtless  nerved  his  arm  in  the  fierce  conflicts  of  war,  and  caused  him  to 
make  a  bulwark  of  his  breast  to  hurl  back  the  minions  of  tyranny  as  they  came 
to  devastate  the  hearthstone  where  woman  was  a  deity.  Nobly  he  defended  the 
weak  and  defenseless — nobly,  in  her  darkest  hours,  he  defended  the  honor,  too, 
of  his  beloved  Alabama. 

But  it  was  not  as  a  soldier  that  Gen.  Clanton  so  eminently  deserved  and  com 
manded  the  love  and  affection  of  the  people  of  the  State.  His  chivalric  conduct 
and  his  exalted  patriotism,  his  unselfish  devotion  to  his  country  in  the  late  war, 
has  obtained  for  him  a  name  upon  which  will  rest  an  imperishable  radiance ;  but 
in  the  services  which  he  has  rendered  the  State  since  the  war,  in  the  exclusive 
and  entire  devotion  of  himself  to  her  welfare  and  prosperity,  and  in  the  partially 
successful  effort  to  relieve  her  from  the  political  embarrassments  in  which  she  was 
placed  by  the  political  events  since  that  time,  are  really  more  deserving  of  the 
gratitude  of  the  people  of  Alabama.  It  was  to  the  accomplishment  of  these  great 
and  noble  objects,  without  regard  to  personal  considerations,  that  General  Clanton 
so  largely  contributed,  and  this  should  more  endear  him  to  the  people.  It  is  true, 
sir,  he  was  willing  to  pour  out  his  heart's  best  blood  like  water  on  the  red  fields 
of  war,  but  it  was  in  the  tumult  and  strife  of  the  political  struggles  that  his  con 
duct  and  actions  shone  so  conspicuously.  It  is  on  this  account  that  we  so  much 
feel  his  loss.  From  Tennessee  to  the  Gulf — from  the  red  waters  of  the  Chatta- 
hoochee  to  the  dark  waters  of  the  Bigby — a  whole  people  are  in  tears,  mingling 
their  sorrows  over  his  grave,  and  decking  it  with  flowers  of  immortality.  Gently 
rest  his  noble  dust  beneath  the  soil  of  his  State.  His  virtues  will  live  in  the  affec 
tions  of  the  people  of  Alabama  as  long  as  "the  eye  can  see  or  the  tongue  can 
speak  them." 

The  question  then  occurring  on  the  adoption  of  the  resolutions  reported  from 
the  Special  Committee  by  Mr.  Lowe,  they  were  unanimously  adopted.  And  there 
upon  the  Speaker  announced  the  adjournment  of  the  House  until  to-morrow 
morning,  ten  o'clock. 

41 


642  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

The  Kepresentative  Chamber  was  draped  in  mourning  on  ac 
count  of  Gen.  Clanton's  death.  It  may  be  added  here,  that  the 
press  throughout  the  country  testified  to  the  heroic  qualities  and 
personal  merit  of  the  deceased  soldier  and  statesman. 

As  a  part  of  the  memoir  of  Gen.  Clanton,  certain  official  pro 
ceedings  have  been  included  as  a  simple  act  of  justice  to  his  mem 
ory.  The  particulars  of  the  'killing  are  thus  given  by  the  Knox- 
ville  Free  Press  and  Herald,  of  September  29,  1871 : 

The  fearful  tragedy  of  Wednesday  evening  was  the  subject  of  universal  com 
ment  among  our  citizens  yesterday.  Men  talked  with  each  other  of  the  terrible 
affray,  and  regretted  its  occurrence.  Though  neither  of  the  actors  were  residents 
in  our  community,  and  the  subject  of  their  quarrel  was  a  personal  difference,  yet 
it  was  felt  that  the  odium  of  the  homicide  would  be  reflected  upon  Knoxville,  and 
the  failure  of  the  authorities  to  promptly  arrest  the  murderer  was  a  stigma  upon 
the  fair  fame  of  our  city. 

Though  the  dead  man  had  been  a  General  in  the  Confederate  service,  and  his 
slayer  a  Colonel  in  the  Federal  army,  men  felt  relieved  to  know  that  politics  had 
nothing  to  do  with  the  matter,  and  the  tragedy  was  not  a  repetition  of  the  scenes 
of  five  and  six  years  ago. 

Those  who  had  come  to  our  city  from  Chattanooga  to  take  part  in  the  proceed 
ings  in  the  United  States  Court,  in  the  case  of  the  Alabama  &  Chattanooga  Rail 
road,  felt  relieved  when  the  Coroner's  inquest  developed  the  fact,  that  nothing 
that  had  transpired  in  connection  with  that,  had  anything  to  do  with  bringing  on 
the  fatal  difficulty. 

Yet,  while  these  various  classes  of  our  community  found  cause  to  congratulate 
each  other,  the  bitter  fact  remains,  that  the  deed  was  done  in  open  daylight,  in 
the  presence  of  a  dozen  witnesses,  and  the  perpetrator  allowed  to  escape. 

Many  different  accounts  were  in  circulation  Wednesday  evening  of  the  manner 
in  which  the  tragedy  occurred,  and  during  the  excitement,  it  was  impossible  to 
arrive  at  a  correct  version  of  the  affair.  During  yesterday,  however,  we  made 
every  effort,  by  hearing  the  statements  of  the  different  witnesses  of  the  tragedy, 
to  arrive  at  a  correct  account  of  the  bloody  deed,  and  give  the  following  as  being 
as  near  the  true  one  as  possible  to  obtain : 

When  Clanton  and  Nelson  were  introduced,  on  the  sidewalk,  on  the  north  side 
of  Cumberland,  above  Gay  street,  Clanton,  after  the  interchange  of  a  few  pleasant 
greetings,  remarked  that  he  "had  now  got  through  his  law  business,  and  was  ready 
to  see -the  town." 

Nelson  said:  "I  can  take  you  where  there  is  something  very  nice,  if  you  are 
not  afraid." 

Clanton  said,  pleasantly:  "Do  I  look  as  if  I  was  afraid?" 
Nelson  replied :  "  I  do  not  know  whether  you  are  or  not." 

Gen.  Clanton  replied :  "I  am  not  afraid  of  anything  or  any  man." 
Nelson  again  repeated,  "I  do  not  know  whether  you  are  or  not,"  in  a. manner 
which  Clanton  seemed  to  think  insulting,  and  he  retorted : 

"If  you  think  I  am,  try  me;  name  your  friend,  time  and  place — any  time  or 
any  place." 

Nelson,  very  excitedly,  said :  "This  time  and  place  is  as  good  as  any." 

This  conversation  took  place  on  the  sidewalk,  in  the  presence  of  six  or  eight 
gentlemen,  both  parties  talking  rather  loudly.  Nelson  had  his  hand  in  his  right 
side  pants'  pocket. 

After  Nelson  made  the  last  remark,  above  quoted,  Clanton  stepped  out  into  the 
street.  Facing  toward  the  sidewalk,  he  said  to  Mr.  Fort:  "Step  off  the  ground 
for  your  friend." 

In  the  meantime,  Nelson  ran  into  the  St.  Nicholas  Saloon,  and  tried  to  borrow 
a  pistol  from  a  gentleman  then  in  there.  He  had  nothing  of  the  sort,  and  said 
so.  Nelson  then  said  to  another  gentleman:  "I  Want  my  gun — where  is  it?"  He 
was  informed  that  he  could  not  get  his  gun — it  was  in  the  office  of  one  of  the 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  643 

stores  on  Gay  street,  the  rear  of  which  opens  into  an  enclosed  yard,  used  in  com 
mon  by  several.  Nelson  dashed  away  from  the  gentleman,  however,  got  into  the 
store,  and  demanded  again  that  his  gun  be  brought,  to  him.  He  was  told  that  he 
could  not  get  it,  but  seeing  it  in  one  corner,  where  it  had  probably  been  standing 
for  some  time,  he  seized  it  and  rushed  out  the  back  door.  As  he  went  out,  efforts 
were  made  by  two  men  to  stop  him,  but  being  of  superior  strength  and  filled  with 
passion,  he  shoved  them  off,  and  ran  out  of  the  store.  Such  is  the  statement  of 
the  gentlemen  themselves.  In  the  yard,  he  was  caught  by  a  young  man,  who  at 
tempted  to  stop  him,  but  Nelson  clubbed  his  gun  on  him,  and  drove  him.  He 
then  ran  through  the  saloon  and  out  on  Cumberland  street. 

From  the  statements  of  three  witnesses,  we  gather  that,  when  NeLon  stepped 
out  on  the  pavement,  he  was  partly  hid  by  several  beer  kegs,  an  awning  post,  and 
a  lamp  post.  He  took  deliberate  aim,  resting  his  gun  against  the  awning  post. 
At  that  moment,  Clanton  seems  to  have  seen  him.  As  we  stated  before,  Clanton 
had  been  facing  the  sidewalk,  with  his  hands  up  in  front  of  him.  When  he  saw 
Nelson,  he  turned  around  to  face  him,  put  his  hand  back  to  draw  his  pistol,  and 
at  that  moment.  Nelson  fired.  It  is  now  believed  that  this  load  struck  Clanton  on 
the  right  shoulder,  breaking  his  arm,  for  when  he  drew  his  pistol,  he  was  seen  to 
put  his  left  hand  under  his  right,  as  if  to  hold  it  up,  and  was  gradually  sinking 
down,  when  his  pistol  went  off,  the  bullet  striking  the  curbstone  about  fifteen  feet 
ahead.  Nelson  then  fired  a  second  shot,  the  slugs  of  which  lodged  in  the  plaster 
of  the  Lamar  House,  from  where  fifteen  were  afterward  dug  out.  Clanton  sank 
down  dead,  and  was  removed,  as  described  in  our  yesterday's  issue. 

Nelson,  after  firing  the  second  shot,  ran  back  through  the  s'aloon.  went  through 
a  store,  and  came  out  on  Gay  street;  went  up  Gay  to  Church  street,  in  a  fast  walk, 
turned  up  Church,  and  started  to  run.  Several  parties  who  saw  him  say  he  was 
carrying  a  pistol  in  his  hand. 

Nelson  then  went  to  his  father's  house,  on  West  Cumberland  street,  told  what 
he  had  done,  and  seemed  much  excited.  His  father  advised  him  to  submit  to  the 
authorities,  and  take  the  consequence  of  his  own  conduct,  rather  than  become  a 
fugitive  from  justice.  He  remained  at  his  father's  house  about  fifteen  minutes, 
and  it  was  not  known  to  his  father  that  he  had  left  the  place,  until  he  was  told 
that  some  one  had  brought  him  a  horse,  and  that  he  had  gone  out  on  the  Kingston 
road. 

The  fugitive  stopped  at  several  places  along  the  road  and  told  what  he  had 
done.  He  stopped  at  Concord,  and  talked  with  parties  there,  told  what  he  had 
done,  and,  it  is  said,  got  on  the  down  passenger  train,  the  same  on  which  the  re 
mains  of  Gen.  Clanton  were  carried  South,  and  went  on,  but  where,  it  is  not 
known.  This  last  statement,  however,  though  believed,  lacks  confirmation. 

Up  to  six  o'clock  last  evening,  we  heard  of  no  extraordinary  effort  to  arrest 
Nelson. 

In  explanation  of  the  serious  turn  so  sadly  given  to  a  seemingly  trivial  conver 
sation,  this  very  plausible  suggestion  has  been  made  by  persons  well  acquainted 
with  the  character  of  Gen.  Clanton,  and  the  circumstances  surrounding  him: 
Gen.  Clanton  had  had  several  difficulties  with  the  adherents  of  the  Stantons  since 
his  connection  with  the  Alabama  and  Chattanooga  Railroad,  and  he  had  been  go 
ing  armed  in  anticipation  of  further  trouble.  During  the  forenoon  of  Wednesday, 
he  had  made  a  very  caustic  speech  in  the  Federal  Court  against  the  Stanton  party, 
handling  them  without  gloves.  He  had  reason  to  apprehend  an  attack  from  some 
of  the  party.  Col.  Fort,  who  introduced  Col.  Nelson  to  him,  was  one  of  the  at 
torneys  on  the  Stanton  side  of  the  case,  though  friendly  with  Clanton.  It  is 
thought  that  when  Nelson  showed  signs  of  irritability,  the  idea  must  have  en 
tered  Clanton' s  mind  that  it  was  a  maneuvre  to  inveigle  him  into  a  difficulty,  and, 
being  brave  under  all  circumstances,  he  determined  to  meet  the  issue  then  and 
there.  It  is  believed  that  he  must  have  thought  (however  erroneously)  that  the 
Stanton  business  was  at  the  bottom  of  the  difficulty. 

THE  CORONER'S  INQUEST. — The  Coroner's  Jury,  empanneled  to  inquire  into  the 
cause  of  the  death  of  Gen.  J.  H.  Clanton,  on  Wednesday  evening,  and  who  caused 
it,  rendered  the  following  verdict : 


644  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

STATE  OF  TENNESSEE,  KNOX  COUNTY. 

An  inquisition — holden  at  the  Lamar  House  in  Knoxville,  in  the  county  and 
State  aforesaid,  on  the  27th  day  of  September,  1871,  before  I.  P.  Alley,  upon  the 
body  of  James  H.  Clanton,  there  lying  dead — by  the  jurors  whose  names  are 
hereto  subscribed,  who  upon  their  oath  do  say,  that  James  H.  Clanton  was  killed 
on  the  27th  day  of  September,  1871,  by  a  gun  shot  fired  by  David  M.  Nelson. 
The  weapon  a  double-barreled  shot-gun,  and  by  unlawful  means. 

James  H.  Renshaw,  A.  C.  E.  Callen,  John  Crowley,  I.  N.  Hacker,  J.  A.  Brake- 
bill,  E.  W.  Adkins,  W.  R.  McBath. 

I.  P.  ALLEY, 
Coroner  for  Knox  County. 
KNOXVILLE,  September  28,  1871. 

ADDITIONAL  SKETCH. — Since  the  death  of  Gen.  Clanton,  the 
author  has  obtained  further  particulars  respecting  his  early  life 
and  adventures,  and  also  his  service  in  the  Confederate  army. 

He  was  born  in  Columbia  county,  Georgia,  January  8,  1827, 
and  was  brought  by  his  father  to  Alabama  in  1836.  Abandoning 
his  course  of  studies  in  the  State  University  in  1846,  he  volun 
teered  in  the  Mexican  war,  and  joined  the  army  of  Gen.  Taylor 
on  the  Rio  Grande.  He  returned  home  a  short  time,  and  left  for 
Mexico  with  the  "Palmetto  Regiment"  from  South  Carolina,  in 
1847.  In  1851,  he  connected  himself  with  the  Lopez  expedition 
against  Cuba,  and  at  New  Orleans  was  elected  Lieutenant-Colonel 
of  an  Alabama  and  Louisiana  regiment,  of  which  Robert  Wheat 
was  Colonel. 

He  was  Captain  in  the  army  of  the  Confederate  States  in  1861; 
Colonel  in  1862;  Brigadier-General  in  1863,  and  Major-General 
in  1864;  was  Chief  of  Cavalry,  and  ranking  cavalry  officer  at  the 
battle  of  Shiloh.  In  leading  the  charge  of  his  regiment,  (1st  Ala 
bama  Cavalry)  at  Booneville,  in  July,  1862,  his  sword  was  struck, 
and  his  uniform  pierced,  by  the  bullets  of  the  enemy.  All  the 
members  of  his  staff,  but  one,  were  killed  and  captured  while  op 
posing  Rosseau's  raid  in  the  Summer  of  1863.  His  horse  was 
killed  under  him  in  the  Spring  of  1864,  near  Pollard,  while  fight 
ing  the  Pensacola  raid.  Gen.  Clanton  was  shot  through  the  body 
with  a  pistol  and  left  as  mortally  wounded,  and  was  captured  on 
the  field,  fighting  Canby's  advance  on  Mobile  and  Pollard  in  the 
Winter  of  1864. 

In  his  own  words,  he  never  asked  a  man  to  vote  for  him,  nor 
ever  announced  himself  a  candidate  for  any  position — and  he  had 
many — nor  was  he  ever  beaten  for  any  position. 

Gen.  Clanton  left  a  widow,  Mrs.  Parthenia  Clanton,  and  three 
sons — the  eldest,  James  Abercrombie,  twelve  years  of  age — the 
second,  Thomas  Watts,  aged  ten,  and  the  youngest,  Holt,  aged 
seven  years.  The  Legislature,  in  voting  compensation  for  his 
professional  services  to  the  State,  has  made  a  just  provision  for  his 
family.  A  splendid  monument  is  to  be  erected  to  his  memory  by 
public  contribution. 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  645 

TRIBUTE  TO  GEN.  J.  H.  CLANTON. — In  the  Democratic  State  Convention  of  Ala 
bama,  on  Wednesday,  June  19,  1872,  immediately  after  its  permanent  organization 
and  appointment  of  the  business  committees,  Hon.  T.  J.  Judge,  Chairman  of  the 
State  Executive  Committee,  with  a  few  eloquent  prefatory  remarks,  offered  the  fol 
lowing  resolutions,  which  were  adopted  by  a  rising  vote : 

It  is  proper  thart  a  tribute  should  be  paid  to  the  memory  of  those  who  have  ren 
dered  signal  services  to  their  country. 

That  Gen.  James  H.  Clanton  was  eminently  entitled  to  this  distinction  is  uni 
versally  conceded.  From  his  youth  up  to  the  moment  of  his  death,  he  responded, 
with  alacrity,  to  every  appeal  which  was  made  by  the  country  upon  her  citizens. 
As  a  soldier,  he  was  as  brave  as  the  bravest:  but  there  were  thousands  like  him. 
It  is  not  then  to  him,  as  a  soldier,  we  offer  this  tribute.  When  war  ceased  to  exist, 
when  the  cause  which  he  loved  so  well  was  lost,  when  the  whole  people  were 
clothed  in  the  drapery  of  mourning,  when  the  fair  promises  of  victors  were  trans 
formed  to  the  bloody  decrees  of  tyrants,  when  the  very  hearts  of  our  people  were 
almost  ground  to  dust  by  the  iron  heel  of  despotism ;  and  when  even  hope  itself 
had  almost  gone,  it  was  then  that  the  voice  of  Gen.  Clanton  was  heard  calling 
upon  the  people  to  arouse  from  their  lethargy ;  to  shake  off  the  dew  drops  that 
glittered  on  their  garments — and,  to  make  one  bold,  determined  effort  to  rescue 
the  State  from  the  vandals  who  had  taken  possession  of  it. 

Most  nobly  was  that  appeal  responded  to  by  the  people.  His  spirit  became  the 
spirit  of  the  people,  and  the  redemption  of  the  State  from  the  hordes  of  ruthless 
invaders  was  the  result  of  the  conflict  he  inaugurated.  This  is  the  monument 
which  he  has  erected  to  his  own  memory,  and  upon  it  should  a  grateful  people 
heap  their  garlands. 

Be  it  therefore  resolved,  That  we,  the  people  of  Alabama,  whom,  living  he  loved 
so  well  and  served  so  faithfully,  look  back  with  gratitude  and  pride  upon  the  bril 
liant  career  of  our  late  fellow-citizen,  James  H.  Clanton,  in  whose  untimely  death 
we  mourn  a  tried  and  affectionate  friend,  while  the  State  has  lost  a  distinguished, 
talented,  and  devoted  son,  and  the  whole  country  an  upright  man,  a  good  citizen, 
and  an  ardent  patriot. 

Resolved,  That  in  all  the  acts  of  his  life  he  exhibited  the  qualities  which  have 
ever  secured  the  esteem  and  admiration  of  mankind :  a  heart  pulsating  to  every 
generous  prompting  of  duty  and  affection ;  a  mind  quick  to  conceive  the  noblest 
thoughts  ;  a  hand  ready  and  able  to  execute  the  most  daring  purposes  ;  a  courage 
that  never  faltered ;  a  devotion  to  duty  into  which  no  considerations  of  self  entered  ; 
unlimited  generosity  in  thought  and  act ;  and  a  patriotism  that  grew  with  his 
years  and  ripened  with  his  strength. 

Resolved,  That  we  cherish  his  memory  as  a  sacred  legacy,  and  commend  his  ex 
ample  to  the  youth  of  our  country. 

Resolved,  That  the  President  of  this  Convention  be  requested  to  transmit  a  copy 
of  the  foregoing  preamble  and  resolutions  to  the  widow  of  the  deceased,  and  to 
convey  to  her  the  assurance  of  our  sympathy  and  grief  at  her  irreparable  loss. 

THOS.  J.  JUDGE, 
Chairman  Executive  Committee, 


646  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 


CHAPTER  XXXVI. 

Ekdions,  1856 — Legislature,  1857 — Inauguration  of  Gov.  Moore — 
Candidates  and  Members  Sketched. 

During  the  session  of  the  General  Assembly,  1855-'6,  a  Con 
vention  of  the  Democratic  Anti-Know-Nothing  party  was  held  at 
the  Capitol,  for  organization  preparatory  to  the  Presidential  con 
test  of  1856.  Col.  Felix  G.  Norman  was  President.  In  the 
course  of  its  deliberations,  a  question  arose  as  to  what  was  to  be 
done  with  the  appendage  Anti-Know- Nothing ,  which  the  party  had 
recognized  and  used  in  the  past  year,  and  upon  which  not  a  few 
Whigs  were  in  the  Convention  as  delegates,  and  in  the  Legisla 
ture  as  members.  To  send  delegates  to  the  National  Democratic 
Convention  with  it  tacked  on,  was  considered  out  of  taste,  as  the 
National  organization  would  recognize  but  one  title  or  name — 
that  of  Democratic  (or  Democrats).  And  then  the  important  ac 
cessions  to  the  organization  from  the  Whig  party  were  not  on  ac 
count  of  any  change  of  opinion  in  relation  to  old  parties,  but  on 
this  one  point  only;  and  some  of  these  gentlemen  in  the  Conven 
tion  declared  that  they  would  withdraw,  if  the  appendage  was 
taken  off.  So  they  determined  that,  in  the  State  organization,  it 
should  remain,  and  leave  the  National  party  name  to  be  deter 
mined  at  Cincinnati. 

In  the  contest  of  1856,  the  parties  were  known  as  Democratic 
and  American,  with  Mr.  Buchanan  and  Mr.  Fillmore  as  the  rep 
resentative  standard-bearers.  The  strong  men  of  each  party  were 
upon  the  Electoral  ticket,  and  on  the  stump,  and  there  was  an  able 
and  spirited  canvass.  The  vote  of  the  State  was  larger  than  ever 
before — 75,291 — of  which  Mr.  Buchanan  received  46,739,  and 
Mr.  Fillmore  28,552. 

In  the  month  of  June,  1857,  was  held  the  Convention  to  nom 
inate  a  candidate  for  Governor,  to  succeed  Gov.  Winston.  There 
were  several  gentlemen  whose  claims  were  strongly  urged  by 
their  friends,  with  a  strong  primary  effort.  Judge  A.  B.  Moore, 
Col.  Cochran,  Judge  John  E.  Moore,  and  Major  Hubbard,  were 
the  prominent  men  brought  before  the  Convention  for  the  honor. 
The  contest  was  long — the  ballotings  continued  two  or  three  days — 
the  friends  of  each  devoted  to  the  success  of  their  man.  Judge 
A.  B.  Moore,  of  Perry,  was  at  last  nominated,  and  in  August,  was 
elected  without  opposition. 


JZeminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  647 

The  Congressional  elections  resulted  in  favor  of  the  Demo 
cratic  party,  except  in  one  District,  as  the  following  statement  will 
show : 

First  District,  James  A.  Stallworth; 
Second  District,  Eli  S.  Shorter; 
Third  District,  James  F.  Dowdell; 
Fourth  District,  William  E.  Smith; 
Fifth  District,  George  S.  Houston; 
Sixth  District,  Williamson  R.  W.  Cobb; 
Seventh  District,  Jabez  L.  M.  Curry. 

MR.  CURRY  was  first  elected  to  the  House  from  Talladega  in 
1847,  a  young  man  but  lately  returned  from  college,  and  the  Law 
School  at  Cambridge.  His  elementary  training  and  literary  ad 
vantages  had  been  ample,  and  these,  with  a  mind  of  no  ordinary 
force,  caused  him  to  be  looked  upon  as  one  of  the  rising  young 
men  of  his  day.  He  was  again  elected  in  1853,  and  took  a  lead 
ing  part  among  the  talented  young  men  of  the  House.  He  was 
made  Chairman  of  the  Committee  on  Internal  Improvement,  a 
very  important  one  at  that  time,  and  was  thus  thrown  into  the  front 
rank  upon  all  questions  of  that  character  introduced  and  referred; 
though  Mr.  Curry  was  prudent,  and  seldom  occupied  the  floor,  ex 
cept  in  explanation,  and  then  was  brief  and  pointed  in  his  remarks, 
so  as  not  to  tax  the  patience  of  the  House.  He  made  but  one  set 
speech  at  the  session,  and  that  was  at  the  request,  or  suggestion  of 
his  friends,  and  in  it  he  displayed  abilities,  knowledge,  and  elo 
quence  that  stamped  him  as  one  of  the  first  men  of  the  House. 

In  1855,  he  was  again  elected,  and  continued  in  his  former  po 
sition  on  Committee;  and  with  increased  age  and  experience,  he 
developed  those  rare  powers  which  pointed  him  out  in  public  esti 
mation,  for  a  wider  field,  and  a  more  exalted  position.  In  1856, 
he  was  on  the  Electoral  ticket  for  Buchanan  and  Breckinridge. 
Iii  1857,  Mr.  Harris,  the  late  member,  having  died,  Mr.  Curry 
was  unanimously  nominated,  and  elected  his  successor  from  the 
Seventh  District,  and  in  1859,  he  was  reflected,  without  opposi 
tion,  for  another  term,  and  was  one  of  the  members  of  Congress 
from  Alabama  when  they  withdrew  from  its  Halls  upon  the  seces 
sion  of  the  State. 

In  1860,  Gov.  Moore  appointed  him  Commissioner  to  the  State 
of  Maryland,  to  "counsel  and  advise  with  the  Governor  and  Leg 
islature  as  to  what  is  best  to  be  done  to  protect  the  rights  and  the 
honor  of  the  slaveholding  States/7  etc.,  and  he  proceeded  at  once 
to  Annapolis  in  discharge  of  that  duty,  and  submitted  an  able 
communication  to  the  Executive,  intended  also  for  the  Legislature, 
to  be  found  in  Smith's  Debates  of  the  Convention  of  1861. 


648  Heminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

Mr.  Curry  was  elected  one  of  the  deputies  to  the  Provisional 
Congress,  at  Montgomery,  which  formed  the  Constitution,  and  in 
augurated  the  Government  of  the  Confederate  States,  and  took  an 
active  part  in  its  proceedings.  In  1861,  he  was  elected  by  the 
people  to  a  seat  in  the  Congress  at  Richmond.  In  1863,  he  was 
a  candidate 'for  reelection,  but  was  defeated  by  Marcus  H.  Cruik- 
shanks,  Esq.,  of  Talladega.  At  the  meeting  of  the  Legislature 
in  November  of  that  year,  his  claims  were  canvassed  for  the  Con 
federate  States  Senate,  in  opposition  to  the  Hon.  C.  C.  Clay,  Jr., 
but  without  success.  He  entered  the  military  service,  and  was  at 
the  fight  and  taking  of  Selma,  in  which  he  was  said  to  have  dis 
played  much  heroic  daring. 

The  result  of  the  war  opened  a  new  field  for  Mr.  Curry,  con 
genial  with  his  tastes,  and  in  harmony  with  his  convictions  of  duty, 
no  doubt  long  entertained,  and  promotive  of  the  public  good. 
Embracing  the  Christian  religion  when  young,  he  lived  an  exem 
plary  and  useful  member  of  the  Baptist  Church,  was  actively  con 
nected  with  its  entire  organization,  and,  of  course,  occupied  a  lead 
ing  position  in  its  councils.  He  is  now  a  minister  of  that  Church, 
exercising  his  eminent  abilities  and  influence,  without  ostentation, 
for  the  happiness  of  his  fellow-men.  Within  the  last  few  years, 
he  was  elected  President  of  Mercer  University,  at  Macon,  Geor 
gia,  which  position  he  declined  to  accept,  and  is  now  the  pastor  of 
a  Baptist  Church,  in  Richmond,  Virginia. 

It  were  needless,  after  making  up  such  a  record  of  a  gentleman 
who  has  barely  attained  the  meridian  of  life,  to  say  much  of  the 
great  natural  endowments  and  rare  culture  of  Mr.  Curry,  as  ex 
hibited  in  the  forum,  and  in  the  pulpit.  Small  in  person,  and 
unpretending  in  his  manner,  he  has  never  failed  to  impress  his 
audiences  with  the  strength  of  his  logic,  and  the*  power  of  his  elo 
quence.  The  future  display  of  his  vast  intellectual  resources  may 
not  have  so  much' of  the  vim  and  fire  of  his  earlier  days,  in  public 
discussion;  but  the  loss  in  this  respect  will  be  compensated  by  the 
maturity  and  compactness  of  thought  and  feeling,  under  the  con 
trol  of  a  judgment  improved  by  experience. 

In  early  life  Mr.  Curry  married  Miss  Bowie,  an  excellent  lady, 
who  died  about  the  termination  of  the  war.  She  was  the  accom 
plished  daughter  of  the  late  Chancellor  Bowie.  His  second  mar 
riage  was  with  Miss  Thomas,  a  lady  of  Richmand.  He  was  born 
in  Lincoln  county,  Georgia.  His  father,  the  late  Col.  William 
Curry,  of  Talladega  county,  a  gentleman  of  large  wealth  and 
solidity  of  character,  removed  to  Alabama  during  his  son's  minority. 

It  may  be  proper  to  add,  as  a  public  recognition  of  the  talents 
and  moral  force  of  Mr.  Curry  soon  after  he  entered  Congress, 
that  his  portrait,  with  a  sketch  of  his  life  and  character,  appeared 
in  "Harper's  Weekly,"  as  among  the  distinguished  men  of  the 


Reminiscences  of  Pilblic  Men  in  Alabama.  649 

Country.  Compliments  from  such  a  quarter  to  a  Southern  man 
before  the  war,  were  to  be  prized  as  wholly  impartial,  and  dictated 
by  a  spirit  of  fairness  and  justice. 

THE   LEGISLATURE. 

The  general  election  in  August,  1857,  returned  a  majority  of 
Democrats  in  both  branches.  The  General  Assembly  met  on 
the  9th  November,  1857 — members  generally  in  attendance.  In 
the  House,  Gen.  Crawford  M.  Jackson,  of  Autauga,  was  elected 
Speaker;  Albert  Elmore,  Principal  Clerk;  W.  M.  Hames,  Assist 
ant  Clerk ;  C.  C.  Corden,  Engrossing  Clerk ;  and  J.  Gibson,  Door- 
Keeper. 

Gen.  Jackson,  the  Speaker,  has  been  noticed  elsewhere;  but  it 
is  only  just  to  say  that  this  distinction  was  well  merited.  He  had 
long  been  connected  with  the  legislation  of  the  State;  was  well 
acquainted  with  political  history,  and  was  proficient  in  parlia 
mentary  law,  and  ready  and  prompt  in  its  administration.  His 
educational  advantages,  reading,  and  •knowledge  of  men  and 
things,  assisted  in  fitting  him  for  the  place.  His  claims  to  this  po 
sition  had  been  postponed  with  his  cheerful  assent,  as  subservient 
to  other  claims  and  interests  which  his  previous  election  might 
have  embarrassed,  and  he  readily  yielded  for  the  sake  of  his 
friends.  His  speech  upon  the  adjournment  sine  die  was  in  fine 
taste,  and  in  terse  language  expressed  the  feelings  of  his  warm  and 
generous  heart.  It  may  be  seen  on  the  Journal  of  the  House. 

In  the  Senate,  the  Hon.  James  M.  Calhoun  was  unanimously 
elected  President;  Joseph  Phelan,  Secretary;  P.  H.  Brittan,  As 
sistant  Secretary;  and  W.  J.  B.  Padgett,  Door-Keeper. 

Many  gentlemen  promine/it  in  one  or  the  other  branch  at  the 
last  session,  were  not  members  in  1857,  having  retired,  or  been 
transferred  to  new  positions.  Others,  however,  had  come  forward, 
and  each  House  presented  a  respectable  grade  of  talent,  with  much 
experience  and  weight  of  character.  In  the  Senate,  there  was  the 
accession  of  Messrs.  Calhoun,  Bullock,  Crawford,  and  others;  and 
in  the  House,  of  Messrs.  W.  G.  Jones  of  Mobile,  Martin  of 
Tallaclega,  Bulger  of  Tallapoosa,  Irby  and  Mabry  of  Dallas,  and 
many  others;  constituting  altogether  a  Legislature  of  moral  and 
intellectual  worth — a  credit  to  the  State. 

Gov.  Winston's  message  was  delivered  on  Tuesday,  which  was 
read,  and  5,000  copies  ordered  to  be  printed.  It  fills  about  thir 
teen  pages  of  the  Journal.  Like  all  his  other  State  papers,  it  is 
brief,  bold,  pointed  and  vigorous.  The  last  paragraph  is  the  fol 
lowing  : 

I  know  of  no  important  measure  of  legislation  that  will  be  required  at  your 
hands,  which  will  long  detain  you  from  the  enjoyment  of  the  more  pleasant  rela* 


850  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

tions  of  private  life.  In  a  few  days  my  connection  with  the  legislation  of  the 
State  will  come  to  a  close.  It  has  been  my  fortune,  in  much  of  the  legislation  of 
the  last  four  years,  to  differ  with  the  legislative  department.  I  endeavored  to  dis 
charge  my  duty  to  the  people  of  Alabama  conscientiously,  and  have  yet  seen  no 
cause  to  believe  my  course  was  injurious  to  the  general  welfare.  With  a  lasting 
sense  of  gratitude  to  the  people  of  the  State,  for  the  kindness  and  confidence  they 
have  ever  extended  to  me,  I  shall  retire  from  the  obligations  of  official  position. 

His  administration  being  thus  closed,  it  may  be  proper  to  say 
that  Gov.  Winston,  as  will  be  seen  by  his  vetoes,  had  a  way  of 
his  own;  always  firm,  if  not  always  courteous;  which  led  to  un 
pleasant  relations  with  the  General  Assembly.  This  remark  is 
especially  applicable  to  the  session  of  1855,  when  he  stood  up  and 
battled  against  an  overwhelming  majority  of  both  Houses  upon 
many  important  questions  of  public  policy,  of  interest  to  the  State. 
That  he  was  entirely  free  from  error  in  all  his  vetoes,  I  will  not 
undertake  to  say ;  but  that  he  was  adhering  faithfully  to  his  avowed 
sentiments  before  the  people,  and  which  were  well  understood  in 
his  triumphant  election  twice  to  the  Chief  Magistracy,  there  can 
be  no  doubt;  and  while  his  vetoes  were,  in  many  instances,  over 
ridden  by  a  constitutional  majority  in  both  Houses,  the  interposi 
tion  of  the  veto  doubtles^  prevented  much  Fegislation  that  was 
useless,  or  would  have  been  hurtful  to  the  State ;  and  his  admin 
istration  will  stand,  with  his  messages,  a  monument  of  Executive 
devotion  to  the  interests  of  the  people. 

The  Legislature  was  an  independent,  coordinate  department  of 
the  Government,  and  in  defending  the  rectitude  of  Gov.  Winston's 
course,  it  is  not  my  intention  to  condemn  the  others.  They  rep 
resented  interests  committed  to  their  hands,  and  had  responsibili 
ties  as  well  as  he,  and  they  were  alike  answerable  to  their  constitu 
ents.  But  the  moral  heroism  of  the  occasion  and  the  contest  is 
with  the  Governor.  He  contended  single-handed  against  a  form 
idable  majority  in  both  branches  of  the  Legislature,  which  in 
cluded  much  of  character,  experience*  and  mind.  With  many  of 
them  he  had  been  connected  in  public  life,  and  many  of  them 
were  his  friends  and  supporters  at  the  polls,  and,  no  doubt,  he 
would  have  preferred  to  be  in  accord  .with  them  in  the  discharge 
of  his  official  duties.  But  when  it  became  necessary  to  maintain 
his  position,  he  separated  from  them,  and  stood  pretty  much  by 
himself  in  this  controversy,  so  far  as  the  Legislature  is  concerned. 

VOTE   FOR   GOVERNOR. 

The  two  Houses  having  convened  in  the  Representative  Hall, 
the  vote£  for  Governor  were  examined  and  announced : 

For  Andrew  B.  Moore 41,847 

Scattering 2,447 


lleminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  651 

Proclamation  having  been  duly  made  that  Andrew  B.  Moore 
was  elected  Governor  of  Alabama  for  the  term  prescribed  by  the 
Constitution,  and  a  Joint  Committee  having  waited  on  that  gen 
tleman  with  a  notice  of  the  fact,  and  another  Committee  having 
made  all  suitable  arrangements,  the  ceremonies  of  inauguration 
took  place  at  the  Capitol,  on  the  1st  of  December,  1857,  in  pres 
ence  of  a  large  concourse  of  his  fellow-citizens,  including  much  of 
the  beauty  and  fashion  of  the  State  in  the  fair  sex. 

TWO   AND   THREE   PER  CENT.  FUNDS. 

Probably  no  one  subject  has  cost  so  much  labor  in  the  examina 
tion,  and  so  much  writing  by  the  Clerks  in  copying  the  reports 
and  tables,  in  the  Legislature,  as  the  donation  by  the  General 
Government  of  a  certain  per  centum  on  the  sale  of  public  lands 
in  Alabama,  as  will  be  seen  by  the  following  extract: 

The  third  proposition  in  the  sixth  section  of  the  act  passed  by  the  Congress  of 
the  United  States  on  the  2d  day  of  March,  1819,  "To  enable  the  people  of  Ala 
bama  Territory  to  form  a  Constitution  and  State  Government,  and  for  the  admis 
sion  of  such  State  into  the  Union,"  is  as  follows:  "That  five  per  cent,  of  the  net 
proceeds  of  the  public  lands  lying  within  said  territory,  and  which  shall  be  sold 
by  Congress  from  and  after  the  1st  day  of  September,  in  the  year  1819,  and  after 
deducting  all  expenses  incident  to  the  same,  shall  be  reserved  for  making  public 
roads  and  canals,  and  improving  the  navigation  of  rivers,  of  which  three-fifths 
shall  be  applied  to  those  objects  within  the  State,  under  the  direction  of  the  Leg 
islature  thereof;  and  two-fifths  in  the  making  of  a  road  or  roads  leading  to  said 
State,  under  the  direction  of  Congress." 

A  Joint  Committee  was  raised  to  take  charge  of  the  whole  sub 
ject,  and  to  ascertain  what  sums  had  been  received  from  the  Gen 
eral  Government,  and  what  disposition  had  been  made  of  them, 
from  time  to  time,  and  the  present  condition  of  the  fund.  The 
labors  of  the  Committee  were  thorough  and  searching,  as  appears 
from  the  report  made  by  Mr.  John  S.  Storrs,  Chairman  on  the 
part  of  the  Senate,  and  Mr.  R.  N.  Walden,  Chairman  on  the  part 
of  the  House.  The  items  were  given  in  detail,  with  dates  and 
payments,  which  may  be  condensed,  as  showing  the  aggregate  of 
the  three  per  cent: 

Paid  to  State  Bank  up  to  1841 $353,831.99 

Paid  since,  and  up  to  1857 236,353.04 

Dividends  in  bank  to  1834 104,853.30 

Total $695,043.33 

Since  1834,  when  taxation  ceased,  and  the  Banks  paid  the  ex 
penses  of  the  Government,  the  dividends  on  this  fund  have  been 
placed  to  the  credit  of  the  sinking  fund,  and  loans  and  expendi- 


652  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

tures  have  been  made  under  this  title.  The  amount  of  the  three 
per  cent,  fund  in  1857,  unappropriated,  was  $287,125.58.  In  the 
meantime,  advances  had  been  made  to  certain  railroads,  to  the 
amount  of  $111,511.50,  for  which  certificates  of  stock  have  been 
issued  to  the  State; 

By  act  of  Congress  of  4th  of  September,  1841,  the  two  per  cent,  fund  was  re 
linquished  to  the  State  on  the  terms  and  conditions  that  "  the  whole  of  the  said 
two  per  cent,  fund  shall  be  faithfully  applied,  under  the  direction  of  the  Legisla 
ture  of  Alabama,  to  the  connection,  by  some  means  of  internal  improvement,  of 
the  navigable  waters  of  the  Bay  of  Mobile  with  the  Tennessee  River,  and  to  the 
construction  of  a  continuous  line  of  Internal  improvement  from  a  point  on  the 
Chattahoochee  River  opposite  West-Point,  in  Georgia,  across  the  State  of  Alabama, 
in  a  direction  to  Jackson,  in  the  State  of  Mississippi." 

The  whole  amount  received,  as  constituting  this  fund, 

principal  and  interest,  to  1857,  is $481,227.88 

Loans  and  expenditures  to  1857 434,870.40 

Balance  in  the  Treasury $  46,357.48 

This  matter  of  the  two  and  three  per  cent,  funds  had  more  or 
less  wasted  the  time  of  the  Legislature  for  thirty  years,  and  the 
cost  of  delay,  and  printing  reports  and  bills,  and  in  printing  the 
Journals,  the  expenses  of  clerk  hire  to  make  the  examinations, 
and  the  expenses  of  agents  in  various  ways,  have  all  cost  the  State 
probably  half  the  entire  value  of  the  funds.  It  had  reached  such 
a  point  of  annoyance,  that  it  was  next  to  impossible  to  get  a  bill 
through  with  a  single  appropriation  of  any  part  of  it  for  one  ob 
ject,  and  so  it  became  subject  to  combinations  for  mutual  interest 
to  different  localities,  in  bills  known,  in  parliamentary  phrase,  as 
Omnibus  bills,  and  in  this  way,  in  1859-'60,  it  had  passed  from  the 
control  of  the  Legislature. 

JUDICIAL  ELECTIONS. 

Chancellor  Clark  was  reflected  over  G.  L.  Nabors,  of  Pickens 
county. 

MR.  LABORS  was  a  member  in  1855,  and  was  again  returned 
in  1857 — intelligent  and  attentive  to  business.  He  was  afterward 
appointed  by  Mr.  Buchanan  a  Judge  of  the  United  States  Court 
in  one  of  the  Western  Territories,  perhaps  New  Mexico,  which, 
for  some  cause,  he  declined.  For  a  number  of  years,  he  filled 
the  office  of  Judge  of  Probate,  and  still  resides  in  Pickens  county. 

GEX.  CULLED  A.  BATTLE,  of  Macon  county,  was  defeated  in  a 
contest  for  Solicitor  of  the  Ninth  Circuit,  by  Judge  Woodward, 
Upon  a  close  vote. 


Reminiscences  of  Publia  Men  in  Alabama.  653 

Gen.  Battle  was  a  Georgian,  a  son  of  Dr.  Cullen  Battle,  a  gen 
tlemen  of  wealth  and  intelligence,  who  settled  in  Barbour  county 
as  a  planter  at  an  early  day.  The  son  had  established  himself  at 
the  bar  in  Macon  county,  and  when  hostilities  broke  out  in  1861, 
he  entered  the  service  of  the  Confederate  States,  in  which  he  was 
promoted  to  the  rank  of  Brigadier-General. 

SENATORS. 

Among  the  new  Senators,  and  those  of  more  experience  in 
public  life,  who  served  at  the  session  of  1857,  and  not  hitherto 
specially  mentioned,  are  the  following  gentlemen: 

NOAH  ALFRED  AGEE,  of  the  town  of  Claiborne,  was  elected  to 
the  Senate  in  1857,  from  the  district  composed  of  Monroe,  Clarke, 
and  Baldwin  counties.  He  was  a  member  of  the  House  in  1853, 
and  acted  his  part  well  in  the  walks  of  legislation.  He  is  a  native 
Alabamian,  and  graduated  at  the  University  in  the  class  of  1845. 

He  was  made  Chairman  of  the  Committee  on  Education,  and 
filled  his  place  well,  not  only  in  this,  but  in  all  other  respects  as  a 
Senator.  He  served  through  the  session  with  increased  efficiency, 
from  the  development  of  his  faculties  and  enlarged  experience. 
His  deportment  was  good,  with  fine  social  qualities ;  and  although 
somewhat  reserved,  he  was  still  an  agreeable  companion.  He 
continues  to  reside  at  Claiborne,  in  the  practice  of  the  law. 

EDWARD  C.  BULLOCK,  of  Barbour,  came  into  the  Senate  as  a 
member  for  the  first  time,  in  1857.  He  was  raised  and  educated 
in  Charleston,  South  Carolina,  but  had  resided  some  years  in  Eu- 
faula,  where  he  practiced  his  profession  as  a  lawyer,  and  edited  a 
newspaper.  He  brought  into  public  life  a  great  deal  of  character ; 
and  his  bearing  as  a  gentleman,  and  ability  as  a  lawyer  and  legis 
lator,  soon  placed  him  in  the  front  rank  of  Senators. 

He  was  made  Chairman  of  the  Committee  on  the  Judiciary,  in 
which  position  he  displayed  industry,  and  business  tact  and  knowl 
edge.  In  1859,  he  was  again  placed  at  the  head  of  that  Com 
mittee,  with  the  increased  strength  of  experience  and  legislative 
ability,  which  gave  him  a  controlling  influence,  not  only  in  the 
Senate,  but  also  in  the  House,  and  throughout  the  circle  of  his 
acquaintance.  He  was  affable  and  courteous  in  his  deportment 
and  address.  His  speeches  in  the  Senate  were  not  labored  efforts, 
but  were  explanatory  and  in  reply.  Simplicity,  clearness  and 
force  seemed  to  be  the  ruling  object  of  his  remarks,  in  which  he 
was  highly  successful. 

Mr.  Bullock  was  closely  allied,  in  consultation  and  in  action, 
with  the  events  which  resulted  in  the  secession  of  Alabama.  He 


654  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

was  a  very  prominent  member  of  the  State  Convention  that  sent 
delegates  to  Charleston,  in  1860,  and  was  active  in  its  proceedings, 
and  in  passing  the  platform  resolutions.  When  the  State  seceded, 
he  was  appointed  by  Gov.  Moore  a  Commissioner  to  Florida,  to 
consult  with  the  authorities  there  on  the  common  interest  of  the 
cotton  States.  That  duty  he  performed  with  his  usual  ability. 

Soon  thereafter,  he  entered  the  Confederate  service  at  Pensa-  * 
cola,  and  was  made  Colonel  of  a  regiment;  but  his  health,  feeble 
at  first,  doubtless  the  result  of  years  of  close  application  and  study, 
soon  gave  way  from  the  exposures  of  a  camp  life,  and  in  1862, 
he  died. 

Few  men  who  occupied  public  position  in  Alabama  have,  within 
so  short  a  time,  made  a  more  decided  impression,  or  took  in  a 
larger  range  of  respect  and  influence  than  did  Col.  Bullock.  His 
death  was  generally  regretted  as  a  loss  to  the  country,  and  espe 
cially  of  the  State  which  was  proud  of  him.  The  first  Legislature 
after  the  war,  named  a  new  county  in  honor  of  his  memory,  which 
embraces  within  its  limits  some  of  the  finest  lands,  and  best  citi 
zens  of  the  State.  Col.  Richard  H.  Powell,  of  Union  Springs, 
the  Senator  from  Macon,  is  entitled  to  the  credit  of  inaugurating 
this  project  which  perpetuates  the  name  of  Bullock. 

OAKLEY  H.  BYNUM,  of  Lawrence,  was  first  elected  to  the 
House  in  1839,  a  young  man,  and  was  again  elected  in  1849.  In 
the  early  part  of  the  latter  session  he  was  attacked  with  fever, 
which  prevented  him  from  sharing  in  the  labors  of  the  House. 
In  1857,  he  was  elected  to  the  Senate,  and  with  vigilance  and 
fidelity  he  served  through  his  term  of  four  years,  often  participat 
ing  in  the  debates,  in  which  he  exhibited  wit,  and  was  happy  in 
his  retorts  upon  the  floor.  Col.  Bynum  was  a  member  of  the 
National  Convention  at  Baltimore,  in  1860,  and  supported  Mr. 
Douglas  for  the  Presidency.  He  was  an  opulent  planter. 

DANIEL  CRAWFORD,  of  Coosa,  made  his  first  appearance  in  the 
House  in  1847,  and  served  with  industry  and  credit  on  the  Com 
mittee  of  Ways  and  Means,  and,  although  a  new  member,  assisted 
in  getting  up  the  revenue  bill  of  that  year,  which,  a  little  unpop 
ular  at  the  time,  contributed  to  the  preservation  of  the  faith  of  the 
State.  In  1857,  he  was  returned  to  the  Senate,  and  served  a  ses 
sion,  bringing  to  the  discharge  of  duty  a  good  judgment,  and 
much  reading  and  reflection. 

In  1865,  he  was  elected  a  delegate  to  the  State  Convention  that 
formed  the  Constitution  of  that  year,  and  rendered  good  service 
in  the  deliberations  of  that  body,  on  Committees  and  in  council. 
He  is  no  public  speaker,  at  which  I  am' not  a  little  surprised,  that 
a  gentleman  who  converses  well,  and  intelligently,  reasons  logi- 


Ifaniiniscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  655 

cally,  and  seldom  fails  to  make  out  a  case  with  clearness,  can  not 
get  up  and  say  publicly,  in  the  form  of  a  speech,  what  he  can  ex 
press  so  admirably  in  conversation.  Mr.  Crawford,  however,  is 
not  the  only  gentleman  I  have  known  who  labored  under  this 
disability. 

Few  men  in  the  State  are  more  deservedly  respected ;  few  illus 
trate  more  fully,  in  fitness  for  public  trusts,  the  injustice  of  the 
Fourteenth  Amendment;  and  yet,  with  his  mature  capacity  and 
character  for  usefulness  in  public  life,  few  men  have  less  thirst  for 
its  honors  and  employments,  or  are  more  wedded  to  private  station 
than  Mr.  Crawford.  He  is  a  native  of  South  Carolina,  but  came 
to  Alabama  when  a  young  man,  and  became,  by^well  directed  en 
ergies,  the  architect  of  his  own  fortune. 

ROBERT  8.  HEFFLIN,  of  Randolph,  is  a  Georgian,  and,  in  1849, 
was  elected  to  the  House,  following  his  father  in  the  same  relation 
by  four  years.  Under  the  old  organization  he  was  allied  fully 
with  the  Democratic  party.  In  1859,  he  was  elected  to  the  Sen 
ate,  as  the  successor  of  Mr.  Henry  M.  Gay,  a  modest,  worthy  gen 
tleman,  who  represented  his  constituents  honestly  for  a  term,  and 
died  a  few  years  ago. 

Mr.  HefAin's  service  in  the  Senate  extended  through  six  years. 
In  the  elections  of  1860,  he  supported  Mr.  Douglas  as  the  repre 
sentative  of  the  National  party.  During  the  war  his  relations  be 
came  complicated  with  the  Confederate  Government,  and  he  felt 
justified,  in  self-defense,  in  a  transfer  across  the  line. 

After  the  surrender,  he  was  appointed  by  Provisional  Gov 
ernor  Parsons,  Judge  of  the  Probate  Court,  and  in  1868,  he  was 
upon  the  Grant  Electoral  ticket.  In  1869,  he  was  the  nominee 
of  the  Republican  party  for  Congress,  got  the  return  certificate, 
and  served  through  his  term,  just  now  expired. 

Mr.  Hefflin's  life  has  been  chequered  by  various  political 
shades  and  relations.  It  is  not  my  province  or  desire  to  crit 
icise  or  to  pass  judgment  in  such  cases  on  public  men.  Many  of 
their  acts,  in  junctures  of  peculiar  trial,  however  much  we  may 
regret  and  disapprove  them,  should  be  forgotten,  and  the  waves 
of  time  be  allowed  to  roll  over  them  with  obliterating  effect  upon 
whatever  of  error  or  mistake  they  involve.  My  personal  and 
official  connection  with  Mr.  Hefflin,  many  years  ago,  was  friendly 
and  agreeable.  He  was  true,  straightforward  and  reliable  in  his 
actions.  His  present  affiliations  as  a  politician  are  his  own. 
Whether  for  good  or  for  evil,  te  has  the  right  to  determine  for 
himself,  even  when  public  opinion  assumes  the  prerogative. 

ALLEN  C.  JONES,  a  Virginian  and  a  Democrat,  was  first  elected 
to  the  House  in  1851,  which_was  a  little  remarkable  in  that  day 


656  Reminiscenoes  of  PvJblio  Men  in  Alabama. 

of  old  party  organizations,  and  Greene  county  having  a  decided 
Whig  majority.  But  his  success  was  owing  to  personal  popularity, 
and  to  family  influences,  he  having  married  a  daughter  of  Col. 
John  Erwin,  who,  for  thirty  years,  was  a  leading  lawyer  and  poli 
tician,  of  great  intellect  and  force  of  character.  In  1857,  Mr. 
Jones  was  elected  to  the  Senate  from  Greene  and  Marengo,  and 
served  through  a  term  of  four  years,  an  active  and  efficient 
member. 

He  gave  himself  to  the  Confederate  service,  and  had  the  com 
mand,  of  a  regiment.  His  conduct  during  the  war  was  distin 
guished  for  patriotism  and  courage.  Col.  Jones  still  resides  in 
Greene,  and  is  justly  considered  a  high-minded  and  useful  citizen. 

S.  K.  McSpADDEN,  of  Cherokee,  commenced,  in  1857,  a  term 
of  four  years,  in  which  he  established  a  respectable  character  for 
talents  and  attention  to  business.  He  is  a  lawyer,  and  in  prepar 
ing  himself  for  his  profession,  he  had  to  struggle  with  poverty 
and  its  depressing  influences.  When  the  war  called  the  sons  of 
the  South  to  rally  to  her  standard,  he  obeyed  the  summons,  and 
rose  to  the  command  of  a  regiment,  and  returned  home  with  rep 
utation  for  gallant  service. 

In  1865,  Col.  McSpadden  was  elected  Chancellor  of  the  North 
ern  Division,  and  continued  in  the  office,  performing  its  duties  in 
a  manner  satisfactory  to  the  public,  until  he  was  superseded  by 
the  Reconstruction  measures  of  Congress.  He  now  resides  in 
Cherokee,  practicing  his  profession. 

JOHN  ROWE,  of  Tallapoosa,  a  Georgian,  was  first  elected  to  the 
House  in  1849,  upon  the  Democratic  ticket,  and  reflected  in  1851, 
as  the  colleague  of  Gen.  Bulger,  on  a  ticket  in  opposition  to  the 
Compromise  measures  of  Congress.  At  both  sessions,  he  exhib 
ited  a  fair  degree  of  ability,  and  by  his  general  information,  he 
had  influence  with  his  fellow-members,  and  in  the  political  coun 
cils  of  the  day. 

In  1857,  he  came  to  the  Senate  for  a  full  term,  and  brought  to 
the  discharge  of  his  duties  an  improved  capacity  which  gained  him 
confidence  and  respect  in  that  body,  in  which  he  proved  an  effi 
cient  co-worker.  He  had  fine  social  qualities,  which  rendered  him 
a  pleasant  sojvumer  in  the  offices  of  the  Capitol  during  periods  of 
relaxation.  He  had  read  much,  and  was  well  versed  on  political 
and  other  questions,  and,  while  modest  and  unpretendjng,  he  could 
impart  information  to  his  fellow-members,  which  was  always  gladly 
received. 

Though  somewhat  cautious  in  making  professions,  Mr.  Rowe 
was  true  and  unwavering  in  his  personal  friendships.  His  course, 
public  and  private,  was  directed  by  strong  convictions  of  duty. 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  657 

He  settled  in  the  county  at  an  early  day,  where  he  still  resides, 
in  the  possession  of  a  large  property,  acquired  by  industry  and 
prudent  management. 

REPRESENTATIVES. 

Iii  the  House,  a  number  of  gentlemen  served  for  the  first  time 
at  the  session  of  1857,  with  many  of  experience  in  legislation. 

MICHAEL  J.  BULGER  was  born  in  South  Carolina,  and  came 
to  Alabama  when  seventeen  years  of  age.  He  first  stopped  in 
Montgomery  county,  where  he  remained  until  1834,  when  he  re 
moved  to  Coosa  county  and  settled  at  Nixburg,  and  in  1838 
changed  his  residence  to  Tallapoosa,  his  present  home. 

He  is  a  man  of  marked  individuality  of  character,  as  shown  in 
all  the  antagonism  of  public  and  private  relations,  with  decision 
and  firmness  stamped  upon  his  lace,  which  would  attract  notice  in 
any  crowd  of  men.  These  qualities  were  manifest  in  the  Legis 
lature,  where,  in  1851,  he  first  took  his  seat  in  the  House  as  a 
Southern  Eights  Democrat.  Ho  was  again  elected  in  1857,  and 
always  took  a  leading  part  in  support  of  what  he  conceived  to  be 
right  principles,  and  resisting  wrong  and  oppression  at  every  turn. 
He  would  jttlibiwter  the  House  for  a  day  and  night  to  defeat  a 
measure  which  he  was  satisfied  in  his  mind  was  unjust  or  oppress 
ive  in  its  character,  or  the  manner  of  carrying  it  through  was  ob 
jectionable.  He  well  understood  parliamentary  law,  especially 
that  part  which  was  of  use  to  a  minority,  and,  with  perfect  calm 
ness,  he  would,  by  privileged  and  side  motions,  direct  the  action  of 
the  House  for  hours  together. 

He  was  elected  a  Brigadier-General  of  militia,  and  held  his 
commission  for  several  years,  laboring  diligently  to  infuse  and 
maintain  a  military  spirit  among  the  people.  He  was  appointed 
by  the  Democratic  State  Convention  of  January,  1860,  a  delegate 
to  the  Charleston  Convention,  and  attended  upon  its  sessions.  He 
withdrew  with  the  delegation  from  Alabama,  and  took  no  further 
part  in  any  of  the  proceedings,  contenting  himself  to  look  on,  yet 
with  deep  interest  in  the  result  of  things.  In  the  break-up  of 
the  party  at  home,  he  adhered  to  the  National  organization,  and 
was  placed  upon  the  Electoral  ticket,  and  canvassed  extensively 
in  support  of  Mr.  Douglas. 

A  very  important  period  in  the  life  of  Gen.  Bulger  is  now  ap 
proached,  and  I  will  try  to  represent  him  in  his  course  correctly, 
without  exaggeration  or  material  omission. 

Upon  the  call  of  a  Convention,  after  Mr.  Lincoln  was  elected 
President,  Gen.  Bulger  was  brought  forward  by  the  people  of 
Tallapoosa  for,  and  elected  to,  a  seat  in  that  body.  He  engaged 
in  its  deliberations  with  a  full  sense  of  the  responsibilit  y,  and  in 


658  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

the  early  part  of  the  session  submitted  a  preamble  and  resolutions 
setting  forth  his  views  and  denning  his  position,  which  may  be 
found  in  Smith's  Debates  of  the  Convention,  p.  57.  The  first  two 
resolutions  are  in  the  following  words : 

1.  Resolved,  That  separate  State  secession,  in  the  present,  emergency,  is  unwise 
and  impolitic ;  and  Alabama  will  not  secede  without  making  an  effort  to  secure 
the  cooperation  of  the  Southern  States. 

2.  Resolved,  That  the  Convention  invite  each  of  the  Southern  (slave-holding) 
States  to  meet  the  State  of  Alabama  in  a  Convention  of  Delegates,  equal  in  num 
ber  to  the  several  representations  in  the  Congress  of  the  United  States,  at 

on  the  day  of ,  for  the  purpose  of  consideration  and  agreement  as  to  the 

wrong  we  suffer  in  the  Union,  and  the  dangers  that  we  are  threatened  with ;  and 
to  determine  what  relief  we  will  demand  for  the  present,  and  security  for  the  fu 
ture;  and  what  remedy  we  will  apply  if  our  first  demands  are  not  complied  with. 

These  were  referred  to  the  Committee  of  thirteen,  who  after 
ward  reported  the  Ordinance  of  Secession.  While  the  Ordinance 
was  pending,  he  voted  for  a  proposition  to  submit  it  to  the  people. 

He  remained  in  the  Convention  throughout  the  whole  session, 
taking  part  in  its  proceedings,  and  assisted  in  the  reorganization 
of  the  State  Government  under  the  new  order  of  things.  His 
course  in  the  Convention  was  made  the  subject  of  gross  misunder 
standing,  not  to  say  misrepresentation,  of  his  true  character,  and 
in  August,  1861,  he  was  defeated  for  the  Senate  under  circum 
stances  mortifying  to  his  friends,  who  understood  his  position  and 
principles. 

In  February,  1862,  at  the  age  of  fifty-eight  years,  he  volun 
teered  in  the  Confederate  service,  and  was  elected  Captain  of  a 
company.  He  was  in  the  seven  days7  fight  before  Richmond,  and 
was  wounded  twice  at  Cedar  Run,  while  commanding  the  regi 
ment.  He  was  sent  home  to  recover  from  his  wounds,  and  was 
elected  to  the  Senate,  and  served  one  session.  The  next  day 
after,  the  Legislature  adjourned,  he  returned  to  his  regiment  in 
Virginia,  and  went  with  his  command  to  Gettysburg.  While 
leading  it  in  battle,  he  was  severely  wounded,  and  left  on  the 
field,  reported  dead.  He  was  captured  by  the  enemy,  and  re 
mained  in  prison  until  March,  1864,  when  he  was  exchanged. 
He  immediately  repaired  to  his  regiment,  of  which  he  remained 
in  command  until  the  day  before  the  evacuation  of  Richmond. 

In  the  first  election  for  Governor,  under  the  reorganization  of 
the  State  in  1865,  Gen.  Bulger,  who  had  the  Winter  before  been 
brought  forward  by  his  friends  for  the  position,  stood  for  an  elec 
tion,  and  was  defeated  by  Robert  M.  Patton,  of  Lauderdale 
county.  In  1866,  he  was  returned  to  the  Senate  to  fill  a  vacancy, 
and  served  one  session,  the  last  under  President  Johnson's  policy 
of  reconstruction.  He  has  firmly  opposed,  step  by  step,  the  meas 
ures  of  Congress  for  reconstructing  the  Southern  States,  and  is 
now  hopelessly  disfranchised. 


Reniiniscenoes  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  659 

The  character  of  Gen.  Bulger  will  fully  appear  in  his  record, 
which  speaks  for  itself.  Alabama  has  no  citizen  more  brave,  none 
more  patriotic;  and  while  he  has  contended  with  the  vicisitudes 
of  fortune,  politically,  few  men  have  a  more  consistent  record, 
or  stand  higher  in  the  estimation  of  those  who  knew  him,  than 
Michael  J.  Bulger. 

HENRY  DE  LAMAR  CLAYTON  was  born  in  Pulaski  county, 
Georgia,  March  7,  1827.  He  is  a  son  of  Nelson  Clayton,  Esq., 
formerly  a  member  of  the  Georgia  Legislature,  who,  from  1838, 
resided  near  Opelika,  Alabama,  until  his  death,  December  27, 
1809;  and  Avho  was  extensively  known  for  his  unbounded  liber 
ality  and  kindness  to  the  soldiers  during  the  late  war. 

H.  D.  Clayton  was  educated  at  Emory  and  Henry  College,  Vir 
ginia,  where  he  graduated  with  distinction  in  1848,  being  awarded 
the  Roberson  Pri/e  Medal.  He  read  law  with  "Shorter  & 
Brother"  (Hon.  John  Gill  Shorter  and  Hon.  Eli  S.  Shorter),  iii 
Eufaula,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1849.  In  1850,  he  mar 
ried  Miss  Victoria  V.  Hunter,  a  daughter  of  Gov.  John  L.  Hun 
ter,  of  Eufaula.  He  was  remarkably  attentive  to,  and  successful 
in,  all  his  business  undertakings;  so  that,  at  the  beginning  of  the 
war,  he  had  amassed  a  respectable  fortune. 

He  was  elected  to  the  Legislature  in  1857,  without  opposition, 
having  received  the  unanimous  nomination  of  his  party,  and  was 
reelected  in  1859.  He  has  always  been  a  Democrat,  and  in  1860 
was  a  secessionist.  He  was  a  member  of  the  House,  and  Chair 
man  of  the  Committee  on  the  Military  in  1861,  when  Gov.  Moore 
called  for  twelve  months  volunteers  to  go  to  Pensacola,  to  relieve 
those  who  had  been  sent  to  capture  the  Navy  Yard  and  Forts 
Barrancas  and  Me  Roe.  At  the  instance  of  the  "  Clay  ton  Guards" 
and  "  Eufaula  Ilifies,"  he  obtained  their  acceptance,  by  Governor 
Moore,  as  a  part  of  the  force  then  called  for.  He  had  been  the 
Captain  of  the  former,  and  both  of  these  companies  composed  a 
part  of  the  then  Third  Regiment  of  the  "  Alabama  Volunteer 
Corps,"  of  which  he  was  at  that  time  the  Colonel.  Gov.  Moore 
declined  to  accept  the  regiment,  although  every  compam  in  it 
tendered  their  services,  for  the  reason  that  two  regiments  only 
being  called  for,  he  wished  to  receive  the  companies  from  all  parts 
of  the  State.  The  two  companies  went  into  camp,  at  Eufaula,  on 
the  17th  day  of  January,  1861. 

Col.  Clayton  obtained  leave  of  absence  from  the  Legislature, 
and  received  instructions  from  the  Governor  to  bring  them  to 
gether  at  Montgomery,  where,  on  the  12th  of  February,  they 
were  formally  mustered  into  the  military  service  of  the  State  for 
twelve  months.  ' 

Seeing  that  he  could  not  prevail  on  the  Governor  to  accept  the 


660  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

regiment,  Col.  Clayton  was  himself  mustered  in  as  a  private  in 
the  Clayton  Guards.  The  Governor,  finding  that  he  was  determ 
ined  to  go,  regardless  of  the  appeals  that  he  could  not  be  spared 
from  the  Legislature,  on  the  following  day  sent  him  a  commission 
as  Aid-de-Camp,  with  instructions  to  take  command  of  the  Ala 
bama  volunteers  near  Pensacola,  and  organize  them  into  regiments 
as  fast  as  the  required  number  of  companies  should  arrive.  On 
the  organization  of  the  First  Alabama  Regiment,  on  the  28th  of 
March,  he  was  elected  the  Colonel.  This  was  the  first  regiment 
of  twelve  months  (or  indeed  of  any  kind  of)  troops  received  into 
the  Confederate  service.  Among  the  privates  in  this  regiment 
were  such  men  as  Hon.  John  Cochran,  Hon.  James  L.  Pugh,  Hon. 
E.  C.  Bullock,  and  many  others  little  less  distinguished.  The 
faithful  and  prompt  discharge  of  all  the  duties  of  private  soldiers 
by  these  gentlemen,  and  the  earnest  support  of  the  Colonel  in 
the  trying  ordeal  of  enforcing  discipline,  as  a  soldier,  among  those 
with  whom  he  had  been  accustomed  upon  terms  of  equality  and 
familiarity,  was  in  the  highest  degree  complimentary  to  themselves 
and  to  him.  They  would  never  allow  themselves  to  be  relieved 
of  any  duty  that  fell  to  their  lot,  whether  on  guard,  throwing  up 
works,  or  mounting  cannon.  Their  cheerful  compliance  with  all  or 
ders,  and  the  influence  which  their  example  exerted  in  stilling  the 
complaints  of  others,  can  only  be  properly  appreciated  when  it  is 
remembered  that  the  regiment  was  composed  largely  of  the  first 
gentlemen  of  the  country,  who  had  been  suddenly  called  together 
in  a  military  camp,  in  the  expectation  of  a  battle,  and  instead  of 
that,  except  the  battle  of  Santa  Rosa,  and  the  two  bombardments, 
they  were  kept  for  nearly  a  year,  digging  in  the  sand  among  the 
fleas  and  musquitoes  of  the  Gulf  coast. 

Upon  the  expiration  of  the  term  of  service  of  the  regiment, 
although  Col.  Clayton  was  requested  by  nearly  all  the  officers  in 
it  to  reorganize  it  and  retain  the  command,  fearing  that  as  it  had 
become  so  well  drilled  in  heavy  artillery,  it  would  be  kept  upon 
post  and  garrison  duty,  and  himself  desiring  a  more  active  field, 
he  yielded  the  reorganization  of  the  regiment  to  Lieut.  Colonel 
Stedman,  and,  returning  home,  organized  the  Thirty-ninth  Ala 
bama  Regiment.  This  he  commanded  in  Gen.  Bragg's  Kentucky 
campaign,  and  until  after  the  battle  of  Murfreesboro.  In  this  bat 
tle  he  was  seriously  wounded.  Here,  also,  his  brother,  Captain 
Joseph  C.  Clayton,  who  commanded  a  company  in  the  same  regi 
ment,  and  was  a  most  estimable  Christian  gentleman  and  soldier, 
was  mortally  wounded. 

On  returning  to  his  command,  after  thirty  days  of  absence,  still 
suffering  from  his  wound,  he  was  surprised  by  the  delivery  to  him 
of  a  commission  as  Brigadier-General.  Gen.  Clayton  was  at  once 
put  in  command  of  a  brigade  composed  of  the  18th,  36th,  38th, 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  661 

and  32d  and  58th  (combined)  Alabama  Regiments,  and  assigned 
to  the  Division  of  Major-General  A.  P.  Stewart.  It  is  not  neces 
sary  to  speak  here  of  the  part  taken  by  "Clayton's  Brigade,"  in 
the  campaigns  and  battles  that  followed.  The  battles  of  Chicka- 
mauga,  Rocky  Face  Mountain,  and  New  Hope  Church,  belong  to 
the  history  of  the  war,  and  the  conduct  of  Clayton's  Brigade,  and 
its  commanding  officer,  will  compose  a  portion  of  it.  The  part  he 
performed  in  the  last  named  battle,  was  such  as  to  secure  him  the 
additional  promotion  to  the  rank  of  Major-Gen eral,  and  the  com 
mand  of  the  Division  to  which  he  was  still  attached,  on  the  pro 
motion  of  Lieutenant-General  Stewart. 

Gen.  Clayton  participated  in  all  the  subsequent  campaigns  and 
battles  of  the  army  of  Tennessee,  up  to  the  surrender  of  Gen. 
Johnston,  in  April,  1865.  After  the  battle  of  Nashville,  with  his 
Division,  and  Gen.  Pettus'  Brigade,  he  covered  the  retreat  of  the 
army  until  the  evening  of  the  following  day,  when  he  was  relieved 
by  Gen.  Stevenson,  who,  with  another  brigade,  and  that  of  Gen. 
Pettus,  assumed  his  position. 

Gen.  Clayton  was  slightly  wounded  in  the  battle  of  New  Hope 
Church,  and  at  Chickamauga  he  was  knocked  from  his  horse  by  a 
grape-shot.  At  Jonesboro  he  had  three  horses  killed  or  disabled 
under  him. 

On  returning  home,  after  the  surrender,  he  devoted  himself  al 
most  exclusively  to  farming,  with  marked  success.  In  1866,  he 
was  elected  Judge  of  the  Eighth  Judicial  Circuit,  which  position 
he  held  until  July,  1868,  when  he  was  removed  under  the  Recon 
struction  Acts  of  Congress.  His  general  charge  to  the  Grand 
Jury,  in  Pike  county,  a  portion  of  which,  relating  to  the  condition 
of  the  country,  the  treatment  of  our  former  slaves,  and  the  spirit 
which  ought  to  animate  the  people,  was  published  by  the  unani 
mous  request  of  the  Bar,  and  re-published,  North  and  South,  as 
a  campaign  document,  will  be  remembered  by  many. 

In  person,  Judge  Clayton  is  six  feet  high,  weighs  one  hundred 
and  ninety  pounds,  is  slightly  bald,  very  gray  for  his  age,  (forty- 
four)  and  is  vigorous  and  healthy.  He  has  a  large  family,  and  the 
best  orchard  and  vineyard  in  South  East-Alabama,  making  several 
barrels  of  wine  yearly  for  home  and  friends,  but  none  to  sell.  He 
takes  part  in  every  question  of  public  interest,  is  patient  under 
reconstruction,  thinks  it  hard,  yet  is  hopeful,  and  endures  with 
fortitude  what  can  not  be  helped  by  complaint. 

Judge  Clayton  is  a  member  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church, 
into  which  he  was  confirmed  nearly  twenty  years  ago.  He  still 
resides  at  Clayton,  in  Barbour  county,  where  he  located  on  being 
admitted  to  the  bar  in  1849.  He  is  engaged  in  practicing  law, 
and  also  in  farming.  Such  a  career  and  such  a  record  is  honora 
ble  to  the  State. 


662  SenMeoenees  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

To  the  record  already  given  should  be  added,  injustice  to  Gren, 
Clayton,  a  letter,  published  by  an  unknown  correspondent,  in  a 
Southern  paper,  dated,  "In  the  Field,  near  Chattahoochee  River, 
July  7, 1864,"  under  the  head  of  "Our  New  Generals,"  of  which 
the  following  is  an  extract: 

Lieutenant-General  Polk  is  dead;  Lieutenant-General  Stewart  succeeds  him. 
The  arrny  of  Mississippi  will  find  in  their  new  chief  one  who  is  capable  of  com 
manding  their  love  and  confidence.  Officers  and  men  of  his  old  division  unite  in 
regrets  in  losing  so  kind  and  so  brave  a  commander.  Upon  leaving,  he  issued  a 
touching  address  to  his  troops.  He  goes  surrounded  by  prestige  inferior  to  none. 
If  he  does  not  hereafter  increase  the  laurels  which  he  has  hitherto  worn  with  so 
much  modesty,  it  will  be  a  disappointment  to  many. 

Major-General  H.  D.  Clayton,  who  succeeds  Lieutenant-General  Stewart,  also 
enters  upon  his  new  career  under  happy  auspices.  He  was  born  in  Pulaski 
county,  Georgia,  but  at  an  early  age  removed  to  Chambers  county,  Alabama.  He 
subsequently  studied  law  at  Eufaula,  Alabama,  and,  marrying,  located  at  Clayton, 
some  twenty  miles  distant,  where  he  practiced  his  profession,  and  acquired  con 
siderable  eminence  at  the  bar.  He  was  for  some  years  a  member  of  the  Legisla 
ture  of  his  adopted  State.  He  was  an  early  advocate  of  the  secession  movement, 
and,  unlike  many  of  the  original  prime  movers  of  separation,  made  good  his 
words  by  deeds.  He  raised  one  of  the  first  companies  of  the  State,  and  went  to 
Pensacola,  where  he  was  elected  Colonel  of  the  1st  Alabama  regiment.  In  this 
capacity  he  served  for  one  year  with  great  distinction,  when,  the  time  of  enlist 
ment  of  his  regiment  having  expired,  he  returned  home,  and  raised  the  39th  Ala 
bama  Regiment.  He  joined  Gen.  Bragg  at  Tupelo,  Mississippi,  with  his  com 
mand,  which  was  placed  in  what  is  now  Deas'  brigade.  He  served  with  Withers' 
division  throughout  the  Kentucky  campaign.  At  the  battle  of  Murfreesboro,  his 
regiment  greatly  distinguished  itself.  Col.  Clayton  there  received  a  wound  in  the 
shoulder,  but,  notwithstanding  that,  remained  with  his  command  until  the  sever 
est  of  the  fight  was  over,  and  only  could  be  induced  to  leave  when  fainting  from 
the  loss  of  blood.  For  the  gallantry  he  displayed  on  this  field,  he  won  the  wreath 
of  Brigadier-General,  and  was  assigned  to  Cummings'  old  brigade.  At  the  battle 
of  Chickamauga,  he  was  again  wounded,  after  having  two  horses  killed  under 
him.  For  his  skill  at  Rocky  Face  Mountain,  in  February  last,  he  received  the 
compliments  of  Major-General  Hindman,  then  commanding  Hood's  corps,  and  of 
Gen.  Johnston. 

In  the  present  campaign,  his  brigade  sustained  the  principal  attacks  of  the 
enemy  at  Mill  Creek  Gap;  at  Resaca,  on  Saturday  evening,  with  Baker's  brigade, 
charged  the  enemy  and  drove  them  over  a  mile  and  a  half;  and  on  Sunday  even 
ing,  in  the  ill-advised  attack  of  Stewart's  division,  his  brigade  suffered  severely, 
but  held  its  ground  until  ordered  to  retire.  At  New  Hope  Church,  he  again  sus 
tained  the  brunt  of  the  battle,  repulsing  the  repeated  assaults  of  Hooker's  corps, 
which  advanced  in  three  heavy  lines.  He  received  on  this  occasion,  the  thanks  of 
Major-General  Stewart,  and  his  merits  being  already  known  at  the  War  Depart- 
meht,  he  was  immediately  recommended  by  him  for  promotion.  He  has  since 
then  been  engaged  in  many  of  the  skirmishes  that  have  daily  taken  place,  and 
during  an  attack  of  the  enemy  on  our  picket  line,  when  north  of  Kenesaw  Moun 
tain,  had  another  horse  shot  under  him.  His  brigade  has  probably  sustained  the 
greatest  loss  of  any  in  the  army.  Out  of  fifteen  hundred  men,  which  it  contained 
when  Dalton  was  evacuated,  there  has  been  in  killed  and  wounded  six  hundred 
and  twelve. 

Major-General  Clayton  is  about  thirty-six  years  of  age,  tall  and  well-built,  sol 
dierly  in  appearance,  has  a  brusque  but  pleasing  manner,  and  enjoys  great  popu 
larity  in  his  command. 

Brigadier-General  Holtzclaw,  who  has  just  been  appointed  and  assigned  to 
the  command  of  Clayton's  brigade,  is  also  an  Alabamian.  He  hails  from  Mont 
gomery.  Before  the  war  actually  began,  in  anticipation  of  coming  hostilities,  he 
raised  a  company  called  the  Montgomery  Blues,  and  with  it  assisted  in  the  capture 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  m  Alabamd.  663 

of  the  navy-yards  and  forts  of  Pensacola.  He  was  afterward  appointed  by  the 
President  Major  of  the  18th  Alabama  regiment.  He  distinguished  himself  by  his 
bravery  at  the  battle  of  Shiloh,  where  he  received  a  severe  wound,  from  which  he 
suffered  a  long  time.  He  afterward  rose  to  be  Colonel,  in  which  capacity  he  has 
rendered  long  and  efficient  service.  His  merits  have  at  length  been  appreciated 
by  the  President,  and  in  giving  him  the  privilege  of  placing  a  wreath  on  the  mod 
est  collar  of  his  homespun  jacket,  our  worthy  Chief  Magistrate  has  only  done 
what  was  expected  of  him  a  year  and  a  half  ago. 

Brigadier-General  Holtzclaw's  appointment  has  been  received  by  his  brigade 
with  the  greatest  satisfaction.  He  is  popular  in  the  army,  where  he  is  almost 
universally  known,  Since  Gen.  Buckner,  under  whom  he  received  military  in 
struction,  has  been  transferred  to  the  Trans-Mississippi  Department,  he  is  said  to 
be  the  best  drilled  officer  in  the  Army  of  Tennessee.  X.  Y.  Z. 

The  charge  of  Judge  Clayton  to  the  Grand  Jury,  in  relation  to 
the  freedmeu,  having  been  referred  to  on  a  preceding  page,  the 
author  thinks  proper  to  reproduce  the  charge,  so  far  as  he  is  able, 
in  the  hope  that  it  may  have  a  salutary  effect  on  the  public  mind. 
The  note  from  members  of  the  bar,  requesting  a  copy  for  publi 
cation,  is  also  given,  as  both  appeared  in  the  "Southern  Adver 
tiser/'  of  September  21,  1866: 

TKOY,  ALABAMA,  September  11,  1866. 
To  the  Hon.  Henry  D.  Clayton,  Jndye  of  the  Eighth  Judicial  Circuit: 

The  undersigned,  members  of  the  bar  of  Pike  county,  having  heard  with  much 
satisfaction,  and  approved  your  charge  to  the  Grand  Jury  of  Pike  county,  and 
being  convinced  that  the  publication  of  that  part  of  your  charge  which  concerns 
the  relations  between  the  white  population  and  the  negroes  lately  emancipated, 
would  have  a  good  effect  upon  the  country,  respectfully  ask  for  a  copy  of  the  same 
for  publication. 

A.  N.  WORTHY,  G.  T.  YELVE11TON, 

W.  C.  WOOD,  E.  L.  McINTYRE, 

W.  C.  OATES,  H.  C.  SEMPLE, 

JOHN  D.  GARDNER,         J.  E.  P.  FLOURNOY, 
W.  H.  PARKS,  J.  N.  ARRINGTON, 

W.  D.  ROBERTS,  HAM.  McINTYRE, 

BENJ.  GARDNER,  JNO.  P.  HUBBARD, 

N.  W.  GRIFFIN. 

EXTRACT  FROM  THE  CHARGE  OF  JUDGE  CLAYTON  TO  THE  GRAND  JURY  OF  PIKE 
COUNTY,  ON  THE  OTII  OF  SEPFEMBER,  1866,  AND  PUBLISHED  BY  REQUEST  OF  THE 
BAR,  AND  OF  THE  GRAND  JURY  IN  THEIR  GENERAL  PRESENTMENTS! 

There  is  a  class  of  our  population  clothed  with  certain  civil  rights  and  priv 
ileges  which  they  did  not  possess  until  recently ;  and  in  dealing  with  which  you 
may  experience  some  embarrassment.  I,  of  course,  allude  to  the  negroes. 

Among  the  terms  upon  which  the  Confederate  States  terminated  their  heroic 
struggle  for  a  separate  and  independent  nationality,  was  one  which  guaranteed 
freedom  to  this  race.  Although  we  deplore  that  result,  as  alike  injurious  to  the 
country  and  fatal  to  the  negroes,  the  law  has  been  placed  upon  our  statute  books 
in  solemn  form  by  us,  through  our  delegates.  The  laws  for  their  government,  as 
slaves,  have  been  repealed,  and  others  substituted,  adapted  to  their  new  condition. 
We  are  in  honor  bound  to  observe  these  laws.  For  myself,  I  do  not  hesitate  to 
say,  in  public  and  private,  officially  and  unofficially,  that,  after  having  done  all  I 
could  to  avert  it,  when  I  took  off  my  sword  in  surrender,  I  determined  to  observe 
the  terms  of  that  surrender  with  the  same  earnestness  and  fidelity  with  which  I 
first  shouldered  my  musket.  True  manhood  requires  no  deception,  but  that  as  we 
say  with  our  lips  we  shall  feel  with  our  hearts,  and  do  with  our  hands. 

There  is  nothing  in  the  history  of  the  past  of  which  we  need  be  ashamed* 


664  ftemmisccntes  of  Public  Men  in  Alabamd. 

Whilst  we  cherish  its  glorious  memories,  and  that  of  our  martyred  dead,  we  pause 
here  and  there  to  drop  a  tear  over  their  consecrated  ashes,  but  remember  there  is 
still  work  for  the  living,  and  set  ourselves  about  the  task  of  reestablishing  society 
and  rebuilding  our  ruined  homes.  Others,  unwilling  to  submit  to  this  condition 
of  things,  may  seek  their  homes  abroad ;  you  and  I  are  bound  to  this  soil  for  life, 
for  better  or  for  worse,  and  it  must  at  least  cover  our  remains.  What,  then,  is  our 
duty?  To  repine  at  our  lot?  To  sit  down  day  and  night  cursing  and  gnawing 
our  chains?  That  is  not  the  part  of  manliness;  but  to  rise  up  and  go  forward, 
performing  our  highest  mission  as  men.  "He  who  does  the  best  his  circumstances 
allow,  does  well — acts  nobly — angels  could  do  no  more."  Is  it  not  enough  that 
the  blood  of  the  best  and  bravest  has  been  shed  in  every  valley  throughout  the 
land?  Is  it  not  enough  that  the  bones  of  our  fathers  and  brothers  and  sons  lie 
whitening  en  every  hill-top?  Is  it  not  enough  that  the  voice  of  lamentation  has 
been  heard  at  every  fireside?  Is  it  not  enough  that  the  wailings  of  the  widow 
and  orphan  still  sound  in  our  ears  ?  Have  we  not  suffered  enough?  Have  we  not 
done  all  that  was  in  the  power  of  human  nature?  In  our  own  bosoms  let  us  wear 
this  consciousness  as  a  jewel  above  price. 

Now,  let  us  deal  with  the  facts  before  us  as  they  are.  The  negro  has  been 
made  free.  It  is  no  work  of  hIV  He  did  not  seek  freedom,  and  nominally  free, 
as  he  is,  he  is  helpless  beyond  expression — helpless  by  his  want  of  habits  of  self- 
reliance — helpless  by  his  want  of  experience ;  and  doubly  helpless  by  his  want  of 
comprehension  to  understand  and  appreciate  his  condition.  From  the  very  na- 
•ture  of  the  surroundings,  so  far  as  promoting  his  welfare  and  adapting  him  to  this 
new  relation  to  society  are  concerned,  all  agencies  from  abroad  must  prove  inade 
quate.  They  may  restrain  in  individual  instances,  but  we  are  the  only  people  in 
the  world  who  understand  his  character,  and  hence,  the  only  people  in  the  world 
capable  of  managing  him. 

To  remedy  the  evils  growing  out  of  the  abolition  of  slavery,  it  seems  two  things 
are  necessary:  First,  a  recognition  of  the  freedom  of  the  race  as  a  fact,  the  enact 
ment  of  just  and  humane  laws,  and  the  willing  enforcement  of  them.  Secondly, 
by  treating  them  with  perfect  fairness  and  justice  in  our  contracts,  and  in  every 
way  in  which  we  may  be  brought  in  contact  with  them.  By  the  first,  we  convince 
the  world  of  our  good  faith,  and  get  rid  of  the  system  of  espionage,  by  removing 
the  pretext  of  its  necessity;  and  by  the  second,  we  secure  the  services  of  the  ne 
groes,  learn  them  their  places,  and  how  to  keep  them,  and  convince  them,  at  last, 
that  we  are  indeed  their  best  friends.  When  we  do  this,  let  us  hope  that  society 
will  revive  from  its  present  shock,  and  our  land  be  crowned  with  abundant  har 
vests.  We  need  the  labor  of  the  negroes  all  over  the  country,  and  it  is  worth  the 
effort  to  secure  it.  If  it  would  not  be  extending  this  charge  beyond  what  I  con 
ceive  to  be  a  proper  limit  of  time  for  its  delivery,  I  might  enlarge  upon  this  sub 
ject  by  showing  the  depressing  effect  upon  the  country  which  would  be  produced 
by  the  sudden  removal  of  so  much  of  its  productive  labor.  Its  first  effect  would 
be  the  decreased  value  of  the  lands — decreased  agricultural  products — decreased 
revenue  to  the  State  and  county,  arising  from  these  sources,  with  their  thousand 
attendant  results. 

Besides  all  this,  which  appeals  to  our  interests,  gentlemen,  do  we  owe  the  ne 
gro  any  grudge?  What  has  he,  himself,  done  to  provoke  our  hostility?  Shall  we 
be  angry  with  him  because  freedom  has  been  forced  upon  him?  Shall  it  excite 
our  animosity  that  he  has  been  suddenly,  and  without  any  effort  on  his  part,  torn 
loose  from  the  protection  of  his  kind  master?  You  may  have  been  that  master. 
He  is  proud  to  call  you  master  yet.  In  the  name  of  humanity,  let  him  do  so.  He 
may  be  older  than  you,  and  perhaps  carried  you  in  his  arms  when  an  infant.  He 
may  have  been  the  companion  of  your  boyhood.  You  may  be  bound  to  him  by  a 
thousand  ties  which  only  a  Southern  man  knows,  and  which  he  alone  can  feel  in 
all  its  force.  It  may  be  that  when,  only  a  few  years  ago,  you  girded  on  your  car 
tridge-box,  and  shouldered  your  trusty  rifle,  to  go  forth  to  meet  the  invaders  of 
your  country,  you  committed  to  his  care  your  home  and  your  loved  ones;  and 
when  you  were  far  away  upon  the  weary  march,  upon  the  dreadful  battle-field,  in 
the  trenches,  and  on  the  picket  line,  many  and  many  a  time  you  thought  of  that 
faithful  old  negro,  and  your  heart  warmed  towards  him. 

[The  remainder  of  the  charge,  aa  printed,  was  accidentally  torn  off  and  lost-l 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama,  665 

STEPHEN  F.  HALE,  of  Greene,  was  a  Kentuckian,  and  came 
to  Alabama  in  the  capacity  of  a  teacher.  He  read  law,  and  en 
tered  upon  the  practice  at  Eutaw,  about  1841.  His  talents  soon 
attracted  notice.  In  1843,  when  quite  a  young  man,  he  was  elected 
to  the  House,  where  he  made  a  favorable  impression.  Continuing; 
to  apply  himself  to  the  duties  of  his  profession,  and  advancing  in 
influence,  he  remained  in  private  life  until  the  breaking  out  of 
the  Mexican  war  in  1846,  when  he  volunteered,  and  was  elected 
Lieutenant  of  a  company.  He  served  in  Mexico  until  the  con 
clusion  of  peace,  in  1848,  when  he  returned  home  with  a  bright 
reputation  as  a  soldier  and  officer. 

Again  applying  himself  closely  to  his  profession,  he  did  not 
again  come  forward  for  public  trust  until  1857,  when  he  was  a 
second  time  elected  to  the  House,  and  was  reflected  in  1859.  His 
physical  and  mental  capacity,  as  might  have  been  expected,  was 
improved  since  1843,  and  he  became  a  leading  man,  with  an  ac 
knowledged  force  of  character,  in  the  Legislature.  In  debate,  he 
displayed  a  high  order  of  intellect,  and  his  manner  and  delivery 
gave  great  effect  to  his  arguments.  He  was  a  Whig  of  the  Ken 
tucky  stamp  of  those  days.  His  mind  had  been  logically  trained. 
There  was  an  energy  in  his  style,  and  a  tone  in  his  elocution,  which 
made  him  somewhat  noted  on  the  floor,  and  had  great  weight  with 
his  hearers. 

In  1860,  he  voted  for  John  Bell  for  President,  because  he  was 
a  Whig,  as  he  always  voted  with  his  party  for  the  first  office  in 
the  country,  when  a  suitable  candidate  was  in  the  field.  After 
the  State  seceded,  Mr.  Hale  was  sent,  by  Gov.  Moore,  as  a  Com 
missioner  to  Kentucky,  to  take  counsel  with  the  authorities  of 
that  State  in  regard  to  the  momentous  issues  then  pending.  He 
afterward  engaged  in  the  military  service  of  the  Confederate 
States,  and  held  the  rank  of  Lieutenant-Colonel  in  the  army  of 
Virginia,  where  he  was  killed  in  one  of  the  battles  around  Rich 
mond  in  1862,  while  bravely  leading  his  command  in  action. 

As  a  gentleman,  Col.  Hale  possessed  a  noble  spirit,  and  was 
kind  and  true  in  all  the  relations  of  life.  In  1866,  the  Legisla 
ture  named  a  new  county  "Hale,"  formed  out  of  the  eastern  por 
tion  of  Greene,  in  honor  of  the  man  who  came  among  the  people 
of  that  county  a  young  stranger,  and  in  their  midst,  for  more  than 
twenty  years,  proved  himself  a  good  lawyer,  a  worthy  citizen,  an 
intelligent  legislator,  and  a  brave  soldier;  and  when  the  sacrifice 
was  demanded,  he  left  the  comforts  and  endearments  of  home  for 
the  battle-field,  where  he  gave  his  life  in  defending  the  rights 
and  honor  of  the  South.  Surely  such  a  man,  such  an  example, 
deserves  commemoration. 


666  Reminiscetices  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

SAMUEL  JETER,  of  Chambers,  was  elected  as  a  Democrat,  and 
served  only  through  the  session  of  1857.  He  was  a  Georgian, 
originally,  but  had  long  resided  in  Alabama,  where  his  political 
relations  were  well  established  in  the  Conventions  and  consulta 
tions  of  his  party,  in  which  he  took  a  prominent  part.  He  was 
somewhat  advanced  in  years,  was  wealthy,  and  had  a  force  and  de 
cision  of  character  that  gave  him  much  influence  in  political  and 
social  circles.  He  still  possesses  the  mental  vigor  of  earlier  days. 

DR.  A.  G.  MABRY,  of  Dallas,  took  his  seat  in  1857,  and  served 
with  little  interruption  to  the  close  of  the  session  of  1866-'7.  He 
possessed  good  practical  sense,  and  much  and  varied  information 
on  public  aifairs,  which  contributed  no  little  to  the  benefit  of  the 
State  in  his  legislative  career.  As  a  member  of  the  Committee 
on  Ways  and  Means  he  rendered  very  substantial  service.  With 
out  social  qualities  of  any  special  character,  he  cultivated  pleasant 
relations  with  his  fellow-members,  without  neglecting  his  public 
duties,  however,  and  was  at  all  times  respectful  and  courteous  as 
a  gentleman. 

Dr.  Mabry,  as  a  physician  of  high  culture,  took  a  lively  interest 
in  the  establishment  and  organization  of  the  Asylum  for  the  In 
sane,  was  one  of  the  first  Trustees,  and  with  watchful  and  tender 
care,  has  looked  after  its  interest,  so  as  to  secure,  upon  a  perma 
nent  basis,  the  support  of  the  institution,  that  it  may  impart  vigor 
and  certainty  to  its  benefits.  In  all  these  philanthropic  efforts,  he 
has  enrolled  his  name  on  the  list  of  Alabama's  most  deserving  sons. 

JAMES  B.  MARTIN,  of  Talladega,  by  birth  and  education  a 
Georgian,  first  settled  in  Jacksonville,  in  the  practice  of  the  law, 
and  afterward  removed  to  Talladega.  He  advanced  rapidly  in 
his  profession.  The  superior  mind,  the  close  attention  to  law- 
books,  the  fidelity  to  his  clients,  which  marked  his  character,  made 
him  a  rising  man,  and  brought  about  him  many  friends  and  ad 
mirers.  He  came  to  Alabama  a  stranger,  without  influential  con 
nections,  and  worked  his  way  through  the  difficulties  usually  en 
countered  by  young  men  in  this  situation.  But  he  rose  above 
them,  and  became  established  in  the  confidence  and  patronage  of 
the  people. 

In  1857,  he  was  elected  to  the  House,  and  the  ability  of  his 
reports  from  Committee,  and  in  his  speeches  on  the  floor,  secured 
him  a  prominent  rank  among  the  working  and  useful  members. 
Not  long  afterward,  he  was  elected  Judge  of  the  Circuit  Court, 
and  presided  with  uprightness,  and  to  the  public  satisfaction,  until 
he  resigned  after  the  commencement  of  hostilities,  and  took  the 
field  as  Lieutenant-Colonel  of  a  regiment,  displaying  as  much 
bravery  in  war,  as  he  had  given  proofs  of  great  intellect  in  peace. 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  667 

While  leading  a  charge,  in  one  of  the  battles  of  Virginia,  (at 
Dranesville,  I  believe,)  he  was  killed,  in  the  flower  of  his  age, 
and  in  the  midst  of  his  usefulness.  His  moral  character  was  up 
right  and  pure,  and  he  died,  as  he  had  lived  many  years,  a  worthy 
member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church. 

ALEXANDER  SMITH,  of  Coosa,  was  elected  in  1857  and  in  1859, 
upon  the  Democratic  ticket,  and  served  the  State  and  his  constitu 
ents  well  and  faithfully.  The  people  had  bestowed  on  him  vari 
ous  county  offices,  with  that  of  Sheriff,  in  all  which  he  exhibited 
the  force  of  his  character  in  decision  and  punctuality. 

Mr.  Smith  is  a  North  Carolinian;  but  has  so  long  resided  in 
Alabama,  that  he  is  entitled  to  the  appellation  of  an  old  citizen. 
He  has  always  been  remarkable  for, energy  and  perseverance,  and 
now,  at  the  age  of  76,  he  is  engaged  in  the  active  duties  of  life,  in 
rearing  up  and  educating  a  family  of  young  children. 

Under  the  old  organization,  he  was  a  Democrat,  and  supported 
Mr.  Douglas  for  the  Presidency  in  1860;  but  when  the  State  se 
ceded,  he  gave  her  his  support,  with  all  the  earnestness  of  his  na 
ture  ;  and,  now,  in  the  evening  of  his  days,  he  can  look  back  with 
satisfaction  upon  a  life  devoted  to  the  public  good,  so  far  as  his 
means  and  opportunities  would  allow.  Mr.  Smith  is  much  re 
spected  wherever  he  is  known. 


668  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 


CHAPTER  XXXVII. 

Financial  Policy — Banking  System. 

In  settling  on  a  plan  likely  to  be  the  most  useful  in  operation,  with 
less  cost  to  the  people,  in  raising  and  disbursing  money  on  public 
account,  the  Legislature  of  Alabama,  at  an  early  period,  chartered 
a  State  Bank,  with  Branches  as  occasion  seemed  to  require,  founded 
upon  the  credit  of  the  State.  tThe  leading  idea,  no  doubt,  was  the 
realization  of  a  surplus  not  only  sufficient  for  the  support  of  the 
Government,  in  its  Legislative,  Executive,  and  Judicial  Depart 
ments,  but  a  balance  which  might  be  applied  to  the  cause  of  pop 
ular  Education,  or  to  any  other  scheme  or  method  for  securing  the 
greatest  good  to  the  greatest  number.  The  ground  of  calculation 
was  probably  the  difference  between  borrowing  capital  by  the  sale 
of  State  bonds  at  five  per  cent,  interest,  to  be  used  by  the  Banks 
in  the  discount  of  paper  bearing  eight  per  cent.,  which  would  show 
a  profit  of  $30,000  on  each  million  so  invested.  On  this  principle, 
ten  millions  of  dollars  in  bonds,  as  a  basis  of  issue  in  Bank  circu 
lation,  could  not  produce  less  than  $300,000  per  annum,  confining 
the  issue,  dollar  for  dollar,  within  the  specie  ability  of  the  Banks 
to  redeem  their  notes  dn  presentation,  even  on  the  same  day.  To 
this  supposed  gain  might  reasonably  be  added  still  more  extensive 
profits  from  the  issue  of  Bank  notes  in  the  proportion  of  three 
dollars  to  one  dollar  in  specie,  the  usual  privilege  granted,  on  the 
presumption  that  the  return  of  the  bills  in  payment  of  Bank  debts 
would  'always  keep  the  circulation  at  a  point  of  safety,  without 
creating  a  demand  for  coin  beyond  the  ordinary  routine  of  com 
merce,  and  without  the  possibility  of  a  panic,  or  of  peril  to  the 
Banks. 

Such  may  have  been  the  inducement  to  adopt  the  Banking  Sys 
tem  in  Alabama,  as  a  relief  from  taxation,  and  as  promising  other 
desirable  results.  At  all  events,  the  experiment  has  been  made, 
attended  perhaps  with  more  of  general  prosperity  in  the  develop 
ment  of  the  agricultural  resources  of  the  State,  and  in  other  chan 
nels,  than  would  have  accrued  to  the  people  had  no  such  facilities 
been  afforded.  It  is  altogether  useless,  at  this  late  period,  to  spec 
ulate  upon  the  advantages  which  might  have  been  secured  to  the 
citizens  by  a  literal  fulfillment  of  contracts  on  the  part  of  bank 
debtors,  and  the  exercise  of  the  privilege  of  the  Banks  to  increase 
their  circulation  on  a  legitimate  basis,  so  that  instead  of  $300,000 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 


669 


profit  per  annum,  this  sum  might  have  been  tripled  to  $900,000 
on  810,000,000  of  capital  thus  employed. 

It  is  not  intended  here  to  examine  the  several  Bank  charters, 
nor  the  respective  dates  when  the  State  Bank  and  Branches  were 
established.  The  particulars  would  serve  no  useful  purpose.  The 
management  of  the  Banks  has  been  noticed  incidentally  in  other 
portions  of  this  work,  and  this  must  suffice,  except  to  show,  as  the 
time  approached  for  winding  up  the  Banks,  the  amount  of  indebt 
edness  by  the  people,  and  the  liability  of  the  Banks  for  their  out 
standing  circulation. 

As  evidence  of  the  demand  for  accommodations,  it  is  shown  by 
the  Bank  reports,  that,  for  the  year  ending  November  30,  1840, 
the  offerings  of  ninety  days  paper  at  the  State  Bank,  from  twenty- 
two  counties,  amounted,  in  the  aggregate,  to  $1,710,489,  while  the 
discounts  for  the  same  counties  were  $295,802.  Perhaps  about  the 
same  ratio  of  seven  to  one  existed  in  the  Branch  Banks,  though  no 
statement  of  offerings  is  made  in  their  reports.  The  relief  law  of 
the  extra  session,  in  1837,  directed  loans  to  be  made  from  the  sale 
of  $5,000,000  new  bonds,  mainly  to  debtors  in  distress  from  judg 
ments  and  executions  pending  over  them ;  and  certificates  from  the 
Clerks  of  the  several  Courts,  showing  these  liabilities,  were  nec 
essary  to  be  laid  before  the  Directors,  in  order  to  obtain  loans,  or 
relic/.  No  attempt  is  made  to  trace  the  amounts  offered  for  this 
purpose  in  the  intervening  years  to  1840;  but  some  idea  may  be 
formed  of  the  pressure,  from  the  fact  stated  as  to  the  twenty-two 
counties  already  referred  to,  seven  of  which,  offering  more  than 
$100,000  each,  are  the  following: 


Counties. 

Am't  Offered. 

Ant  t  Discounted. 

1  .  Greene  
2.  Simiter  

$413,898  00 

302  250  00 

$158,350  00 
44,400  00 

S.  Perry  

214,o58  00 

23,950  00 

4.   Marengo  .          ,  

203,150  00 

3B,785  00 

141,333  00 

55.3H7  00 

fi    Dallas 

132  400  00 

18  400  00 

124,270  00 

19,250  00 

Total  

^1,531,859  00 

$201,502  00 

Without  going  farther  back  to  ascertain  the  precise  amount  of 
State  bonds  originally  issued  to  the  Banks,  it  may  be  stated  that 
in  1840  the  amount  outstanding  was  $10,859,856,  drawing  an  an 
nual  interest  of  $563,768.  The  Joint  Examining  Committee  at 
the  session  of  1840,  consisted  of  Messrs.  W.  W.  Morris,  Milton 
McClanahan,  and  Thomas  A.  Walker,  of  the  House ;  and  Messrs. 
George  Keese,  D.  B.  Turner,  and  Dixon  Hall,  on  the  part  of  the 
Senate.  In  their  report  on  the  condition  of  the  State  Bank  and 


670  Reminiseences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

Branches,  the  Committee  stated  the  amount  of  good,  doubtful,  bad, 
and  unknoum  debts  due  the  State  Bank  and  Branches,  from  each 
county,  after  this  classification  had  been  made  by  their  members, 
who  inspected  the  list.  The  following  is  the  result: 

STATE  BANK — 

Good $2,297,477  33 

Doubtful 179,532  20 

Bad 397,413  04 

Unknown 151,839  01 

$3,026,251  38 

BRANCH  AT  MONTGOMERY — 

Good $2,441,22843 

-Doubtful 217,204  09 

Bad 196,54243 

Unknown 108,568  47 

$2,963,603  42 

BRANCH  AT  HUNTSVILLE — 

Good $1,513,460  90 

Doubtful 93,625  84 

Bad 104,90337 

Unknown 19,885  42 

: —  $1,731,875  53 

BRANCH  AT  MOBILE — 

Good $3,271,717  71 

Doubtful 947,720  47 

Bad 2,134,239  21 

Unknown 889,346  40 

$7,243,02385 

0 

BRANCH  AT  DECATUR — 

Good $2,490,365  28 

Doubtful 300,020  06 

Bad ..: 713,403  75 

Unknown 190,894  67 

$3,694,683  76 


Totol $18,659,428  14 

To  replenish  its  vaults  with  coin,  looking  forward  to  an  early 
resumption  of  specie  payments,  the  State  Bank,  in  the  summer  of 
1838,  commenced  advancing  on  cotton  to  be  delivered,  under 
special  contract,  which  practice  it  kept  up  for  two  years.  In  notic 
ing  it  the  Committee  say : 

Our  examination  extends  back  to  the  commencement  of  these  transactions. 
The  results  of  our  investigations  are  as  follows  : 

Number  of  bales  advanced  on  21,624 

Number  of  bales  received  and  shipped. 19,124 

Number  of  bales  not  delivered 2,475 

Number  of  bales  sold,  as  per  account  of  sales  rendered 18,290 

Number  of  bales  unsold  on  account  of  sales  not  received  .  <   , , . , ,      859 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  671 

Amount  advanced  on  21,624  bales $1,209,416  29 

Proceeds,  as  per  account  of  sales,  of  18,290  bales 764,898  62 

Amount  of  reclamation  from  shippers,  subject  to  the  deductions  of 

the  net  proceeds  of  859  bales 504,517  67 

Now,  taken  as  data,  the  proceeds  of  the  same  number  of  bales,  as 
per  account  of  sales  of  cotton  already  sold,  gives  a  credit  to  the 
above,  of , $  25,770  00 

The  probable  amount  of  reclamations 478,747  00 

At  the  session  of  1842,  the  Joint  Examining  Committee  made 
a  report  on  the  condition  of  the  debts  due  the  State  Bank  and 
Branches,  showing  by  classification  the  following  results : 

Total  amount  of  good  debts $  8,852,]  35  80 

Total  amount  of  bad  debts 5,501,493  16 

Total  amount  of  doubtful  debts 2,048,244  81 


Making  the  grand  total $16,401,873  77 

In  the  days  when  the  Banking  System  of  Alabama  had  free 
course,  and  millions  of  currency  were  issued  in  exchange  for  busi 
ness  and  accommodation  paper,  there  was,  at  times,  a  stringency 
in  the  money  market  more  or  less  inconvenient  to  the  people, 
caused  mainly  by  their  large  indebtedness  to  the  Banks,  and  the 
low  price  of  cotton,  which  ranged  from  seven  to  ten  cents  per 
pound.  The  money  borrowed  from  the  Banks  had  been  generally 
invested  in  real  estate  and  labor  at  a  high  figure.  Hence  the 
pressure  when  cotton  was  low,  and  liabilities  urgent  for  property 
purchased  on  credit. 

The  Committee  for  1842,  in  their  report,  made  the  following 
statement  of  the  total  amount  due  from  each  county  to  the  State 
Bank  and  Branches : 

Autauga $482,343  57'Lauderdale , $  260,159  25 

l>lount   169,490  04  Lawrence 909,766  19 

Limestone , 465,343  37 

Lowndes 579,506  70 

Marshall 189,220  86 

Madison 978,481  73 

Morgan 375,985  38 

Marion 66,27930 

Macon 193,835  40 

Marengo 595,383  04 

Mobile 2,740,227  24 

Montgomery 1,222,014  44 

Monroe 175,429  64 


Benton 122,406  60 

Barbour 113,414  36 

Baldwin 34,056  50 

Bibb 121,605  65 

Butler 143,647  75 

Cherokee 28,272  25 

Chambers 99,990  09 

Clarke 209,728  32 

Conecuh 65,614  18 

Coosa 116,725  48 

Covington 4,190  27 

DeKalb , 42,330  99JPerry 471^150  40 

Dale 39,409  40  Pickeus 180,304  58 


Dallas 444,067  92 

Fayette 57,377  24 

Franklin 563,693  08 

Greene 795,73520 

Henry 37,848  63 

Jackson 236,003  81 


Pike 72,064  25 

Randolph 27,428  22 

Russell 70,156  61 

St.  Clair 49,92094 

Shelby 74,540  14 

Sumter 663,915  14 


Jefferson. 87,438  72  Talladega 273,835  20 


672 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 


Tallapoosa $  37,473  96 

Tuskaloosa 626,827  64 

Washington 100,228  61 

Walker 49,929  77 

Wilcox 274,475  86 

University .' 62,500  00 

CottonDebt 351,19014 


State  of  Mississippi $  130,948  04 

State  of  Tennessee, 7,701  20 

State  of  Georgia 7,652  05 

State  of  Pennsylvania, ...  2  00 

Promiscuous 101,510  90 


$16,401,873  77 


At  this  session  all  the  Branch  Banks  were  so  far  placed  in  liquid 
ation  as  to  cease  discounting  paper.  Officers  were  retained  to 
close  up  the  business  and  expedite  the  collection  of  debts.  At 
the  session  of  1843,  Dr.  David  Moore,  of  Madison,  was  Chairman 
of  the  Bank  Committee,  and  from  his  report  the  following  items 
are  derived: 

Debts  collected  during  the  year $1,785,416  79 

Outstanding  circulation   4,319,358  00 

Specie  in  Branch  Banks 624,659  41 

Current  expenses  of  the  Banks 90,831  36 

Paid  on  account  of  valueless  16th  sections 161,25157 

Amount  due  16th  sections 822,440  07 

These  calculations  were  based  on  the  reports  of  the  Bank  Com 
missioners  and  Bank  officers,  which  were  quite  voluminous,  as  re 
ferred  to  the  Committee. 

By  the  act  of  4th  February,  1843,  the  Bank  managers  were  to 
appoint  attorneys  for  the  several  counties,  to  whom  a  commission 
varying  from  five  to  twenty  per  cent,  was  allowed  on  all  collec 
tions  paid  in  Bank.  A  large  portion  of  the  paper  due  the  Banks 
was  accordingly  placed  in  the  hands  of  attorneys  selected  in  the 
different  counties,  whose  names,  with  those  of  debtors,  were  pub 
lished  with  the  Bank  reports.  The  law  also  required  that  the 
indebtedness  of  the  Directors,  and  of  members  of  the  Legislature, 
together  with  the  items  of  expense  in  the  administration  of  the 
Banks,  should  be  published. 

From  the  report  of  the  Commissioners  in  1845,  the  condition 
of  the  State  Bank  is  ascertained,  showing  collections  for  the  year, 
|232,276  03,  with  a  balance  of  unpaid  debts,  $1.572,710  66;  of 
which  amount,  $722,998  17  was  classed  as  good. 

In  1845,  the  outstanding  bonds  of  the  State  for  Bank  capital, 
falling  due  from  1850  to  1866,  with  the  annual  interest  thereon, 
were  thus  stated: 


Issued  to. 

Amount. 

•Annual  Interest. 

State  Bank  

$    708,711  11 

$  36,435  56 

Branch  at  Montgomery  

1,838,711  11 

95,265  56 

3,434,711  11 

175,045  56 

1,357,711  11 

69,785  56 

1,867,711  11 

94,975  56 

Total.  . 

$9,207,555  56 

$471.507  80 

Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  673 

Previous  to  1820,  Congress  passed  an  act  enabling  the  people 
of  the  Alabama  Territory  to  form  a  State  Government,  and  among 
other  provisions  was  a  grant  of  the  16th  section  in  every  township 
for  the  support  of  Common  Schools.  Most  of  these  lands  have 
been  sold,  and  the  proceeds,  cash  and  notes,  deposited  in  the 
Banks,  the  interest  on  which  has  been  paid  to  the  several  counties. 
Of  the  twenty-two  counties  which  had  accounts  in  the  State  Bank, 
five,  having  the  largest  credits,  are  here  noticed : 


Counties. 

School  Fund. 

Annual  Interest. 

1.  Suruter     

$146,717  29 

$8,767  51 

1  .  Greene      

104,929  19 

7,252  17 

8.  Perry  

65,069  93 

4,538  44 

4    Pickens  

49  554  90 

3,603  20 

5.  Tuskaloosa     

45  323  67 

3,472  02 

Total  

$411,394  98 

$27,633  "34 

In  relation  to  this  fund  generally,  as  affording  an  idea  of  its  ex 
tent  in  the  other  Banks,  a  paragraph  from  the  report  of  the  Com 
missioners  of  the  State  Bank  for  1845,  is  subjoined: 

Estimating  each  county  to  contain  nine  hundred  square  miles  (the  Constitu 
tional  minimum),  there  will  be  twenty-five  townships  in  each,  or  16,000  acres  of 
Sixteenth  Sections.  The  twenty-two  counties  named  in  the  table,  at  this  rate, 
have  352,000  acres  of  school  lands,  of  which  206  sections,  or  131,840  acres,  have 
been  sold,  netting  $573,047  47,  at  an  average  of  $4  34  per  acre.  The  unsold  sec 
tions  in  these  counties  are  344,  containing  220,160  acres,  which,  at  the  same  aver 
age,  would  yield  $955,494  40.  This,  added  to  the  account  in  bank,  would  make 
the  sum  of  $1,528,541  87.  If  all  the  counties  in  the  State  sold  their  school  lands 
at  the  same  price,  the  grand  total  would  be  $3,472  00,  for  the  800,000  acres  de 
voted  to  popular  education,  which,  at  six  per  cent.,  would  produce  $208,320  in 
annual  interest. 

An  act  was  passed  4th  February,  1846,  placing  the  State  Bank 
and  Branches  in  the  hands  of  Hon.  Francis  S.  Lyon,  C.  C.  Clay, 
and  William  Cooper,  Commissioners  and  Trustees,  to  control  the 
assets  and  property,  converting  the  same  into  money,  or  State 
bonds,  at  as  early  a  period  as  practicable,  with  an  officer  to  assist 
at  each  institution.  They  appointed  the  following: 

William  Hawn,  for  the  State  Bank  at  Tuskaloosa; 
Henry  B.  Holcombe,  for  the  Branch  Bank  at  Mobile; 
John  Whiting,  for  the  Branch  Bank  at  Montgomery; 
William  Mailler,  for  the  Branch  Bank  at  Decatur; 
Theophilus  Lacy,  for  the  Branch  Bank  at  Huntsville. 

On  the  20th  December,  1847,  the  Trustees  made  their  report 
to  the  Legislature,  from  which  the  following  items  are  obtained : 

Amount  collected  since  4th  of  February,  1846 $3,457,973  54 

Amount  of  Sixteenth  Section  Fund  on  Deposit. 1,015,580  36 

Outstanding  circulation 457,177  00 

43 


674  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

The  Trustees  estimated  the  amount  likely  to  be  realized  from 
the  remaining  assets  and  property  of  the  Banks — 

From  the  Bank  of  the  State,  about $    300,000  00 

From  the  Branch  at  Mobile,  about   1,000,000  00 

From  the  Branch  at  Montgomery,  about 500,000  00 

From  the  Branch  at  Decatur,  about 300,000  00 

From  the  Rranch  at  Huntsville,  about 100,000  00 


Total , $2,200,000  00 

Amid  all  the  fluctuations  of  commerce  and  of  finance,  from  the 
time  the  Banks  suspended  specie  payments,  in  1837,  the  notes  of 
the  State  Bank  and  Branches  have,  except  at  very  short  periods, 
kept  within  a  small  margin  of  specie  value.  That  such  was  the 
fact  in  1847,  an  extract  from  the  report  of  the  Trustees  is  here 
given: 

So  far  from  depreciating,  the  bills,  although  not  convertible  into  specie,  appre 
ciated  in  \alue,  until  they  are,  and  have  been  for  some  time  past,  almost  equal  to 
specie.  They  are  at  a  discount  of  less  than  one  per  cent.  We  were  compelled, 
in  order  to  preserve  their  value,  and  prevent  loss  to  those  who  might  use  them  as 
a  circulation,  to  refuse  to  receive  in  payment  of  Bank  debts  anything  but  gold  or 
silver,  the  bills  of  the  Bank  of  Mobile,  or  of  the  State  Bank  and  Branches. 

Under  the  judicious  administration  of  the  Trustees,  the  affairs 
of  the  Banks  have  been  closed  without  the  loss  of  a  dollar  to  public 
creditors,  or  to  bill  holders.  The  faith  of  the  State  has  been 
maintained  and  its  obligations  promptly  redeemed.  For  many 
years  the  revenue  from  the  Banks  defrayed  the  expenses  of  the 
Government,  thus  relieving  the  people  entirely  from  taxation  for 
the  same  period.  To  claim  for  those  who,  in  the  meantime  con 
trolled  the  Banks,  an  utter  exemption  from  error  and  occasional 
excess  in  dispensing  favors,  is  not  here  pretended.  But,  all  things 
considered,  and  the  influences  frequently  brought  to  bear  upon 
human  weakness,  and  human  sympathy,  it  is  matter  of  gratulation 
that  no  worse  results  have  flowed  from  the  system,  especially  when 
for  each  Bank  more  than  a  dozen  Directors  were  annually  elected 
by  the  Legislature,  often  on  the  log-rolling  principle,  more  or  less 
prevalent  even  in  Congress,  without  the  seal  of  public  condem 
nation. 

As  to  the  substantial  benefits  afforded  to  the  people  by  the  Banks, 
let  the  rich  fields,  and  the  many  improvements  which  place  Ala 
bama  in  the  front  of  agricultural  States,  with  her  cotton  crop  lead 
ing  Southern  production,  proclaim  the  award.  The  wilderness  has 
been  subdued,  the  priceless  cane-brake  region  developed;  cities 
and  towns  have  been  built;  railroads  constructed  in  every  direc 
tion  ;  public  institutions  have  been  munificently  endowed ;  colleges 
and  high-schools  have  been  established;  hospitals  and  asylums 
have  been  organized  for  the  relief  of  humanity;  and  churches, 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  675 

with  their  beautiful  spires  pointing  to  heaven,  abound  through  the 
State.  Much  of  the  prosperity  of  former  years,  when  enterprise 
had  its  stimulus,  doubtless  originated  in  the  timely  aid  of  a  sound 
and  liberal  circulation  furnished  by  the  Banks,  now  swept  from 
existence. 

This  record  is  given  as  a  memorial  of  better  days,  perhaps,  than 
the  present,  in  many  points  of  view;  and  the  retrospect,  if  at 
tended  with  no  profit  or  consolation,  can  at  least  work  no  injury, 
where  circumstances  have  been  so  thoroughly  changed.  As  to 
the  policy  or  impolicy  of  banking  corporations  in  general,  no  judg 
ment  is  here  expressed.  Facts  alone  have  been  introduced,  with 
out  involving  the  specie  feature  in  its  political  aspect. 


CHAPTER  XXXVIII. 

Vice-President  King — His  Public  Services — Testimonials  of  Congress 
and  the  United  States  Supreme  Court,  on  his  death. 

HON.  WILLIAM  RUFUS  KING  was  born  in  Sampson  county, 
North  Carolina,  April  7,  1786.  He  was  first  elected  to  Congress 
from  that  State  in  1810,  and  served  as  a  Representative  until 
1816,  when  he  resigned,  to  accept  the  office  of  Secretary  of  Lega-  • 
tion,  which  had  been  tendered  him;  and  in  that  capacity  he  ac 
companied  the  Hon.  William  Pinkney,  United  States  Minister,  to 
Russia.  Soon  after  his  return  home  he  removed  to  Alabama,  and 
in  1819  was  elected,  from  Dallas  county,  a  delegate  to  the  Con 
vention  which  formed  the  first  Constitution  of  the  State,  to  which 
his  signature  is  attached. 

At  the  first  session  of  the  General  Assembly,  after  Alabama 
was  admitted  as  a  State  in  the  Union,  Col.  King  was  elected  a 
Senator  in  Congress,  which  station  he  continued  to  fill  until  1844, 
when  he  resigned  on  being  appointed  Minister  to  France,  where 
he  remained  until  1847.  In  1848,  Senator  Bagby  resigned,  for 
the  Russian  Embassy  tendered  him  by  President  Polk,  and  Col. 
King  was  appointed,  by  Gov.  Chapman,  to  supply  the  vacancy. 
At  the  next  session  of  the  Legislature  he  was  again  elected  to  the 
Senate,  and  was  holding  the  commission  of  Senator  when  he  was 
elected  Vice-President  of  the  United  States,  in  1852.  In  the 
meantime  his  health  declined  to  such  an  extent  that  his  friends 
advised  him  to  pass  the  Winter  on  the  Island  of  Cuba;  and  while 


676  Remmiscefiices  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

there,  a  messenger  sent  by  the  Government  at  Washington  admin 
istered  to  him  the  oath  of  office.  He  barely  had  strength  to  reach 
his  home,  in  Dallas  county,  Alabama,  where  he  died  in  April, 
1853,  at  the  age  of  sixty-seven  years. 

The  manifestations  of  respect  in  high  official  quarters  will  best 
show  the  character  of  Col.  King.  In  his  annual  message  to  Con 
gress,  in  December.  1853,  President  Pierce  said: 

O  *  *  ' 

Since  the  adjournment  of  Congress,  the  Vice-President  of  the  United  States 
has  passed  from  the  scenes  of  earth,  without  having  entered  upon  the  duties  of 
the  station  to  which  he  had  been  called  by  the  voice  of  his  countrymen.  Having 
occupied,  almost  continuously,  for  more  than  thirty  years,  a  seat  in  one  or  the 
other  of  the  two  Houses  of  Congress,  and  having,  by  his  singular  purity  and  wis 
dom,  secured  unbounded  confidence  and  universal  respect,  his  failing  health  was 
watched  by  the  nation  with  painful  solicitude.  His  loss  to  the  country,  under  all 
the  circumstances,  has  been  justly  regarded  as  irreparable. 

From  the  eulogies  delivered  in  Congress,  all  forming  a  pamphlet 
of  about  sixty  pages,  a  few  brief  passages  are  selected,  as  a  suffi 
cient  memorial.  After  announcing  his  death  to  the  Senate,  and 
specifying  the  qualities  of  Col.  King,  Mr.  Hunter,  of  Virginia, 
said: 

Here,  at  least,  is  a  public  man,  in  whose  life  there  can  be  found  no  instance  of  a 
mean  or  equivocating  action — none  of  a  departure  from  the  self-imposed  restraints 
of  a  refined  and  lofty  sense  of  honor,  and  none  in  which  either  the  fear  of  man 
or  the  seductions  of  ambition  tempted  him  to  a  deed  which  could  destroy  either 
his  own  self-respect  or  the  respect  of  others  for  him.  He  trod  the  difficult  and 
devious  paths  to  political  preferment  long  and  successfully,  snd  yet  he  kept  his 
robes  unsoiled  by  the  vile  mire  which  so  often  pollutes  these  days. 

ME.  EVERETT,  of  Massachusetts,  said : 

Not  claiming,  although  an  acute  and  forcible  debater,  to  rank  with  his  illustri 
ous  contemporaries,  whom  now,  alas !  we  can  mention  to  deplore — with  Calhoun, 
with  Clay,  and  with  Webster  (I  name  them  alphabetically,  and  who  will  presume 
to  arrange  them  on  any  other  principle?) — whose  unmatched  eloquence  so  often 
shook  the  walls  of  this  Senate,  the  late  Vice-President  possessed  the  rare  and 
the  highly-important  talent  of  controlling,  with  impartiality,  the  storm  of  debate, 
and  moderating  between  mighty  spirits,  whose  ardent  conflicts  at  times  seemed  to 
threaten  the  stability  of  the  Republic. 

MR.  DOUGLAS,  of  Illinois : 

Few  men  in  this  country  have  ever  served  the  public  for  so  long  a  period  of 
time,  and  with  a  more  fervent  patriotism  or  unblemished  reputation.  For  forty-five 
years  he  devoted  his  energies  and  talents  to  the  performance  of  arduous  public 
duties — always  performing  his  trust  with  fidelity  and  ability,  and  never  failing  to 
command  the  confidence,  admiration  and  gratitude  of  an  enlightened  constituency. 

MR.  CLAYTON,  of  Delaware : 

The  master-spirits  of  the  time  were  among  the  (Senators  of  that  day  [1829  to 
1834.]  I  speak  not  of  the  living.  But  here,  then,  were  Clay,  Calhoun,  Forsyth, 
Webster,  and  Livingston ;  the  learned  and  laborious  Woodbury ;  the  astute 
Grundy  ;  the  wittv>  sarcastic,  and  ever-ready  Holmes ;  the  classic  Bobbins ;  and. 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  677 

among  many  others  justly  distinguished,  the  graceful  and  accomplished  orator  of 
Carolina,  Robert  Y.  Hayne — 

"  Whose  words  had  such  a  melting  flow, 
And  spoke  of  truth  so  sweetly  well, 
They  dropp'd  like  the  serenest  snow, 
And  all  was  brightness  where  they  fell." 

Oh !  I  could  enumerate,  and  delight  to  dwell  on,  the  virtues  of  them  all,  and 
then  revert  to  him  whose  fame  we  now  commemorate,  as  one  not  inferior  in  integ 
rity  and  honor  to  the  proudest  among  them.  But  these  reminiscences  are  attended 
by  the  mournful  reflection,  that  our  connections  with  them  in  this  world  are 
ended  forever. 

"Around  us,  each  dissever' d  chain 

In  sparkling  ruin  lies, 
And  earthly  hands  can  ne'er  again 
Unite  those  broken  ties!" 

In  the  House,  on  the  same  day,  a  message  was  received  from 
the  Senate,  by  the  hands  of  Asbury  Dickens,  its  Secretary,  as 
follows : 

Resolved,  unanimously,  That  from  respect  to  the  late  WILLIAM  R.  KINO,  Vice- 
President  of  the  United  States,  and  President  of  the  Senate,  the  chair  of  the  Pres 
ident  be  shrouded  with  black  ;  and  as  a  further  testimony  of  respect  for  the  mem 
ory  of  the  deceased,  the  members  of  the  Senate  will  go  into  mourning  by  wearing 
crape  on  the  left  arm  for  thirty  days. 

Ordered,  That  the  Secretary  of  the  Senate  communicate  this  resolution  to  the 
House  of  Representatives. 

MR.  HARRIS,  of  Alabama: 

In  all  those  more  intimate  and  tender  relations  which  bound  him  to  his  friends, 
his  kindred,  and  his  servants,  he  was  all  that  friendship  could  ask,  or  affection 
claim,  or  humanity  and  kindness  enjoin.  While  in  that  higher  and  more  solemn 
relation,  which  he  bore  to  the  Author  of  us  all,  he  was  exact  and  scrupulous  in 
the  discharge  of  all  the  duties  enjoined  by  a  regard  for  the  behests  of  religion; 
and  in  the  closing  scenes  of  life's  fleeting,  final  hour,  he  leaned  with  humble  trust 
upon  the  merits  of  his  Savior. 

"  His  life  was  gentle — and  the  elements 
So  mixed  in  him,  that  Nature  might  stand  up 
And  say  to  all  the  world — 'This  was  a  man!'  " 

MR.  CHANDLER,  of  Pennsylvania: 

The  manners  of  Mr.  King  were  unobtrusive,  retiring,  gentle.  No  appearance, 
no  act,  of  his  could  be  regarded  as  challenging  attention.  He  moved'  among  his 
fellow-men  with  manifestations  of  constant  respect  for  their  rights,  and  their  po-1 
sitions ;  and  among  his  fellow-legislators,  he  was  distinguished  by  that  constant 
deference  to  others,  which  is  the  characteristic  of  modesty  and  available  talents. 
Abroad,  sir,  in  Europe,  he  presented  himself  with  no  demands,  as  a  man,  upon, 
the  consideration  of  others,  and  no  claim  to  distinction  in  the  free  use  of  his  am 
ple  means.  But,  as  the  representative  of  a  nation  of  freemen,  he  claimed  the  re 
gard  which  his  representative  character  challenged,  and  he  maintained  social 
hospitalities  with  the  profusion  which  his  ample  means  warranted,  and  his  gener 
ous  patriotism  suggested. 


678  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

0 

MR.  MILTON  S.  LATHAM,  of  California: 

In  all  that  belonged  to  him  individually,  Mr.  KINO  was  the  very  type  of  an 
American  gentleman.  Free  from  artifice  and  disguise,  his  every  thought  and  in 
stinct  was  chivalric.  Not  to  adventitious  circumstances,  not  to  the  chances  of 
birth  and  fortune,  not  to  the  society  in  which  he  was  thrown,  was  he  indebted  for 
the  distinction  to  which  he  rose  in  public  life,  or  to  the  grace  which  adorned  his 
private  character.  He  never  borrowed  thoughts  or  sentiments  from  others.  His 
mind  and  heart  were  of  American  growth,  while  his  eminent  virtues  served  to 
illustrate  our  National  character. 

MR.  TAYLOR,  of  Ohio: 

I  had  the  pleasure  to  know  him  for  many  years,  as  a  public  man ;  and  to  meet 
him  often  in  the  social  circles  of  this  city.  And  though  we  diifered  widely  upon 
some  of  the  most  important  political  questions  that  have  lately  agitated  the 
country,  I  always  found  him  mingling  moderation  with  firmness,  and  a  proper 
respect  for  the  opinions  of  those  who  differed  with  him. 

HON.  WILLIAM  S.  ASHE,  of  North  Carolina,  who  represented 
the  District  in  which  Col.  KING  was  born,  said : 

Col.  KING  was  sent,  at  an  early  age,  to  the  University  of  North  Carolina,  at 
Chapel  Hill,  which  institution  he  left  in  his  seventeenth  year,  bearing  with  him 
the  happy  consolation  of  having  commanded  the  respect  of  his  professors,  the 
love  and  esteem  of  his  associates.  He  studied  law  with  William  Duffy,  an  emi 
nent  jurist,  residing  in  the  town  of  Fayetteville,  where  he  formed  friendships 
which  he  preserved  with  affection  to  the  day  of  his  death.  On  being  admitted  to 
the  bar,  he  settled  in  his  native  county,  from  which  he  was  returned  the  following 
year  as  a  member  of  the  Legislature.  By  this  body  he  was  elected  Solicitor  for 
the  Wilmington  Judicial  District,  in  which  situation  he  continued  for  two  years. 
He  was  then  again  returned  to  the  Legislature  for  the  years  1808-' 9.  In  the 
year  1810,  he  was  elected  to  the  Congress  of  the  United  States. 

MR.  BENTON  said: 

The  members  who  have  preceded  me  have  stated,  and  well  stated,  the  illustri 
ous  career  of  the  deceased — tracing  his  course  through  a  long  gradation,  always 
rising,  of  public  honors — from  the  General  Assembly  of  his  native  State  to  the 
second  office  of  his  country,  the  Vice-Presidency  of  this  great  Republic. 

To  me  it  only  belongs  to  join  my  voice  to  theirs,  and  to  the  voices  of  all  who 
knew  him,  in  celebrating,  the  integrity  and  purity  of  his  life — the  decorum  of 
his  manners — his  assiduous  and  punctual  attention  to  every  duty,  and  the  ability 
and  intelligence  which  he  brought  to  the  discussion  of  the  National  affairs  during 
his  long  service  oi  thirty  years. 

MR.  PHILLIPS,  of  Alabama: 

I  visited  Washington  for  the  first  time  a  few  years  ago,  and  though  it  has  been 
said  (with  what  truth  I  cannot,  assert)  that  corruption  stalks  here  at  noonday,  it 
was  with  just  pride  as  an  Alabamian,  that  I  learned  from  all  quarters  and  all  par 
ties  that,  through  his  long  service  in  the  public  councils  of  a  quarter  of  a  century, 
he  had  not  only  preserved  his  reputation  intact,  but  freed  even  from  the  breath  of 
suspicion. 

It  was  this  purity  of  character,  joined  to  the  high  qualities  of  a  well-balanced 
mind,  that  enabled  him  to  enjoy,  for  so  long  a  period,  the  confidence  of  the  people 
of  his  own  State,  and  of  the  whole  Confederacy*  r 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  679 

The  question  was  taken,  and  the  resolutions  were  unanimously 
adopted : 

In  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  United  States,  December  9, 1853, 
Mr.  GUSHING,  the  Attorney-General  of  the  United  States,  ad 
dressed  the  Court  in  terms  of  eulogy,  opening  with  the  following 
paragraph : 

May  it  please  your  honors,  I  wish  to  submit  a  motion  which  seems  to  be  called 
for  by  the  subject  matter.  God,  in  his  inscrutible  but  supreme  will,  has  removed 
from  the  service  of  the  country,  and  the  path  of  honor  which,  through  a  long  life 
of  greatness  and  goodness,  he  had  so  nobly  trod,  the  Vice-President  of  the  United 
States.  When  the  voice  of  some  future  panegyrist,  on  the  banks  of  the  Missis 
sippi,  the  Bravo,  or  the  Columbia,  shall  speak  of  the  heroes,  the  legislators,  the 
statesmen,  and  the  magistrates  of  our  country,  as  he  recounts  the  names  borne  on 
that  glorious  roll  of  immortality,  he  cannot  fail  to  pause  with  unalloyed  satisfac 
tion  at  the  name  of  WILLIAM  R.  KING. 

To  which  Mr.  Chief-Justice  TANEY  replied : 

The  Court  is  sensible  that  every  mark  of  respect  is  due  to  flie  memory  of  the 
late  Vice-President,  WILLIAM  R.  KINO. 

His  life  was  passed  in  the  public  service,  and  marked  throughout  it  by  its 
purity,  integrity,  and  disinterested  devotion  to  the  public  good. 

It  is  true,  that  no  part  of  it  connected  him  particularly  with  the  judicial  branch 
of  this  Government.  But  the  people  of  the  United  States  had  elevated  him  to  the 
highest  office  but  one  in  their  gift ;  and  the  loss  of  a  statesman  like  him,  so  hon 
ored,  and  so  worthy  of  the  honor  bestowed,  is  felt  to  be  a  public  calamity  by  this 
department  of  government,  as  well  as  by  that  to  which  he  more  immediately 
belonged.  And  as  a  token  of  their  respect  for  him  while  living,  and  their  sin^- 
cere  sorrow  for  his  death,  the  Court  will  adjourn  to-day  without  transacting  its 
ordinary  business. 

Afte*r  the  extracts,  nothing  remains  to  be  said,  nothing  indeed 
can  be  said,  without  repetition,  relative  to  the  character  of  Col. 
King.  Only  one  fact  need  be  added,  which  has  not  been  referred 
to  in  the  notice  of  his  social  life — he  never  married. 

For  many  years,  the  author  of  this  work  was  honored  with  the 
friendship  and  correspondence  of  Col.  King.  The  following  letter, 
lately  rescued  from  a  collection  of  old  papers,  is  heijp  subjoined,  as 
well  for  the  sentiments  and  the  prophetic  sagacity  disclosed,  as  a 
gratifying  token  of  his  favor : 

WASHINGTON  CITY,  August  16,  1848. 

My  Dear  Sir — I  am  greatly  mortified  that  an  earlier  answer  has  not  been  given 
to  your  very  friendly  letter ;  but  it  was  received  while  I  was  laboring  under  chill 
and  fever,  which  I  had  contracted  at  the  North  by  imprudent  sea-bathing — was 
put  away  by  my  servant,  and  not  found  until  to-day,  when  I  was  arranging  my 
papers  preparatory  to  leaving  the  city. 

I  thank  you  for  the  flattering  terms  in  which  you  express  your  gratification  at 
my  appointment  by  the  Governor.  I  hope  you  are  correct  in  supposing  that  it  will 
meet  with  general  approbation:  for  leaving  out  of  view  all  personal  considera 
tions,  I  should  regret  exceedingly  to  find  that  my  selection  had  in  the  slightest 
degree  impaired  the  well-deserved  popularity  of  my  friend  Chapman.  Is  there 
no  danger  of  this  in  the  Northern  portion  of  our  State?  Will  not  the  disappointed 
aspirants  for  Senatorial  honors  in  that  quarter  unite  in  effort  to  create  sectional 


680  jRemmtscences  of  PMic  Men  in  Alabama. 

jealousy,  and  thus,  if  successful,  not  only  bring  it  to  bear  upon  me,  but  upon  the 
Governor  ?  I  believe  I  am  authorized  to  say  that  the  attempt  will  be  made,  but 
how  far  it  will  succeed  with  an  intelligent  people,  remains  to  be  seen ;  and  I  assure 
you,  in  all  sincerity,  that  I  should  regret  it  more  for  my  friends  than  for  myself. 

To  establish  as  a  rule  that,  residence  is  to  be  considered  an  essential  requisite 
to  entitle  an  individual  to  the  support  of  the  Legislature,  for  the  high  and  respon 
sible  station  of  United  States  Senator,  I  have  ever  considered  as  ridiculous.  Sena 
tors  should  be  chosen  for  their  intelligence,  information,  integrity,  and  correct 
political  principles;  and  reside  where  they  may  within  the  limits  of  the  State, 
they  will  consider  themselves — as  they  are  in  fact — representatives  of  the  whole 
State,  and  not  of  a  section.  Far  be  it  from  me  to  intimate  that  there  are  not  gen 
tlemen  residing  in  the  northern  portion  of  Alabama  who  possess,  in  a  much  higher 
degree  than  myself,  the  requisite  qualifications  for  the  able  discharge  of  the  duties 
of  the  station,  and  should  such  a  one  be  preferred,  I  shall  be  the  last  to  complain ; 
while  I  am  free  to  declare  that  I  should  think  great  injustice  would  be  done 
both  to  myself  and  to  the  State,  if  an  inferior  man  should  be  preferred,  because 
of  his  residence. 

The  manifest  determination  of  a  large  majority  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  non- 
slaveholding  States  to  prohibit  the  extension  of  slavery,  by  excluding  it  from  the 
Territories,  the  common  property  of  all  the  States,  threatens  consequences  the 
most  alarming.  The  end  none  can  foresee,  and  the  purest  are  forced  to  doubt  the 

permanency  of  the  Union.     That is  fanning  the  flames  of 

discord  to  gratify  his  ambition  or  revenge ;  and  should  he  succeed  in  building  up 
a  geographical  party  capable  of  controlling  the  action  of  the  Government,  I  for 
one  will  be  forced  to  the  conclusion  that  the  days  of  the  Republic  are  numbered. 

The  election  of  General  Cass  may,  and  I  think  will,  force  a  compromise  of  this 
agitating  question ;  hence,  it  seems  to  me,  that  every  Southern  man  who  loves  his 
country,  and  would  preserve  inviolate  its  institutions,  should  give  a  decided  sup 
port  to  Cass  and  Butler has  learned  to  his  cost  that  his 

disorganizing  attempts  found  no  favor  with  the  Democracy ;  and  further,  that  he 
h#s  been  deserted,  if  not  denounced,  by  those  who  patted  him  on  the  back,  and 
urged  him  forward  in  his  mad  career,  so  soon  as  they  found  he  was  frowned  down 
by  an  indignant  people. 

I  do  not  expect  to  see  you  before  October,  as  my  health  is  not  good,  and  I  pro 
pose  to  visit  some  of  the  watering  places  for  its  restoration.  If,  however,  I  could 
suppose  that  there  was  any  necessity  for  exertion  to  secure  the  vote  of  Alabama 
to  the  Democratic  nominees,  no  consideration  should  prevent  me  from  returning 
without  delay,  to  unite  with  my  brethren  in  sustaining  the  good  cause.  But  no 
such  necessity  exists ;  and  whatever  hopes  inspire  the  Whigs  by  the  defection  of 
the  few  professing  Democrats,  they  will,  I  trust,  find  that  Alabama  will  be  the 
Banner  State  next  November. 

Present  my  kindest  regards  to  my  friends,  Benson  and  Graham.  Faithfully, 
your  friend  and  obedient  servant, 

WILLIAM  R.  KING. 

WM.  GARRETT,  Esq. 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  681 


CHAPTER  XXXIX. 

William  Loumdes   Yancey — His  Public  Life  and  Character. 

The  gentleman  whose  name  heads  this  chapter  was  a  native  of 
South  Carolina,  born  August  10,  1814.  His  father,  the  Hon. 
Benjamin  C.  Yancey,  studied  law  in  Baltimore,  in  the  office  of 
Robert  Goodloe  Harper,  a  celebrated  lawyer  and  statesman.  He 
afterward  settled  in  Abbeville  District,  and,  in  1808,  married 
Miss  Caroline  Bird,  of  Georgia.  He  was  elected  to  the  Legisla 
ture,  in  1812,  and  was  appointed  Aid  to  Gov.  Alston,  with  the 
rank  of  Colonel.  In  1814,  he  was  of  the  Committee  of  two  who 
examined  George  McDuffie  and  John  Belton  O'Neall,  for  admis 
sion  to  the  bar.  Both  of  these  gentlemen  became  eminent  in 
their  profession ;  the  former  serving  as  a  Representative  in  Con 
gress,  from  1821  to  1835,  and  in  the  United  States  Senate  from 
1843  to  1849,  after  having  been  Governor  of  South  Carolina; 
Judge  O'Neal  1  was,  for  a  long  period,  a  member  of  the  Legisla 
ture,  and  then  President  of  the  Law  Court  of  Appeals  and  the 
Court  of  Errors.  In  1859,  he  published  "Biographical  Sketches 
of  the  Bench  and  Bar  of  South  Carolina,"  in  which  the  public 
services,  fine  debating  powers,  professional  character,  and  the  fear 
less  qualities  of  Mr.  B.  C.  Yancey  are  noticed  with  much  eulogy. 
These  traits  were  inherited  by  his  son.  In  closing  the  sketch, 
(vol.  ii,  p.  324,)  Judge  O'Neall  says: 

Mr.  Yancey  was  remarkable  for  his  courage.  He  showed  it  in  early  youth,  in 
the  affair  with  the  French  frigate,  and  in  all  after  life.  He  was  courteous  as 
brave;  I  never  saw  him  rude  in  court  or  in  the  Legislature.  He  died,  [1817]  as 
it  were,  in  the  morning  of  life,  and  the  tears  of  the  State  were  shed  upon  his 
early  grave.  He  was  mourned  by  his  widow,  and  two  sons,  William  L.  Yancey, 
now  of  Montgomery,  Alabama,  and  Benjamin  C.  Yancey,  now  the  United  States 
Minister  to  the  Argentine  Republic. 

These  preliminary  observations  on  his  parentage  are  not  made 
with  a  view  to  give  strength  to  the  character  of  Mr.  W.  L.  Yancey, 
beyond  his  own  merits,  but  are  merely  intended  to  account,  in  a 
natural  way,  for  that  decision  and  force  of  will  which  distinguished 
him  through  life.  The  narrative  is  now  resumed. 

After  completing  his  education,  Mr.  Yancey  came  to  Alabama 
about  the  year  1836,  and  engaged  in  planting  in  Dallas  county. 
He  also  edited  for  a  while  the  "  Cahawba  Democrat."  Thence  he 
settled  in  Wetumpka,  and  took  charge  of  the  "Argus,"  a  Demo- 


682  JHeminwcentes  of  Public  Men  m  Alabama. 

cratic  paper,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar.     He  soon  obtained  a 
good  practice,  and  his  course  was  onward. 

He  was  a  delegate  in  the  Democratic  Convention  of  December, 
1840,  to  organize  the  party,  after  its  National  defeat  for  the  Pres 
idency,  and  was  among  the  leading  debaters  in  that  body  of  able 
men,  of  which  Col.  Isaac  W.  Hayne,  then  of  Montgomery,  was  a 
member,  and  who,  a  few  years  thereafter,  returned  to  his  native 
South  Carolina,  of  which  State  he  Has  been  many  years  the 
Attorney-General. 

In  1841,  Mr.  Yancey  was  elected  to  the  House  from  Coosa,  and 
in  1843,  he  was  returned  to  the  Senate  from  the  District  composed 
of  Coosa  and  Autauga  counties,  over  his  competitor,  W.  W.  Morris, 
Esq.  In  1844,  he  resigned,  and  canvassed  for  the  seat  in  Con 
gress  vacated  by  the  Hon.  Dixon  H.  Lewis,  who  had  received  the 
Executive  appointment  of  United  States  Senator.  In  this  con 
test  Mr.  Yancey  was  successful  over  Henry  C.  Lea,  Esq.  During 
the  session  of  Congress  for  1844-75,  some  personal  remarks  were 
passed  in  the  House  between  Mr.  Yancey  and  the  Hon.  Thomas  L. 
Clingman,  of  North  Carolina,  in  which  a  call  to  the  field  of  honor, 
and  a  hostile  meeting  was  the  result.  After  an  exchange  of  shots 
without  injury  to  either  party,  a  reconciliation,  at  the  instance  of 
mutual  friends,  took  place,  and  they  returned  to  Washington — the 
personal  honor  of  each  gentleman  having  been  fully  vindicated  by 
the  proceedings. 

In  1845,  Mr.  Yancey  was  reflected  to  Congress,  but  resigned 
his  seat  in  1846,  to  engage  in  the  law  partnership  of  Elmore  & 
Yancey  at  Montgomery.  In  1848,  he  was  a  delegate  to  the  Demo 
cratic  Convention  at  Baltimore,  which  nominated  Gen.  Cass  for  the 
Presidency.  Dissatisfied  with  the  platform  of  principles  adopted 
by  that  Convention,  he  withdrew,  and  stood  aloof  during  the  con 
test.  The  moral  influence  of  such  a  position,  by  a  gentleman  occu 
pying  the  high  ground  he  did,  had  a  damaging  effect  upon  the 
party,  and,  for  the  time,  modified  his  relations  to  it.  While  the 
heated  contest  of  1849,  for  Congress,  was  progressing  between 
Messrs.  Hilliard  and  Pugh,  Mr.  Yancey  entered  the  list,  warmly 
for  the  latter,  who,  however,  was  defeated.  In  the  times  of  1851, 
he  ranked  as  a  "fire-eater,"  and  being  dissatisfied  with  the  plat 
forms  of  both  the  great  parties,  in  1852,  especially  upon  the  Com 
promise  Measures  of  1850,  he  refused  to  vote  for  either  nominee 
for  President,  preferring  to  support  a  Southern  ticket  composed  of 
Troup  and  Quitman,  for  the  first  and  second  offices  in  the  Union. 

In  1856,  all  dissentions  had  been  quieted,  and  he  was  in  full 
accord  with  the  Democratic  party,  and  was  at  the  head  of  the 
Electoral  ticket  which  cast  the  vote  of  Alabama  for  Mr.  Buchanan. 
In  1859,  it  was  understood  that  he  desired  a  seat  in  the  United 
States  Senate,  and  at  the  session  of  the.  Legislature  that  year,  a 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabamct.  683 

canvass  was  prosecuted  in  his  behalf,  against  Gov.  Fitzpatrick,  in 
view  of  the  election  two  years  in  advance  of  the  end  of  his  term. 
But  the  resolution,  to  bring  on  this  election  was  defeated  in  the 
Senate,  and  thus  terminated  the  exciting  canvass. 

In  the  Winter  of  1859,  the  State  Democratic  Convention  assem 
bled  to  provide  for  representation  in  the  Charleston  Convention, 
of  April,  1860.  Mr.  Yancey  was  placed  at  the  head  of  the  dele 
gation,  with  a  platform  suited  to  his  views,  and  which  was  exten 
sively  circulated  and  read  at  that  time,  and  the  failure  to  adopt 
which,  by  the  National  Convention,  resulted  in  its  disruption, 
and  in  the  formation  of  another  party,  which  was  fully  con 
summated  at  Baltimore  in  June,  1860,  whither  the  Convention 
adjourned.  Mr.  Yancey  had  become  a  leading  spirit  in  the  South 
ern  movement,  and  was  sent  to  Baltimore,  where  he  exerted  a 
controlling  influence  in  shaping  and  directing  the  mighty  events 
of  that  period.  His  transcendent  ability  as  a  speaker  caused  him 
to  enter  largely  in  the  contest,  by  yielding  to  the  request  of 
friends  from  Boston  to  Memphis. 

The  Legislature,  at  its  session  in  1859,  having  provided  for  the 
call  of  a  State  Convention,  to  take  such  course  as  might  be  neces 
sary  for  the  honor  of  the  State,  and  for  the  security  of  the  rights 
of  the  people,  in  the  event  of  the  election  of  a  sectional  candidate 
to  the  Presidency  in  1860,  and  that  contingency  having  occurred, 
Mr.  Yancey  was,  in  December,  1860,  elected  a  delegate  to  the 
State  Convention  of  January,  1861,  and  was  Chairman  of  the 
Committee,  in  that  body,  which  reported — 

AN  ORDINANCE  TO  DISSOLVE  TIIK  UNION  BETWEEN  THE  STATE  OF  ALABAMA  AND 
OTHER  STATES  UNDER  THE  COMPACT  "THE  CONSTITUTION  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES 
OF  AMERICA." 

WHEREAS,  The  election  of  Abraham  Lincoln  and  Hannibal  Hamlin  to' the  offices 
of  President  and  Vice-President  of  the  United  States  of  America,  by  a  sectional 
party  avowedly  hostile  to  the  domestic  institutions,  and  to  the  peace  and  security 
of  the  people  of  the  State  of  Alabama,  preceded  by  many  and  dangerous  infrac 
tions  of  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States  by  many  of  the  States  and  people 
of  the  Northern  section,  is  a  political  wrong  of  so  insulting  and  menacing  a  char 
acter  as  to  justify  the  people  of  the  State  of  Alabama  in  the  adoption  of  prompt 
and  decided  measures  for  their  future  peace  and  security;  therefore, 

Be  it  declared  and  ordained  by  the  people  of  the  State  of  Alabama,  in  Convention 
assembled,  That  the  State  of  Alabama  now  withdraws,  and  is  hereby  withdrawn, 
from  the  Union  known  as  "the  United  States  of  America,"  and  is,  and  of  right 
ought  to  be,  a  soverign  and  independent  State. 

SEC.  "2.  Be  it  further  declared  and  ordained,  by  the  people  of  the  State  of  Alabama 
in  Convention  assembled,  That  all  the  powers  over  the  territory  of  said  State,  and 
over  the  people  thereof,  heretofore  delegated  to  the  Government  of  the  United 
States,  be.  and  they  are,  hereby  withdrawn  from  said  Government,  and  are 
hereby  resumed  and  vested  in  the  people  of  the  State  of  Alabama. 

Be  it  Resolved  by  the  people  of  Alabama  in  Convention  assembled,  That  the  people 
of  the  States  of  Delaware,  Maryland,  Virginia,  North  Carolina,  South  Carolina, 
Florida,  Georgia,  Mississippi,  Louisiana,  Texas,  Arkansas,  Tennessee,  Kentucky, 
and  Missouri,  be  and  are  hereby  invited  to  meet  the  people  of  the  State  of  Ala 
bama,  by  their  delegates,  in  Convention,  on  the  4th  day  of  February,  A.  D,  1861, 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

at  the  city  of  Montgomery,  in  the  State  of  Alabama,  for  the  purpose  of  consult 
ing  with  each  other  as  to  the  most  effectual  mode  of  securing  concerted  and 
harmonious  action  in  whatever  measures  may  be  deemed  most  desirable  for  our 
common  peace  and  security. 

And  be  it  further  Resolved,  That  the  President  of  this  Convention  be,  and  is 
hereby,  instructed  to  transmit  forthwith,  a  copy  of  the  foregoing  preamble,  ordi 
nance,  and  resolutions,  to  the  Governors  of  the  several  States  named  in  said  reso 
lutions. 

Done  by  the  people  of  the  State  of  Alabama,  in  Convention  assembled  at  Mont 
gomery,  on  this,  the  eleventh  day  of  January,  A.  D.  1861. 

The  preamble,  ordinance,  and  resolutions,  were  adopted,  by 
ayes  61,  nays  39. 

It  will  be  no  disparagement  to  any  member  of  the  Convention 
when  it  is  said  that  Mr.  Yancey  was  the  master  spirit,  towering 
above  all  others,  in  the  boldness  of  his  conceptions,  in  the  energy 
of  his  measures,  and  in  the  splendid  gifts  of  argumentative  elo 
quence.  He,  of  course,  took  an  active  part  in  the  proceedings 
and  debates. 

As  Chairman,  he  made  a  report  from  the  Committee  of  Thir 
teen,  upon  the  formation  of  a  Provisional  and  Permanent  Govern 
ment  between  the  seceding  States.  Besides  his  speech  on  that 
subject,  and  on  the  merits  of  secession,  he  delivered  speeches 
more  or  less  elaborate  on  a  variety  of  reports,  motions  and  amend 
ments,  all  tending  to  perfect  the  system  of  Government  which  he 
advocated.  He  also  made  speeches  on  the  proposition  to  send 
Commissioners  to  Washington  City;  on  the  navigation  of  the 
Mississippi  River;  and  on  the  African  slave  trade. 

Soon  after  the  organization  of  the  Government  of  the  Confed 
erate  States,  President  Davis,  in  March,  1861,  appointed  Mr. 
Yancey  a.  Commissioner  to  England  and  France,  to  procure  from 
those  governments  terms  of  recognition.  Failing  in  this  object, 
after  visiting  Europe,  he  returned  in  the  Summer  of  1862,  and 
soon  thereafter  took  his  seat  in  the  Confederate  States  Senate,  at 
Richmond,  to  which  he  had  been  elected  by  the  Legislature  of 
Alabama.  He  occupied  the  position  at  the  time  of  his  death, 
which  occurred  at  his  residence,  near  Montgomery,  in  July,  1863, 
in  the  forty-ninth  year  of  his  age. 

Seldom  has  so  much  of  history  been  crowded  into  twenty-two 
years  of  civil  service.  It  is  not  my  province  to  determine,  or  to 
pass  judgment  on  the  many  grave  questions  which  for  years  occu 
pied  the  minds  of  men,  under  the  lead  or  inspiration  of  Mr.  Yan 
cey.  In  his  political  career,  he  was  regarded  by  many  as  erratic 
and  speculative,  rather  than  practical,  and  by  others  his  course  was 
looked  upon  as  wholly  indefensible,  though  none  questioned  his 
great  intellectual  superiority,  or  his  patriotism.  The  character  of 
the  measures  for  which  he  contended  as  a  Southern  man,  may  form 
a  topic  of  inquiry  for  the  future  historian,  when  the  passions  of 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  685 

men  shall  have  subsided,  and  the  facts  and  influences  shall  be 
grouped  by  an  impartial  judgment.  No  such  task  can  be  success 
fully  performed  at  present,  and  nothing  of  the  kind  will  be  here 
attempted.  As  a  man  of  splendid  gifts  he  has  left  a  record  which 
will  descend  to  other  generations. 

As  an  orator,  Mr.  Yancey  ranked  among  the  first  men  of  his 
day,  and  from  the  Halls  of  the  Legislature,  to  the  great  array  in 
Congress,  in  the  Charleston  and  Baltimore  Conventions — in  every 
deliberative  body  in  which  he  took  part,  he  was  a  man  of  mark. 
Still,  however,  to  some  extent,  he  was  regarded  as  an  unsafe  leader, 
and,  for  a  long  time,  men  hesitated  to  follow  his  counsels,  until 
1860,  when  his  commanding  eloquence,  and  advocacy  of  the  rights 
of  the  South,  and  denunciation  of  the  wrongs  inflicted  upon  it  by 
the  North,  in  the  language  of  his  Slaughter  letter,  fired  the  public 
heart,  and  plunged  the  cotton  States  into  revolution : 

MONTGOMERY,  June  15,  1858. 

Dear  Sir — Your  kind  favor  of  the  15th  is  received.  I  hardly  agree  with  you 
that  a  general  movement  can  be  made  that  will  clear  out  the  Augean  stables.  If 
the  Democracy  were  overthrown,  it  would  result  in  giving  place  to  a  greater  and 
hungrier  swarm  of  flies.  The  remedy  of  the  South  is  not  in  such  a  process;  it  is 
in  a  diligent  organization  of  her  true  men  for  prompt  resistance  to  the  next  aggres 
sion.  It  must  come  in  the  nature  of  things.  No  national  party  can  save  us — no 
sectional  party  can  ever  do  it ;  but  if  we  could  do  as  our  fathers  did,  organize 
committees  of  safety  all  over  the  cotton  States — and  it  is  only  in  them  that  we 
can  hope  for  an  effective  movement — we  shall  fire  the  Southern  heart,  instruct  the 
Southern  mind,  give  courage  to  each  other,  and  at  the  proper  moment,  by  one  or 
ganized,  concerted  action,  we  can  precipitate  the  cotton  States  into  a  revolution. 

The  idea  has  been  shadowed  forth  in  the  South  by  Mr.  Ruflin — has  been  taken 
up  and  recommended  in  the  "Advertiser"  under  the  name  of  "League  of  United 
Southerners,"  who,  keeping  up  their  old  party  relations  on  all  other  questions, 
will  hold  the  Southern  issue  paramount,  and  will  influence  parties,  Legislatures, 
and  statesmen.  I  have  no  time  to  enlarge,  but  to  suggest  merely. 

W.  L.  YANCEY. 

JAMES  S.  SLAUGHTER,  Esq. 

I  heard  Mr.  Yancey  make  his  great  argument  for  the  South,  at 
the  Charleston  Convention.  He  and  the  Hon.  George  E.  Pugh, 
United  States  Senator  from  Ohio,  were  selected  by  the  respective 
wings  of  the  Democratic  party,  as  their  representatives  upon  the 
rostrum,  and  they  both  addressed  the  Convention  in  set  speeches 
of  two  hours  each.  It  was  truly  a  contest  of  giants.  Mr.  Yancey 
had  the  advantage  of  a  Southern  audience,  but  Mr.  Pugh  com 
manded  and  received  a  respectful  hearing.  Mr.  Yancey,  while 
rich  in  his  pathetic  appeals  ibr  justice  to  the  South,  was  massive 
in  argumentation,  and  like  a  thunderbolt  in  denouncing  what  he 
considered  aggression  and  bad  faith  on  the  part  of  Northern 
fanatics.  In  style  and  temperament  Mr.  Pugh  was  more  subdued, 
and  more  on  his  guard,  having  taken  lessons  as  a  public  speaker 
in  the  Senate  of  the  United  States,  which,  at  one  time,  was  the 
most  dignified  legislative  body  in  the  world.  Although  addressing 


686  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

a  Southern  audience  which  was  under  the  full  inspiration  pro 
duced  by  the  speech  of  Mr.  Yancey,  the  Ohio  orator  came  fully 
up  to  the  mark  of  an  able  statesman  in  the  quality  and  manner  of 
his  arguments.  At  all  times  his  style  was  chaste  and  classical, 
and  occasionally  it  was  most  ornate  and  captivating.  It  is  seldom 
that  two  such  men  have  met  each  other  in  the  forum  of  debate. 

As  the  proceedings  at  the  Charleston  Convention  were  remark 
able,  before  a  satisfactory  platform  could  be  adopted  for  the  Na 
tional  Democracy,  and  as,  after  a  spirited  session  of  ten  days,  it 
adjourned  without  making  a  nomination  for  President,  and  then 
reassembled  at  Baltimore  in  two  separate  wings,  with  two  distinct 
nominations  for  President  and  Vice-President,  I  think  the  public 
mind  and  wishes  will  be  consulted,  in  giving  an  outline  of  the 
doctrines,  creeds,  and  abstractions  insisted  upon  in  that  able  assem 
blage  of  Northern  and  Southern  politicians,  all  professedly,  and 
no  doubt,  honestly,  endeavoring  to  uphold  the  true  democratic 
principles  of  the  Government.  As  the  question  of  slavery  in  one 
shape  or  other  produced  all  the  dissensions,  and  as  it  ultimately 
led  to  the  war  of  1861-'65,  no  details  could  be  more  interesting 
to  those  who  wish  to  review  the  action  of  that  period,  or  to  those 
persons  of  another  generation  who,  will  naturally  feel  curious  to 
know  the  facts,  and  the  ground  taken  by  the  respective  actors  in 
the  preliminary  drama.  Mr.  Yancey  having  been  identified  with 
the  whole  movement  from  1850,  no  place  could  be  more  suitable 
to  introduce  it,  than  these  pages  on  his  life  and  character. 

The  Convention  at  Charleston  met  in  the  Hall  of  the  South 
Carolina  Institute,  on  Monday,  April  23,  1860 — about  three  hun 
dred  and  three  delegates  being  entitled  to  seats,  to  correspond  with 
the  number  of  Senators  and  Kepresentatives  in  Congress,  with 
the  right  of  each  State  to  cast  its  quota  on  all  questions  submitted 
to  a. general  vote.  Thirty-two  States  appeared  to  be  represented 
when  the  first  vote  was  taken  by  States,  which  was  on  a  call  for 
the  previous  question  on  a  resolution  to  appoint  two  Committees, 
one  of  which  related  to  the  conflicting  claims  for  seats  of  two  del 
egations  from  Illinois  and  New  York — yeas  244,  nays  54.  The 
next  vote  showed  yeas  259,  nays  44;  in  all  303.  Portions  of  the 
Journal  of  the  Convention  will  be  referred  to,  in  which  the  names 
of  a  few  delegates  appear,  with  such  other  passages  as  are  deemed 
pertinent. 

On  the  Committee  for  permanent  organization,  consisting  of  one 
from  each  State,  A.  B.  Meek  was  appointed  for  Alabama.  The 
officers,  reported  on  the  second  day,  were,  the  Hon.  CALEB  CUSH- 
ING,  of  Massachusetts,  for  President  of  the  Convention,  and  a 
Vice-President  and  Secretary  to  each  State — Robert  G.  Scott, 
formerly  of  Virginia,  and  N.  H.  R.  Dawson,  for  those  positions 
from  Alabama.  On  being  conducted  to  the  Chair,  as  the  presiding 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  687 

officer,  Mr.  Gushing  delivered  a  brief  address,  of  which  the  fol 
lowing  is  an  extract: 

Gentlemen,  you  come  here  from  the  green  hills  of  the  Eastern  States — from 
the  rich  States  of  the  imperial  centre — from  the  sun-lighted  plains  of  the  South — 
from  the  fertile  States  of  the  mighty  basin  of  the  Mississippi— from  the  golden 
shores  of  the  distant  Oregon  and  California  [loud  cheers]  :  you  have  come  hither 
in  the  exercise  of  the  highest  functions  of  a  free  people — to  participate,  to  aid,  in 
the  selection  of  the  future  rulers  of  the  Republic.  You  do  this  as  the  represent 
atives  of  the  party — of  that  great  party  of  the  Union,  whose  proud  mission  it  has 
been,  whose  proud  mission  it  is,  to  maintain  the  public  liberties — to  reconcile  pop 
ular  freedom  with  constituted  order — to  maintain  the  sacred,  reserved  rights  of 
the  sovereign  States  [loud  and  long  applause] — to  stand,  in  a  word,  the  perpetual 
sentinels  on  the  outposts  of  the  Constitution.  [Loud  cheers.]  Ours,  gentlemen, 
is  the  motto  inscribed  on  that  scroll  in  the  hands  of  the  monumental  statue  of 
the  great  statesman  of  South  Carolina — "Truth,  Justice,  and  the  Constitution!" 
[Loud  cheers.]  Opposed  to  us  are  those  who  labor  to  overthrow  the  Constitution, 
under  the  false  and  insidious  pretense  of  supporting  it ;  those  who  are  aiming  to 
produce  in  this  country  a  permanent  sectional  conspiracy  of  one-half  of  the  States 
of  the  Union  against  the  other  half;  those  who,  impelled  by  the  stupid  and  half- 
insane  spirit  of  faction  and  fanaticism,  would  hurry  our  land  on  to  revolution  and 
to  civil  war.  These,  the  banded  enemies  of  the  Constitution,  it  is  the  part,  the 
high  and  noble  part  of  the  Democratic  party,  to  withstand — to  strike  down  and  to 
conquer!  Aye!  that  is  our  part,  and  we  will  do  it;  in  the  name  of  our  dear  coun 
try,  with  the  help  of  God,  we  will  do  it.  [Loud  cheers.]  Aye,  we  will  do  it — for, 
gentlemen,  we  will  not  distrust  ourselves;  we  will  not  despair  of  the  genius  of  our 
country;  we  will  continue  to  repose,  with  undoubting  faith,  in  the  good  Provi 
dence  of  Almighty  God. 

A  Committee  on  Resolutions  and  Platform,  consisting  of  one 
delegate  from  each  State,  was  appointed,  on  which  Alabama  was 
represented  by  John  Erwin,  Esq. 

At  the  suggestion  of  Mr.  Ewing,  of  Tennessee,  it  was  agreed 
that  the  several  resolutions  be  referred  to  the  Committee  on  Plat 
form,  Judge  Meek,  of  Alabama,  presented  to  the  Convention 
the  Platform  of  his  State,  which  was  referred,  under  the  rule. 

On  the  fourth  day,  a  number  of  resolutions  were  offered,  read, 
and  referred  to  the  Committee  on  Platform. 

I.  By  MR.  FITZHUGH,  of  Virginia : 

Resolved,  That  the  rendition  of  fugitive  slaves  and  other  property,  by  one  State 
to  another  is  a  right  secured  by  the  laws  of  nations,  recognized  by  the  Colonies 
and  the  mother-country  previous  to  the  Declaration  of  Independence,  by  the 
courts  of  Great  Britain,  and  by  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  United  States,  and  by 
the  law  and  courts  of  all  civilized  nations,  and  a  fortiori  is  a  duty  of  the  States  of 
this  Confederacy,  under  the  Constitution  and  laws. 

Resolved,  That  the  refusal  of  the  Governors  of  the  several  States  to  deliver  up 
fugitives  from  justice,  and  fugitive  slaves,  is  an  open  and  palpable  violation  of  the 
above  national  and  international  law,  and  the  Constitution  and  laws  of  the  United 
States,  constituting  official  perjury  by  such  Governors  as  have  evaded  or  refused 
to  perform  this  duty,  and,  if  persevered  in,  must  lead  to  the  severance  of  the 
Union. 

II.  By  MR.  HUGHES,  of  Pennsylvania : 

Resolved,  That,  while  recognizing  the  docrine  that  the  General  Government  has 
no  power  to  create  in,  or  exclude  from,  by  legislation,  any  species  of  property  in 


688  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

any  State  or  Territory,  yet  we  maintain  that  it  is  the  duty  of  that  Government  to 
provide  the  Courts  with  ample  process  and  ministerial  officers  for  the  protection 
and  enforcement  of  any  existing  right,  or  the  correction  of  any  wrong,  over 
which  said  Government,  under  the  Constitution,  has  jurisdiction. 

III.  By  ME.  BROWNE,  of  Pennsylvania: 

Resolved,  That  the  citizens  of  the  several  States,  when  emigrating  into  a  Fed 
eral  Territory,  retain  the  right  to  slave  and  other  property  which  they  may  take 
with  them,  until  there  is  some  prohibition  by  lawful  authority;  and  that,  as  de 
clared  by  the  Supreme  Court,  Congress  cannot  interfere  with  such  right  in  a  Ter 
ritory,  nor  can  a  Territorial  Legislature  do  so  until  authorized  by  the  adoption  of 
a  State  Constitution  ;  and  that  the  attempted  exercise  of  such  a  function  by  a  Ter 
ritorial  Legislature  is  unconstitutional,  and  dangerous  to  the  peace  of  the  Union. 

MR.  WALKER,  of  Alabama,  offered  an  additional  resolution,  by 
way  of  amendment,  which  was  accepted  by  Mr.  Browne,  as  follows : 

Resolved,  That  it  is  the  duty  of  the  Federal  Government,  in  all  its  departments, 
within  their  constitutional  sphere,  to  afford  adequate  protection  and  equal  advan 
tage  to  all  descriptions  of  property  recognized  as  such  by  the  laws  of  any  of  the 
States,  as  well  within  the  Territories  as  upon  the  high  seas,  and  every  place  subject 
to  its  exclusive  power  of  legislation. 

IV.  By  MR.  WALL,  of  Tennessee,  as  the  platform  advocated 
by  that  State: 

Be  it  resolved,  That  we  hereby  affirm  the  principles  in  the  platform  of  the  Dem 
ocratic  party,  adopted  in  Convention  at  Cincinnati,  in  June,  1856,  and  that  we 
hold  them  to  be  a  true  exposition  of  our  doctrines  on  the  subjects  embraced. 

Resolved,  That  the  views  expressed  by  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  United  States 
in  the  decision  of  the  case  of  "Dred  Scott,"  are,  in  our  opinion,  a  true  and  clear 
exposition  of  the  powers  reposed  in  Congress  upon  the  subject  of  the  Territories 
of  the  United  States,  and  the  rights  guarantied  to  the  residents  in  the  Territories. 

Resolved,  That  the  States  of  the  Confederacy  are  equals  in  political  rights ;  each 
State  has  the  right  to  settle  for  itself  all  questions  of  internal  policy.  •  The  right  to 
have  or  not  to  have  slavery,  is  one  of  the  prerogatives  of  self-government.  The 
States  did  not  surrender  this  right  to  the  Federal  Constitution,  and  Tennessee  will 
not  do  so  now. 

Resolved,  That  the  Federal  Government  has  no  power  to  interfere  with  slavery 
in  the  States,  nor  to  introduce  or  exclude  it  from  the  Territories,  and  no  duty  to 
perform  in  relation  thereto,  but  to  protect  the  rights  of  the  owner  from  wrong, 
and  to  restore  fugitives  from  labor.  These  duties  it  cannot  withhold  without  a 
violation  of  the  Constitution. 

Resolved,  That  the  organization  of  the  Republican  party  upon  strictly  sectional 
principles,  and  its  hostility  to  the  institution  of  slavery,  which  is  recognized  by 
the  Constitution,  and  which  is  inseparably  connected  with  the  social  and  indus 
trial  pursuits  of  the  Southern  States  of  this  Confederacy,  is  war  upon  the  princi 
ples  of  the  Constitution,  and  upon  the  rights  of  the  States. 

Resolved,  That  the  late  treasonable  invasion  of  Virginia  by  an  organized  band 
of  Republicans,  was  the  necessary  result  of  the  doctrines,  teachings,  and  princi 
ples  of  that  party;  and  the  beginning  of  the  "irrepressible  conflict"  of  Mr.  Sew- 
ard ;  was  a  blow  aimed  at  the  institution  of  slavery  by  an  effort  to  excite  a  servile 
insurrection;  was  war  upon  the  South,  and  as  such  it  is  the  duty  of  the  South  to 
prepare  to  maintain  its  rights  under  the  Constitution. 

Resolved,  That  if  this  war  upon  the  Constitutional  rights  of  the  Southern  States 
is  persisted  in,  it  must  soon  cease  to  be  a  war  of  words.  If  the  Republican  party 
would  prevent  a  conflict  of  arms,  let  them  stand  by  the  Constitution,  and  fulfil  its 
obligations.  We  ask  nothing  more — we  will  submit  to  nothing  less. 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama,  689 

V.  By  MR.  WOLFE,  of  Indiana: 

Resolved,  That  the  Federal  Government  has  no  power  to  interfere  with  slavery 
in  the  States,  nor  to  introduce  or  exclude  it  from  the  Territories,  and  no  duty  to 
perform  in  relation  thereto,  except  to  faithfully  enforce  the  Fugitive  Slave  Law, 
and  all  the  decisions  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  United  States  in  regard  to  all 
the  rights  of  the  people  of  every  State  and  Territory  under  the  Constitution  of 
the  United  States. 

VI.  By  MR.  GLENN,  of  Mississippi: 

1.  A  citizen  of  any  State  in  the  Union  way  emigrate  to  the  Territories  with  his 
property,  whether  it  consists  of  slaves  or  any  other  subject  of  personal  ownership. 

2.  So  long  as  the  territorial  condition  exists,  the  relation  of  master  and  slave 
is  not  to  be  disturbed  by  Federal  or  Territorial  legislation,  and  if  so  disturbed, 
the  Federal  Government  must  furnish  ample  protection  therefor. 

8.  Whenever  a  Territory  shall  b«i  entitled  to  admission  into  the  Union  as  a 
State,  the  inhabitants  may,  in  forming  their  Constitution,  decide  for  themselves 
whether  it  shall  authorize  or  exclude  slavery. 

VII.  By  MR.  MOUTON,  of  Louisiana: 

Resolved,  That  the  Territories  of  the  United  States  belong  to  the  several  States 
as  common  property,  and  not  to  the  individual  citizens  thereof;  that  the  Federal 
Constitution  recognizes  property  in  slaves,  and  as  such,  the  owner  thereof  is  enti 
tled  to  carry  his  slaves  into  any  Territory  of  the  United  States,  and  hold  them  as 
property.  And  in  case  the  people  of  Territories,  by  inaction,  unfriendly  legisla 
tion,  or  otherwise,  should  endanger  the  tenure  of  such  property,  or  discriminate 
against  it  by  withholding  that  protection  given  to  this  species  of  property  in  the 
Territories,  it  is  the  duty  of  the  General  Government  to  interpose,  by  an  active 
exertion  of  its  Constitutional  powers,  to  secure  the  rights  of  slave-holders. 

VIII.  By  MR.  GREENFIELD,  of  Kentucky : 

Resolved,  That  it  is  the  duty  of  the  National  Government  to  provide,  by  law, 
for  paying  for  such  fugitives  from  labor  as,  by  the  interposition  of  State  authori 
ties,  the  owners  thereof  may  be  prevented  from  recovering  under  the  Fugitive 
Slave  Law. 

IX.  By  MR.  STOUT,  of  Oregon: 

Resolved,  That  to  preserve  the  Union,  the  equality  of  the  States  must  be  main 
tained,  and  every  branch  of  the  Federal  Government  should  exercise  all  their 
Constitutional  powers  for  the  protection  of  persons  and  property. 

X.  By  MR.  McCoNNELL,  of  Illinois : 

Resolved,  That  the  Federal  Government  has  no  power  to  interfere  with  slavery 
in  the  States,  or  to  introduce  it  or  exclude  it  from  the  Territories,  and  has  no 
duty  to  perform  in  relation  thereto,  except  to  secure  the  rights  of  the  owner  by  a 
return  of  the  fugitive  slave,  as  provided  by  the  Constitution. 

XI.  By  MR.  SEWARD,  of  Georgia: 

Resolved,  That  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States  extends  .to  the  several 
States,  and  to  every  citizen,  the  full  protection  of  person  and  property  in  all  the 
States  and  Territories ;  and  that  these  rights,  as  declared  and  determined  by  the 
courts  under  the  Constitution,  are  to  be  respected  and  maintained  by  the  Govern 
ment  of  the  United  States  ;  and  that  James  Guthrie,  of  Kentucky,  be  the  nomjnee 
fit  the  Democratic  party  for  President  of  the  United  States,  on  this  platform, 

44 


690  JBemtmawnaa  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

At  this  point,  when  resolutions  on  slavery,  on  a  railroad  to  the 
Pacific,  on  a  tariff  for  protection,  came  pouring  in  rapidly,  occupy 
ing  much  time  in  the  reading,  Mr.  Pugh,  of  Ohio,  moved  that 
every  resolution  be  presented  directly  to  the  Committee,  without 
being  read  in  the  Convention;  which  motion  prevailed. 

The  two  following  resolutions,  already  in  possession  of  the 
Chair,  were  then  read  and  referred: 

XII.  By  ME.  BROOKS,  of  Alabama: 

Resolved,  That  is  the  duty  of  the  Federal  Government,  by  proper  treaty  stipu 
lations  with  Great  Britain,  to  secure  the  return  to  their  owners  of  fugitive  slaves 
from  Canada. 

XIII.  By  MR.  WEST,  of  Connecticut: 

Resolved,  That  we  fully  indorse  the  Cincinnati  Platform,  passed  by  the  Demo 
cratic  Convention  in  1856,  and  we  hereby  sustain  and  maintain  the  same,  and  the 
Constitution  of  the  United  States,  as  interpreted  by  the  Supreme  Court. 

On  the  fifth  day  of  the  Convention,  reports  were  made  from 
majorities  and  minorities  of  the  Committee  on  Resolutions,  on 
which  action  was  had  not  necessary  to  be  here  noticed.  The  Jour 
nal  states  that,  in  the  afternoon  session,  "Mr.  Yancey,  of  Ala 
bama,  addressed  the  Convention  at  length  in  exposition  of  resolu 
tions  adopted  by  the  State  of  Alabama,"  and  that  athe  debate  was 
continued  by  Mr.  Pugh,  of  Ohio,  when  the  Convention  took  a 
recess." 

On  the  sixth  day,  Mr.  BIGLER,  of  Pennsylvania,  moved  to  re 
commit  the  majority  and  minority  reports,  including  the  second 
minority  report  of  Mr.  B.  F.  Butler,  of  Massachusetts,  on  which 
he  moved  the  previous  question;  pending  which  Mr.  COCHRANE, 
of  New  York,  rose  to  a  point  of  order,  for  the  purpose  of  amend 
ing  the  instructions  to  the  Committee,  requiring  them  to  report 
as  follows: 

Resolved,  That  the  several  States  of  the  Union  are,  under  the  Constitution, 
equal,  and  that  the  people  thereof  are  entitled  to  the  free  and  undisturbed  posses 
sion  and  enjoyment  of  their  rights  of  person  and  property  in  the  common  Terri 
tories,  and  that  any  attempt  by  Congress,  or  a  Territorial  Legislature,  to  annul, 
abridge,  or  discriminate  against  any  such  equality  of  rights,  would  be  unwise  in 
policy,  and  repugnant  to  the  Constitution ;  and  that  it  is  the  duty  of  the  Federal 
Government,  whenever  such  rights  are  violated,  to  afford  the  necessary,  proper, 
and  Constitutional  remedies  for  such  violations. 

Resolved,  That  the  platform  of  principles  adopted  by  the  Convention  held  in 
Cincinnati  in  1856,  and  the  foregoing  resolution,  are  hereby  declared  to  be  the 
Platform  of  the  Democratic  party. 

The  call  for  the  previous  question  was  sustained  by  a  vote  of 
302  yeas  to  1  nay — the  State  of  Maryland  casting  the  single  neg 
ative  vote.  The  vote  was  then  taken  by  States,  on  the  motion  to 
recommit  only,  and  carried — yeas  152,  nays  151.  After  several 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  691 

explanations  by  the  Chair  on  motions  made,  the  resolutions  of 
Mr.  BIGLER,  instructing  the  Committee,  were  laid  on  the  table, 
by  a  vote  of  242  yeas — 56  nays.  In  the  afternoon  session,  re 
ports  were  made  by  the  Committee  on  Resolutions  from  the  ma 
jority  and  minority  each. 

At  the  morning  session  of  Monday,  the  seventh  day  of  the 
Convention,  the  first  vote  taken  was  on  .the  amendment  of  Mr. 
Butler,  which  was  lost — yeas  105,  nays  198.  The  question  then 
recurred  on  adopting  the  minority  report  presented  by  Mr.  SAM 
UELS,  of  Iowa.  [See  Democratic  Platform,  affirmed  at  Baltimore, 
originally  adopted  at  Charleston.] 

On  the  question  being  asked  by  Mr.  RANDALL,  of  Pennsylva 
nia,  how  many  names  were  attached  to  the  several  reports,  Mr. 
BUTLER  replied  that  seventeen  had  signed  the  majority  report, 
four  had  agreed  with  him  in  his  report,  and  eleven  had  agreed  to 
the  report  of  Mr.  SAMUELS. 

The  vote  was  then  declared,  and  the  minority  resolutions  were 
adopted — yeas  165,  nays  138. 

The  question  then  was  on  adopting  the  report  as  amended,  when 
Mr.  Butler  moved  for  a  division  of  the  question,  so  as  to  take  the 
vote  on  the  first  proposition  to  adopt  the  Cincinnati  platform  first. 
At  this  stage,  the  Journal  says  that  "Mr.  ASHE,  of  North  Carolina, 
made  an  earnest  appeal  to  the  North  to  pause  before  consummating 
this  action.  It  could  but  lead  to  division  and  ruin;  for  as  a  repre 
sentative  6f  North  Carolina  he  could  not  remain  in  the  Convention 
if  this  platform  was  adopted.'7 

Many  points  of  order  were  then  taken,  and  motions  to  lay  on 
the  table  were  made  and  lost.  Finally,  the  vote  was  taken  on 
adopting  the  preamble  of  the  minority  report,  and  the  resolution 
to  abide  by  the  decision  of  the  Supreme  Court,  relative  to  slavery 
in  the  Territories,  when  the  preamble  and  resolution  were  re 
jected — yeas  21,  nays  238.  On  this  question,  the  States  of  Geor 
gia,  Florida,  Alabama,  Louisiana,  Mississippi,  and  Arkansas,  did 
not  vote.  The  other  resolutions,  in  addition  to  the  Cincinnati 
platform,  were  then  adopted. 

Tjo  introduce  here  certain  documents  from  Alabama,  copies  are 
made  from  the  Journal  of  the  Convention : 

After  debate,  Mr.  WALKER,  of  Alabama,  obtained  the  floor,  and  presented  the 
following  paper  to  the  Convention — 

To  the  Hon.  Caleb  Gushing,  President  of  the  Democratic  National  Convention,  now  in 

session  in  the  City  of  Charleston,  South  Carolina  : 

The  undersigned  delegates,  representing  the  State  of  Alabama  in  this  Conven 
tion,  respectfully  beg  leave  to  lay  before  your  honorable  body  the  following  state 
ment  of  fact's — 

On  the  eleventh  day  of  January,  1860,  the  Democratic  party  of  the  State  of 
Alabama  met  in  Convention,  in  the  city  of  Montgomery,  and  adopted,  with  singular 
unanimity,  a  series  of  resolutions  herewith  submitted : 


692          ,    Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

"RESOLUTIONS    OF   THE   DEMOCRATIC   STATE   CONVENTIO*N. 

"  1.  Resolved  by  the  Democracy  of  the  State  of  Alabama,  in  Convention  assembled, 
That  holding  all  issues  and  principles  upon  which  they  have  heretofore  affiliated 
and  acted  with  the  National  Democratic  party,  to  be  inferior  in  dignity  and  im 
portance  to  the  great  question  of  slavery,  they  content  themselves  with  a  general 
re-affirmance  of  the  Cincinnati  Platform  as  to  such  issues,  and  also  indorse  said 
platform  as  to  slavery,  together  with  the  following  resolutions — 

"2.  Resolved  further,  That  we  reaffirm  so  much  of  the  first  resolution  of  the 
platform  adopted  in  Convention  by  the  Democracy  of  this  State,  on  the  8th  of  Jan 
uary,  1856,  as  relates  to  the  subject  of  slavery,  to-wit:  'The  unqualified  right  of 
the  people  of  the  slaveholding  States  to  the  protection  of  their  property  in  the 
States,  in  the  Territories,  and  in  the  wilderness  in  which  Territorial  Governments 
are  yet  unorganized.' 

"3.  Resolved  further,  That  in  order  to  meet  and  clear  away  all  obstacles  to  a  full 
enjoyment  of  this  right  in  the  Territories,  we  reaffirm  the  principles  of  the  9th 
resolution  of  the  platform  adopted  by  the  Democracy  of  this  State  on  the  14th  of 
February,  1848,  to-wit:  <That  it  is  the  duty  of  the  General  Government,  by  all 
proper  legislation,  to  secure  an  entry  into  those  Territories  to  all  the  citizens  of 
the  United  States,  together  with  their  property  of  every  description,  and  that  the 
same  should  remain  protected  by  the  United  States  while  the  Territories  are  under 
its  authority.' 

"4.  Resolved  further,  That  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States  is  a  compact  be 
tween  sovereign  and  co-equal  States,  united  upon  the  basis  of  perfect  equality  of 
rights  and  privileges. 

"5.  Resolved  further,  That  the  Territories  of  the  United  States  are  common  prop 
erty,  in  which  the  States  have  equal  rights,  and  to  which  the  citizens  of  every 
State  may  rightfully  emigrate  with  their  slaves  or  other  property,  recognized  as 
such  in  any  of  the  States  of  the  Union,  or  by  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States. 

"  6.  Resolved  further,  That  the  Congress  of  the  United  States  has  no  power  to 
abolish  slavery  in  the  Territories,  or  to  prohibit  its  introduction  into  any  of  them. 

"7.  Resolved  further,  That  the  Territorial  Legislatures,  created  by  the  Legisla 
tion  of  Congress,  have  no  power  to  abolish  slavery,  or  to  prohibit  the  introduction 
of  the  same,  or  to  impair,  by  unfriendly  legislation,  the  security  and  full  enjoy 
ment  of  the  same  within  the  Territories;  and  such  constitutional  power  does  not 
belong  to  the  people  of  the  Territories  in  any  capacity,  before,  in  the  exercig  e  of 
a  lawful  authority,  they  form  a  Constitution  preparatory  to  admission  as  a  State 
into  the  Union ;  and  their  action  in  the  exercise  of  such  lawful  authority  certainly 
can  not  operate  to  take  effect  before  their  actiial  admission  as  a  State  into  the  Union. 

"8.  Resolved  further,  That  the  principles  enunciated  by  Chief  Justice  Taney,  in 
his  opinion  in  the  Dred  Scott  case,  deny  to  the  Territorial  Legislature  the  power 
to  destroy  or  impair,  by  any  legislation,  whatever,  the  right  of  property  in  slaves, 
and  maintain  it  to  be  the  duty  of  the  Federal  Government,  in  all  of  its  depart 
ments,  to  protect  the  rights  of  the  owner  of  such  property  in  the  Territories ;  and 
the  principles  so  declared  are  hereby  asserted  to  be  the  rights  of  the  South,  and 
the  South  should  maintain  them. 

"9.  Resolved  further,  That  we  hold  all  of  the  foregoing  propositions  to  contain 
cardinal  principles,  true  in  themselves,  and  just  and  proper,  and  necessary  for  the 
safety  of  all  that  is  dear  to  us,  and  we  do  hereby  instruct  our  delegates  to  the 
Charleston  Convention  to  present  them  for  the  calm  consideration  and  approval  of 
that  body,  from  whose  justice  and  patriotism  we  anticipate  their  adoption. 

"10.  Resolved  further,  That  our  delegates  to  the  Charleston  Convention  are 
hereby  expressly  instructed  to  insist  that  said  Convention  shall  adopt  a  platform 
of  principles,  recognizing  distinctly  the  rights  of  the  South,  so  asserted  in  the 
foregoing  resolutions ;  and  if  the  said  National  Convention  shall  refuse  to  adopt, 
in  substance,  the  propositions  embraced  in  the  preceding  resolutions,  prior  to  nom 
inating  candidates,  our  delegates  to  said  Convention  are  hereby  positively  instructed 
to  withdraw  therefrom. 

"11.  Resolved  further,  That  our  delegates  to  the  Charleston  Convention  shall  cast 
the  vote  of  Alabama  as  a  unit,  and  a  majority  of  our  delegates  shall  determine  how 
the  vote  Qf  the  State  shall  be  given. 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  693 

"12.  Resolved  further,  That  the  Executive  Committee,  to  consist  of  one  from 
each  Congressional  District,  shall  be  appointed,  whose  duty  it  shall  be,  in  the  event 
our  delegates  withdraw  from  the  Charleston  Convention,  in  obedience  to  the  10th 
resolution,  to  call  a  Convention  of  the  Democracy  of  Alabama,  to  meet  at  an  early 
day,  to  consider  what  is  best  to  be  done." 

Under  these  resolutions  the  undersigned  received  their  appointment,  and  par 
ticipated  in  the  action  of  this  Convention. 

By  the  resolution  of  instruction — the  tenth  in  the  series — we  were  directed  to 
insist  that  the  platform  adopted  by  this  Convention  should  embody  "in  substance," 
the  propositions  embraced  in  the  preceding  resolutions,  prior  to  nominating  candi 
dates. 

Anxious,  if  possible,  to  continue  our  relations  with  this  Convention,  and  thus 
to  maintain  the  nationality  of  the  Democratic  party,  we  agreed  to  accept  as  the 
substance  of  the  Alabama  platform,  either  of  the  two  reports  submitted  to  this 
Convention  by  a  majority  of  the  Committee  on  Resolations — this  majority  repre 
senting  not  only  a  majority  of  the  States  of  the  Union,  but  also  the  only  States 
likely  to  be  carried  by  the  Democratic  party  in  the  Presidential  election. 

[Here  is  annexed  to  Mr.  "Walker's  statement  a  copy  of  the  first 
and  second  majority  reports,  which  had  been  indorsed  in  the  Com 
mittee  on  Resolutions  by  every  Southern  State;  but  it  had  been  the 
pleasure  of  the  Convention,  by  an  almost  exclusive  sectional  vote, 
to  adopt  a  platform  which  did  not  embody  the  principles  of  the 
Alabama  resolutions.  This  platform  is  substantially  that  adopted 
at  Charleston,  and  readopted  at  Baltimore,  Front  Street  Theater.] 

The  points  of  difference  between  the  Northern  and  Southern 
Democracy  are  thus  stated  in  a  communication  to  the  President  of 
the  Convention: 

1st.  As  regards  the  status  of  slavery,  as  a  political  institution,  in  the  Territories, 
whilst  they  remain  in  the  Territories,  and  the  power  of  the  people  of  a  Territory 
to  exclude  it  by  unfriendly  legislation. 

And  2d.  As  regards  the  duty  of  the  Federal  Government  to  protect  the  owner  of 
slaves  in  the  enjoyment  of  his  property  in  the  Territory,  so  long  as  they  remain  such. 
This  Convention  has  refused,  by  the  platform  adopted,  to  settle  either  of  these 
propositions  in  favor  of  the  South.  We  deny  to  the  people  of  a  Territory  any 
power  to  legislate  against  the  institution  of  slavery :  and  we  assert  th^t  it  is  the 
duty  of  the  Federal  Government,  in  all  its  departments,  to  protect  the  owner  of 
slaves  in  the  enjoyment  of  his  property  in  the  Territories.  These  principles,  as 
we  state  them,  are  embodied  in  the  Alabama  Platform. 

Here,  then,  is  a  plain,  explicit,  and  direct  issue  between  this  Convention  and 
the  constituency  we  have  the  honor  to  represent  in  this  body.  Instructed,  as  we 
are,  not  to  waive  this  issue,  the  contingency,  therefore,  has  arisen  when,  in  our 
opinion,  it  becomes  our  duty  to  withdraw  from  this  Convention. 

We  beg,  sir,  to  communicate  this  fact  through  you,  and  to  assure  the  Conven 
tion  that  we  do  so  in  no  spirit  of  an<;er,  but  under  a  sense  of  imperative  obliga 
tion — properly  appreciating  its  responsibilities,  and  cheerfully  submitting  to  its 
consequences. 

L.  P.  WALKER,  Chairman.  JOHN  W.  PORTIS,  P.  0.  HARPER, 

F.  S.  LYON,  F.  G.  NORMAN,  R,  CHAPMAN, 

JOHN  A.  WINSTON,  J.  C.  GUILD,  ROBERT  G.  SCOTT, 

H.  D.  SMITH,  JULIUS  C.  B.  MITCHELL,  THOMAS  B.  COOPER, 

W.  L.  YANCEY,  G.  G.  GRIFFIN,  PEYTON  G.  K£NG, 

D.  W.  BAINE,  J.  T.  BRADFORD,  J.  R.  BREARE, 

N.  H,  R.  DAWSON,  T.  J.  BURNETT,  W.  GARRETT, 

R.  M.  PATTON,  A.  G.  HENRY,  A.  W.  DILLARD, 

JOHN  ERWIN,  W.  C.  SHERROD,  A.  B.  MEEK, 

W.  G.  McIVER,  WILLIAM  M.  BROOKS,     M.  J.  BULGER, 

LEWIS  L.  CATO,  [Delegate  appointed,  but  not  participating  in  the  Convention.] 


694 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 


Judge  MEEK  offered  the  following  resolution,  which  was  unan 
imously  adopted : 

Resolved,  That  in  the  event  the  Alabama  delegation  should  withdraw  from  the 
Convention,  no  delegate,  or  any  other  person,  shall  thenceforward  have  any  au 
thority  to  represent  Alabama  upon  the  floor  of  this  Convention,  or  to  cast  the 
vote  of  Alabama  therein ;  and  that  our  Chairman  be  instructed  to  so  inform  said 
Convention. 

Then  followed  in  succession  the  protests  against  the  action  of 
the  majority  in  adopting  the  platform,  and  the  withdrawal  from 
the  Convention  of  the  delegates  from  Mississippi,  Louisiana, 
South  Carolina,  Florida,  Texas,  and  Arkansas.  A  majority  of  the 
delegates  from  Georgia  (26)  also  withdrew — ten  remaining,  who, 
under  instructions  from  home  to  cast  the  vote  of  the  State  as  a 
unit,  were  ruled  by  the  Chair  as  not  entitled  to  vote. 

The  two-thirds  rule  of  the  whole  number  of  Electoral  votes 
(303)  in  the  Union,  having  been  adopted,  and  202  declared  nec 
essary  to  a  nomination  for  President  of  the  United  States,  the 
Convention,  at  the  afternoon  session  of  the  eighth  day,  May  1st, 
proceeded  to  ballot  for  the  first  time,  when  Mr.  Caldwell,  of  Ken 
tucky,  placed  JAMES  GUTHRIE,  in  nomination.  Mr.  Patrick,  of 
California,  placed  DANIEL  S.  DICKINSON  in  nomination.  Mr. 
Russell,  of  Virginia,  presented  the  name  of  ROBERT  M.  T.  HUN 
TER.  Mr.  Ewing,  of  Tennessee,  presented  the  name  of  ANDREW 
JOHNSON;  and  Mr.  Stevens,  of  Oregon,  the  name  of  Gen.  JO 
SEPH  LANE.  The  first  ballot  resulted  as  follows : 


Douglas .145^  Dickinson 7 

Hunter 42    Lane .. 6 

Guthrie 35£  Toucey 2.V 

Johnson 12    Davis li 

Pierce  1 

On  the  eighth  and  ninth  days,  there  were  fifty-seven  ballots 
had,  without  a  choice,  the  last  being,  for — 

Douglas 151£!Hunter 16 

Guthrie , 65 \  Lane 14 

Dickinson 4    Davis 1 

When  the  Convention  met  on  the  tenth  day,  Mr.  Russell,  of 
Virginia,  offered  the  following  resolution : 

Resolved,  That  when  this  Convention  adjourns  to-day  it  adjourns  to  meet  in 
Baltimore  on  the  18th  day  of  June,  in  order  to  afford  the  States  that  are  not  now 
represented  an  opportunity  to  fill  up  their  delegations. 

Which  was  adopted  by  166  yeas,  to  88  nays.  Gen.  SPEATT 
proposed  three  cheers  for  the  National  Democracy,  which  were 
given  enthusiastically.  The  Journal  says: 

MR.  GUSHING,  the  President,  then  addressed  the  Convention,  remarking  that, 
notwithstanding  the  deep  and  conflicting  interests  involved,  he  might  say  that  no 


Heminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  (J95 

Convention  having  such  immense  interests  at  stake  ever  sat  for  so  great  a  length 
of  time  with  the  observance  of  so  great  a  share  of  order,  and  freedom  from  per 
sonalities  or  ofl'eiisive  language.  He  had  endeavored  most  impartially  and  hon 
estly  to  fulfil  the  duties  of  the  Chair,  and  if,  in  the  excitement  of  the  moment,  he 
had  been  led  to  use  any  abrupt  language  to  gentlemen,  he  humbly  apologized. 

He  regarded  this  Convention  as  not  only  having  in  its  destiny  the  permanence 
of  the  Democratic  party,  but  the  question  whether  these  United  States  should 
continue  and  endure.  He  would  not,  however,  relinquish  the  hope  that  the  Union 
would  continue  on  to  eternity,  and  he  felt  confident  the  Convention  would  adjourn 
to-day  with  the  determination  to  do  all  in  their  power  to  restore  harmony  and 
confidence. 

The  Convention  then  adjourned  about  one  o'clock. 

These  proceedings  at  Charleston  are  given  a  place  here,  because 
it  is  believed  they  form  a  very  important  chapter  in  history,  and 
because  Mr.  Yancey  was  a  prominent  actor  from  the  first  to  the 
last  of  the  movement,  since  1850,  to  secure  what  he  conceived  to 
be  the  rights  of  the  South,  through  Federal  legislation.  The 
attempt  of  the  Democratic  party  to  adopt  a  system  of  political 
ethics  which  should  harmonize  the  North  and  the  South  in  the 
Presidential  election  of  1860,  on  the  basis  of  the  Constitution, 
was  laudable  in  itself,  and  it  is  to  be  much  regretted  that  dissen 
sions  arose  in  that  party  which  so  greatly  impaired  its  strength 
that  the  sceptre  of  authority  was  wrested  from  it,  with  the  worst 
of  consequences — a  dissevered  Union  and  perhaps  a  military 
despotism. 

That  the  ancient  landmarks,  and  the  new  innovations,  just  as 
taste  or  policy  may  determine  them,  may  appear  on  record,  it  is, 
deemed  proper  to  include  here  all  the  political  platforms  of  1860, 
the  last  battles  of  the  forum  and  the  pen,  to  be  succeeded  by  bat 
tles  of  a  sanguinary  character  in  1861.  Those  who  desire  such 
information  in  a  connected  shape  will  no  doubt  be  gratified  at  the 
opportunity  of  receiving  it,  even  though  it  should  extend  the 
chapter  devoted  to  Mr.  Yancej  beyond  the  usual  limits  of  biog 
raphies  in  this  work. 

THE  REPUBLICAN  PLATFORM,  ADOPTED  AT  CHICAGO,  MAY,  18GO. 

Resolved,  That  we,  the  delegated  representatives  of  the  Republican  Electors  of 
the  United  States,  iu  Contention  assembled,  in  the  discharge  of  the  duty  we  owe 
to  ourselves  and  to  our  country,  unite  in  the  following  declarations : 

1.  That  the  history  of  the  nation  during  the  last  four  years  has  fully  estab 
lished  the  propriety  and  necessity  of  the  organization  and  perpetuation  of  the  Re 
publican  party,  and  that  the  causes  which  called  it  into  existence  are  permanent 
in  their  nature,  and  now,  more  than  ever  before,  demand  its  peaceful  and  consti 
tutional  triumph. 

'2.  That  the  maintainance  of  the  principles  promulgated  iu  the  Declaration  of 
Independence,  and  embodied  in  the  Federal  Constitution,  is  essential  to  the  pre 
servation  of  our  republican  institutions;  that  the  Federal  Constitution,  the  rights 
of  the  States,  and  the  Union  of  the  States,  must  and  shall  be  preserved ;  and  that 
.  we  reassert  "these  truths  to  be  self-evident,  that  all  men  are  created  equal;  that 
they  are  endowed  by  their  Creator  with  certain  unalienable  rights ;  that  among 
these  are  life,  liberty,  and  the  pursuit  of  happiness.  That  to  secure  these  rights, 


696  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

governments  are  instituted  among  men,  deriving  their  just  powers  from  the  con 
sent  of  the  governed." 

3.  That  to  the  Union  of  the  States  this  nation  owes  its  unprecedented  increase 
in  population;  its  surprising  development  of  material  resources;  its  rapid  aug 
mentation  of  wealth ;  its  happiness  at  home,  and  honor  abroad ;  and  we  hold  in 
abhorrence  all  schemes  for  disunion,  come  from  whatever  source  they  may ;  and 
we  congratulate  the  country  that  no  Republican  member  of  Congress  has  uttered 
or  countenanced  a  threat  of  disunion,  so  often  made  by  Democratic  members  of 
Congress,  without  rebuke,  and  with  applause  from  their  political  associates ;  and 
we  denounce  those  threats  of  disunion,  in  case  of  a  popular  overthrow  of  their  as 
cendency,  as  denying  the  vital  principles  of  a  free  government,  and  as  an  avowal 
of  contemplated  treason,  which  it  is  the  imperative  duty  of  an  indignant  people 
strongly  to  rebuke  and  forever  silence. 

4.  That  the  maintainance  inviolate  of  the  rights  of  the  States,  and  especially 
the  rights  of  each  State,  to  order  and  control  its  own  domestic  institutions,  ac 
cording  to  its  own  judgment  exclusively,  is  essential  to  the  balance  of  power  on 
which  the  perfection  and  endurance  of  our  political  faith  depends,  and  we  de 
nounce  the  lawless  invasion  by  armed  force  of  any  State  or  Territory,  no  matter 
under  what  pretext,  as  among  the  gravest  of  crimes. 

6.  That  the  present  Democratic  Administration  has  far  exceeded  our  worst  ap 
prehensions  in  its  measureless  subserviency  to  the  exactions  of  a  sectional  interest, 
as  is  especially  evident  in  its  desperate  exertions  to  force  the  infamous  Lecompton 
Constitution  upon  the  protesting  people  of  Kansas — in  construing  the  personal  re 
lation  between  master  and  servant  to  involve  an  unqualified  property  in  persons — 
in  its  attempted  enforcement  everywhere,  on  land  and  sea,  through  the  interven 
tion  of  Congress  and  the  Federal  Courts,  of  the  extreme  pretensions  of  a  purely 
local  interest,  and  in  its  general  and  unvarying  abuse  of  the  power  intrusted  to  it 
by  a  confiding  people. 

6.  That  the  people  justly  view  with  alarm  the  reckless  extravagance  which  per 
vades  every  department  of 'the  Federal  Government;  that  a  return  to  rigid  econ 
omy  and  accountability  is  indispensable  to  arrest  the  system  of  plunder  of  the 
public  treasury  by  favored  partisans ;  while  the  recent  startling  developments  of 
fraud  and  corruption  at  the  Federal  metropolis,  show  that  an  entire  change  of  ad 
ministration  is  imperatively  demanded. 

7.  That  the  new  dogma,  that  the  Constitution  of  its  own  force  carries  slavery 
into  any  or  all  the  Territories  of  the  United  States,  is  a  dangerous  political  heresy, 
at  variance  with  the  explicit  provisions  of  that  instrument  itself,  with  cotempora- 
neous  exposition,  and  with  legislative  and  judicial  precedent,  is  revolutionary  in 
its  tendency,  and  subversive  of  the  peace  and  harmony  of  the  country. 

8.  That  the  normal  condition  of  the  territory  of  the  United  States  is  that  of 
freedom  ;•  that  as  cur  republican  fathers,  when  they  had  abolished  slavery  in  all 
our  National  territory,  ordained  that  no  person  should  be  deprived  of  life,  liberty, 
or  property,  without  the  process  of  law,  it  becomes  our  duty,  by  legislation, 
whenever  such  legislation  is  necessary,  to  maintain  this  provision  of  the  Constitu 
tion  against  all  attempt  to  violate  it ;  and  we  defy  the  authority  of  Congress,  of  a 
Territorial  Legislature,  or  of  any  individuals,  to  give  legal  existence  to  slavery  in 
any  Territory  of  the  United  States. 

9.  That  we  brand  the  recent  reopening  of  the  African  slave  trade,  under  the 
cover  of  our  National  Flag,  aided  by  perversions  of  judicial  power,  as  a  crime 
against  humanity,  a  burning  shame  to  our  country  and  age,  and  we  call  upon 
Congress  to  take  prompt  and  efficient  measures  for  the  total  and  final  suppression 
of  that  execrable  traffic. 

10.  That  in  the  recent  vetoes  by  their  Federal  Governors  of  the  acts  of  the 
Legislatures  of  Kansas  and  Nebraska,  prohibiting  slavery  in  those  Territories,  we 
find  a  practical  illustration  of  the  boasted  Democratic  principle  of  non-interven 
tion  and  popular  sovereignty,  embodied  in  the  Kansas  and  Nebraska  bill,  and  a 
denunciation  of  the  deception  and  fraud  involved  therein. 

11.  That  Kansas  should  of  right  be  immediately  admitted  as  a  State  under  the 
Constitution  recently  formed  and  adopted  by  her  people,  and  accepted  by  the 
House  of  Representatives. 


Reminiscences  of  PMic  Men  In  Alabama.  697* 

12.  That  while  providing  revenue  for  the  support  of  the  General  Government 
by  duties  upon  imposts,  sound  policy  requires  such  an  adjustment  of  these  im 
posts  as  to  encourage  the  development  of  the  industrial  interests  of  the  whole 
country,  and  we  commend  the  policy  of  National  exchanges,  which  secures  to  the 
working  men  liberal  wages,  to  agriculture  remunerating  prices,  to  mechanics  and 
manufacturers  an  adequate  reward  for  their  skill,  labor  and  enterprise,  and  to  the 
nation  commercial  prosperity  and  independence. 

13.  That   we  protest  against  any  sale,  or  alienation  to  others,  of  the  public 
lands  held  by  actual  settlers,  and  against  any  view  of  the  free  homestead  policy, 
which  regards  the  settlers  as  paupers,  or  supplicants  for  public  bounty,  and  we 
demand  the  passage  by  Congress   of   the  complete  and  satisfactory  homestead 
measure  which  has  already  passed  the  House. 

14.  That  the  Republican  party  is  opposed  to  any  change  in  our  naturalization 
laws,  or  any  State  legislation  by  which  the  rights  of  citizenship  hitherto  accorded 
to  immigrants  from  foreign  lands  shall  be  abridged  or  impaired;  and  in  favor  of 
giving  a  full  and  efficient  protection  to  the  rights  of  all  classes  of  citizens,  whether 
native  or  naturalized,  both  at  home  or  abroad. 

15.  That  appropriations  by  Congress,  for  river  and  harbor  improvements  of  a 
National  character,  required  for  the  accommodation  and  security  of  an  existing 
commerce,  are  authorized  by  the  Constitution,  and  justified  by  an  obligation  of 
the  Government  to  protect  the  lives  and  property  of  its  citizens. 

16.  That  a  railroad  to  the  Pacific  Ocean  is  imperatively  demanded  by  the  inter 
ests  of  the  whole  country;  that  the  Federal  Government  ought  to  render  imme 
diate  and  efficient  aid  in  its  construction,  and  that  as  a  preliminary  thereto  a  daily 
overland  mail  should  be  promptly  established. 

17.  Finally,  having  set  forth  our  distinctive  principles  and  views,  we  invite 
the  cooperation  of  all  citizens,  however  diifering  on  other  questions,  who  substan 
tially  agree  with  us  in  their  affirmance  and  support. 

MR.  LINCOLN'S  LETTER  OF  ACCEPTANCE. 

SPRINGFIELD,  ILLINOIS,  May  23,  I860. 
Hon.  George  Ashmun,  President  of  the  Republican  National  Convention: 

SIR — I  accept  the  nomination  tendered  me  by  the  Convention  over  which  you 
presided,  and  of  which  I  am  formally  apprised  in  the  letter  of  yourself  and 
others,  acting  as  a  Committee  of  the  Convention  for  that  purpose. 

The  declaration  of  principles  and  sentiments  which  accompanies  your  letter, 
meets  my  approval;  and  it  shall  be  my  care  not  to  violate  or  disregard  it,  in  any 
part. 

Imploring  the  assistance  of  Divine  Providence,  and  with  due  regard  to  the 
views  and  feelings  of  all  who  were  represented  in  the  Convention — to  the  rights 
of  all  the  States  and  Territories,  and  the  people  of  the  nation — to  the  inviolability 

of  the  Constitution,  and  the  perpetual  Union,  harmony  and  prosperity  of  all I 

am  most  happy  to  co-operate  for  the  practical  success  of  the  principles  declared 
by  the  Convention. 

Your  obliged  friend  and  fellow-citizen, 

ABRAHAM  LINCOLN. 

THE  CONSTITUTIONAL  UNION  PLATFORM,  ADOPTED    AT   BALTIMORE, 

MAY,  1860. 

WHEREAS,  Experience  has  demonstrated  that  platforms  adopted  by  the  partisan 
Conventions  of  the  country  have  had  the  effect  to  mislead  and  deceive  the  people, 
and  at  the  same  time  to  widen  the  political  divisions  of  the  country,  by  the  crea 
tion  and  encouragement  of  geographical  and  sectional  parties;  therefore — 

Resolved,  That  it  is  both  me  part  of  patriotism  and  of  duty  to  recognize  no  polit 
ical  principles  other  than  The  Constitution  of  the  Country,  The  Union  of  the 
States,  and  The  Enforcement  of  the  Laws;  and  that  as  the  representatives  of  the 
Constitutional  Union  men  of  the  country,  in  National  Convention  asssembled,  we 
here  pledge  ourselves  to  maintain,  protect,  and  defend,  separately  and  unitedly. 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

those  great  principles  of  public  liberty  and  National  safety,  against  all  enemies, 
at  home  and  abroad,  believing  that  thereby  peace  may  once  more  be  restored  to 
the  country,  the  just  rights  of  the  people  and  of  the  States  re-established, 
and  the  Government  again  placed  in  that  condition  of  justice,  fraternity,  and 
equality,  which,  under  the  example  and  Constitution  of  our  fathers,  has  solemnly 
bound  every  citizen  of  the  United  States  to  maintain  "  a  more  perfect  union,  estab 
lish,  justice,  insure  domestic  tranquillity,  provide  for  the  common  defense,  promote 
the  general  welfare,  and  secure  the  blessings  of  liberty  to  our  posterity."  (Adopted 
by  acclamation.) 

MR.  BELL'S  LETTER  OF  ACCEPTANCE. 

NASHVILLE,  May  21,  1860. 

DEAR  SIR:  Official  information  of  my  nomination  to  the  Presidency  by  the 
National  Union  Convention,  of  which  you  were  the  presiding  officer,  was  communi 
cated  to  me  by  your  letter  of  the  llth  instant,  at  Philadelphia,  on  the  eve  of  my 
departure  with  my  family  for  my  place  of  residence  in  Tennessee;  and  diffident  as 
I  was  of  my  worthiness,  I  did  not  hesitate  to  signify  my  intention  to  accept  the 
position  assigned  to  me  by  that  distinguished  and  patriotic  body.  But  for  conveni 
ence,  and  under  a  sense  of  the  propriety  of  acting,  in  so  grave  a  matter,  with 
greater  deliberation,  I  concluded,  as  I  informed  you  at  the  time  by  a  private  note, 
to  defer  a  formal  acceptance  until  after  my  arrival  at  home. 

Now  that  I  have  had  all  the  leisure  I  could  desire,  for  reflection  upon  the  cir 
cumstances  under  which  the  nomination  was  made,  the  purity  of  the  motives  and 
the  lofty  spirit  of  patriotism  by  which  the  Convention  was  animated,  as  evinced 
in  all  its  proceedings,  I  can  appreciate  more  justly  the  honor  done  me  by  the  nom 
ination;  and,  though  it  might  have  been  more  fortunate  for  the  country  had  it 
fallen  upon  some  one  of  the  distinguished  statesmen  whose  names  were  brought  to 
the  notice  of  the  Convention,  rather  than  myself,  I  accept  it,  with  all  its  possible 
responsibilities.  Whatever  may  be  the  issue  of  the  ensuing  canvass,  as  for  myself, 
I  shall  ever  regard  it  as  a  proud  distinction — one  worth  a  life  long  effort  to  attain — 
to  be  pronounced  worthy  to  receive  the  highest  office  in  the  Government  at  such  a 
time  as  the  present  and  by  such  a  Convention  as  that  which  recently  met  in  Balti 
more — a  Convention  far  less  imposing  by  the  number  of  its  members,  large  as  it 
was,  than  by  their  high  character.  In  it  were  men  venerable  alike  for  their  age 
and  their  public  services,  who  could  have  not  been  called  from  their  voluntary 
retirement  from  public  life,  but  by  the  strongest  sense  of  patriotic  duty ;  others, 
though  still  in  the  prime  of  life,  ranking  with  the  first  men  of  the  country  by 
honors  and  distinctions  already  acquired  in  high  official  positions,  State  and  Na 
tional  ;  many  of  tbern  statesmen  worthy  to  fill  the  highest  office  in  the  government; 
a  still  greater  number  occupying  the  highest  rank  in  their  respective  professional 
pursuits ;  others  distinguished  by  their  intelligence  and  well-earned  influence  in 
various  walks  of  private  life,  and  all  animated  and  united  by  one  spirit  and  one 
purpose — the  result  of  a  strong  conviction  that  our  political  system,  under  the 
operation  of  a  complication  of  disorders,  is  rapidly  approaching  a  crisJs  when  a 
speedy  change  must  take  place,  indicating,  as  in  diseases  of  the  physical  body, 
recovery  or  death. 

The  Convention,  in  discarding  the  use  of  platforms,  exact  no  pledges  from  those 
whom  they  deem  worthy  of  the  highest  trusts  under  the  Government;  wisely  con 
sidering  that  the  surest  gurrantee  of  a  man's  future  usefulness  and  fidelity  to  the 
great  interests  of  the  country,  in  any  official  station  to  which  he  may  be  chosen, 
is  to  be  found  in  his  past  history  connected  with  the  public  service.  The  pledge 
implied  in  my  acceptance  of  the  nomination  of  the  National  Union  Convention  is, 
that  should  I  be  elected  I  will  not  depart  from  the  spirit  and  tenor  of  my  past 
course  ;  and  the  obligation  to  keep  this  pledge  derives  a  double  force  from  the  con 
sideration  that  none  is  required  from  me. 

You,  sir,  in  your  letter  containing  the  official  announcement  of  my  nomination, 
have  been  pleased  to  ^ascribe  to  me  the  merit  of  moderation  and  justice  in  my 
past  public  career.  You  have  likewise  given  me  credit  for  a  uniform  support  of 
all  wise  and  beneficent  measures  of  legislation,  for  a  firm  resistance  to  all  meas 
ures  calculated  to  engender  sectional  discord,  and  for  a  life-long  devotion  to  the 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

union,  harmony,  and  prosperity  of  these  States.  Whether  your  personal  par 
tiality  has  led  you  to  overstate  my  merits  as  a  public  man  or  not,  in  your  enumer 
ation  of  them,  you  have  presented  a  summary — a  basis  of  all  sound  American 
statesmanship.  It  may  be  objected  that  nothing  is  said  in  this  summary,  in  ex 
press  terms,  of  the  obligations  imposed  by  the  Constitution ;  but  the  duty  to 
respect  and  observe  them  is  clearly  implied,  for  without  due  observance  in  the 
conduct  of  the  Government  of  the  Constitution,  its  restrictions,  and  requirements, 
fairly  interpreted  in  accordance  with  its  spirit  and  objects,  there  can  be  no  end  to 
sectional  discord — no  security  for  the  harmony  of  the  Union. 

I  have  not  the  vanity  to  assume  that  in  my  past  connection  with  the  public 
service  I  have  exemplified  the  course  of  a  sound  American  statesman ;  but  if  I 
have  deserved  the  favorable  view  taken  of  it  in  your  letter,  I  may  hope,  by  a  faith 
ful  adherence  to  the  maxims  by  which  I  have  heretofore  been  guided,  not  alto 
gether  to  disappoint  the  confidence  and  expectations  of  those  who  have  placed  me 
in  my  present  relation  to  the  public  ;  and  if,  under  Providence,  I  should  be  called 
to  preside  over  the  affairs  of  this  great  country  as  the  Executive  Chief  of  the 
Government,  the  only  further  pledge  I  feel  called  upon  to  make  is,  that  the  utmost 
of  my  ability,  whatever  of  will  I  can  command,  all  the  powers  and  influence  be 
longing  to  my  official  station,  shall  be  employed  and  directed  for  the  promotion  of 
all  the  great  objects  for  which  the  Government  was  instituted,  but  more  especially 
for  the  maintenance  of  the  Constitution  and  Union  against  all  imposing  influences 
and  tendencies. 

I  can  not  conclude  this  letter  without  expressing  my  high  gratification  at  the 
nomination  to  the  second  office  under  the  Government,  of  the  eminently  gifted  and 
distinguished  statesman  of  Massachusetts,  Edward  Everett,  a  gentleman  held  by 
general  consent  to  be  altogether  worthy  of  the  first. 

Tendering  my  grateful  acknowledgments  for  the  kind  and  complimentary  man 
ner  in  which  you  were  pleased  to  accompany  the  communication  of  my  nomination, 
I  am,  dear  sir,  with  the  highest  respect,  your  obedient  servant, 

JOHN  BELL. 

To  the  Hon.  Washington  Hunt. 

THE  DEMOCRATIC  PLATFORM,  ADOPTED  AT  CINCINNATI,  JUNE  6,  1856, 

Resolved,  That  the  American  Democracy  place  their  trust  in  the  intelligence, 
the  patriotism,  and  the  discriminating  justice  of  the  American  people. 

Resolved,  That  we  regard  this  as  a  distinctive  feature  of  our  political  creed, 
which  we  are  proud  to  maintain  before  the  world  as  a  great  moral  element  in  a 
form  of  government  springing  from  and  upheld  by  the  popular  will;  and  we  con 
trast  it  with  the  creed  and  practice  of  Federalism,  under  whatever  name  or  form, 
which  seeks  to  palsy  the  will  of  the  constituent,  and  which  conceives  no  imposture 
too  monstrous  for  the  popular  credulity. 

Resolved  therefore,  That  entertaining  these  views,  the  Democratic  party  of  this 
Union,  through  their  delegates  assembled  in  general  Convention,  coming  together 
in  a  spirit  of  concord,  of  devotion  to  the  doctrines  and  faith  of  a,  free  representa 
tive  government,  and  appealing  to  their  fellow-citizens  for  the  rectitude  of  their 
intentions,  renew  and  re-assert  before  the  American  people,  the  declarations  of 
principles  avowed  by  them,  when,  on  former  occasions,  in  general  Convention, 
they  have  presented  their  candidates  for  the  popular  suffrage. 

1 .  That  the  Federal  Government  is  one  of  limited  power,  derived  solely  from 
the  Constitution,  and  the  grants  of  power  made  therein  ouglu  to  be  strictly  con 
strued  by  all  the  departments  and  agents  of  the  Government,  and  that  it  is  inex 
pedient  and  dangerous  to  exercise  doubtful  constitutional  powers. 

2.  That  the  Constitution  does  not  confer  upon  the  General  Government  the 
power  to  commence  and  carry  on  a  general  system  of  internal  improvements. 

3.  That  the  Constitution  does  not  confer  authority  upon  the  Federal  Govern 
ment,  directly  or  indirectly,  to  assume  the  debts  of  the  several  Spates,  contracted 
for  local  and  internal  improvements,  or  other  State  purposes,  nor  would  such  as 
sumption  be  just  or  expedient. 

4.  That  justice  and  sound  policy  forbid  the  Federal  Government  to  foster  one 


•700  Reminiscences  of  PMc  Men  in  Alabama. 

branch  of  industry  to  the  detriment  of  another,  or  to  cherish  the  interests  of  one 
portion  of  our  common  country;  that  every  citizen  and  every  section  of  the 
country  has  a  right  to  demand  and  insist  upon  an  equality  of  rights  and  privileges, 
and  a  complete  and  ample  protection  of  persons  and  property  from  domestic  vio 
lence  and  foreign  aggression. 

6.  That  it  is  the  duty  of  every  branch  of  the  Government  to  enforce  and  prac 
tice  the  most  rigid  economy  in  conducting  our  public  affairs,  and  that  no  more 
revenue  ought  to  be  raised  than  is  required  to  defray  the  necessary  expenses  of 
the  Government,  and  gradual  but  certain  extinction  of  the  public  debt. 

6.  That  the  proceeds  of  the  public  lands  ought  to  be  sacredly  applied  to  the  Na 
tional  objects  specified  in  the  Constitution,  and  that  we  are  opposed  to  any  law  for 
the  distribution  of  the  proceeds  among  the  States,  as  alike  inexpedient  in  policy, 
and  repugnant  to  the  Constitution. 

7.  That  Congress  has  no  power  to  charter  a  National  Bank;  that  we  believe  such 
an  institution  one  of  deadly  hostility  to  the  best  interests  of  the  country,  dangerous 
to  our  republican  institutions  and  the  liberties  of  the  people,  and  calculated  to 
place  the  business  of  the  country  within  the  control  of  a  concentrated  money 
power  and  above  the  laws  and  will  of  the  people;  and  the  results  of  the  Demo 
cratic  legislation  in  this  and  all  other  financial  measures  upon  which  issues  have 
been  made  between  the  two  political  parties  of  the  country,  have  demonstrated  to 
candid  and  practical  men  of  all  parties  their  soundness,  safety,  and  utility  in  all 
business  pursuits. 

8.  That  the  separation  of  the  moneys  of  the  Government  from  banking  institu 
tions  is  indispensable  to  the  safety  of  the  funds  of  the  Government  and  the  rights 
of  the  people. 

9.  That  we  are  decidedly  opposed  to  taking  from  the  President  the  qualified 
veto  power,  by  which  he  is  enabled,  under  restrictions  and  responsibilities  amply 
sufficient  to  guard  the  public  interests,  to  suspend  the  passage  of  a  bill  whose 
merits  cannot  secure  the  approval  of  two-thirds  of  the  Senate  and  House  of  Rep 
resentatives,  until  the  judgment  of  the  people  can  be  obtained  thereon,  and  which 
has  saved  the  American  people  from  the  corrupt  and  tyranical  dominion  of  the 
Bank  of  the  United  States,  and  from  a  corrupting  system  of  general  internal  im 
provements. 

10.  That  the  liberal  principles  embodied  by  Jefferson  in  the  Declaration  of  In 
dependence,  and  sanctioned  in  the  Constitution,  which  makes  ours  the  land  of 
liberty  and  the  asylum  of  the  oppressed  of  every  nation,  have  ever  been  cardinal 
principles  in  the  Democratic  faith ;  and  every  attempt  to  abridge  the  privilege  of 
becoming  citizens  and  owners  of  the  soil  among  us,  ought  to  be  resisted  with  the 
same  spirit  which  swept  the  alien  and  sedition  laws  from  our  statute  books. 

And,  whereas,  Since 'the  foregoing  declaration  was  uniformly  adopted  by  our 
predecessors  in  National  Conventions,  an  adverse  political  and  religious  test  has 
been  secretly  organized,  by  a  party  claiming  to  be  exclusively  Americans,  and  it 
is  proper  that  the  American  Democracy  should  clearly  define  its  relations  thereto ; 
and  declare  its  determined  opposition  to  all  secret  political  societies,  by  whatever 
name  they  may  be  called : 

Resolved,  That  the  foundation  of  the  Union  of  States  having  been  laid  in,  and 
its  prosperity,  expansion,  and  preeminent  example  in  free  government,  built  upon, 
entire  freedom  of  matters  of  religious  concernment,  and  no  respect  of  persons  in 
regard  to  rank  or  place  of  birth,  no  party  can  justly  be  deemed  National,  Consti 
tutional,  or  in  accordance  with  American  principles,  which  bases  its  exclusive  or 
ganization  upon  religious  opinions  and  accidental  birth-place.  And  hence  a  polit 
ical  crusade  in  the  nineteenth  century,  and  in  the  United  States  of  America, 
against  Catholics  and  foreign-born,  is  neither  justified  by  the  past  history  or  fu 
ture  prospects  of  the  country,  nor  in  unison  with  the  spirit  of  toleration  and  en 
lightened  freedom  which  peculiarly  distinguishes  the  American  system  of  popular 
government. 

Resolved,  That  we  reiterate  with  renewed  energy  of  purpose  the  well  considered 
declarations  of  former  Conventions  upon  the  sectional  issue  of  domestic  slavery, 
and  concerning  the  reserved  rights  of  the  States: 

1.  That  Congress  has  no  power  under  the  Constitution  to  interfere  with  or  con* 


Reminiscences  of  Public -Men  in  Alabama,  701 

trol  the  domestic  institutions  of  the  several  States,  and  that  all  such  States  are 
the  sole  and  proper  judges  of  everything  appertaining  to  their  own  affairs  not 
prohibited  by  the  Constitution ;  that  all  efforts,  of  the  Abolitionists  or  others,  to 
induce  Congress  to  interfere  with  questions  of  slavery,  or  to  take  incipient  steps 
in  relation  thereto,  are  calculated  to  lead  to  the  most  alarming  and  dangerous  con 
sequences,  and  that  all  such  efforts  have  an  inevitable-  tendency  to  diminish  the 
happiness  of  the  people,  and  endanger  the  stability  and  permanency  of  the  Union, 
and  ought  not  to  be  countenanced  by  any  friend  of  our  political  institutions. 

2.  That  the  foregoing  proposition  covers  and  was  intended  to  embrace  the  whole 
subject  of  slavery  agitation  in  Congress,  and  therefore  the  Democratic  party  of  the 
Union,  standing  on  this  National  platform,  will  abide  by  and  adhere  to  a  faithful 
execution  of  the  acts  known  as  the  Compromise  measures,  settled  by  the  Congress 
of  1850:   "the  act  for  reclaiming  fugitives  from  service  or  labor,"  included  ;  which 
act  being  designed  to  carry  out  an  express  provision  of   the  Constituti6n,  can  not, 
with  fidelity  thereto,  be  repealed,  or  so  changed  as  to  destroy  or  impair  its  efficiency. 

3.  That  the  Democratic  party  will  resist  all  attempts  at  renewing  in  Congress, 
or  out  of  it,  the  agitation  of  the  slavery  question,  under  whatever  shape  or  color 
the  attempt  mity  be  made. 

-1.  That  the  Democratic  party  will  faithfully  abide  by  and  uphold  the  principles 
laid  down  in  the  Virginia  and  Kentucky  resolutions  of  1792  and  1798,  and  in  the 
report  of  Mr.  Madison  to  the  Virginia  Legislature  in  1799 — that  it  adopts  these 
principles  as  constituting  one  of  the  main  foundations  of  its  political  creed,,  and 
is  resolved  to  carry  them  out  in  their  obvious  meaning  and  import. 

And  that  we  may  more  distinctly  meet  the  issue  on  which  a  sectional  party, 
subsisting  exclusively  on  slavery  agitation,  now  relies  to  test  the  fidelity  of  the 
people  North,  and  South,  to  the  Constitution  and  the  Union — 

1.  Resolved,  That  claiming  fellowship  with  and  desiring  the  co-operation  of  all 
who  regard  the  preservation  of  the  Union  under  the  Constitution  as  the  paramount 
issue,  and  repudiating  all  sectional  parties  and  platforms  concerning  domestic 
slavery,  which  seek  to  embroil  the  States,  and  incite  to  treason  and  armed  resist 
ance  to  law  in  the  Territories,  and  whose  avowed  purpose,  if  consummated,  must 
end  in  civil  war  and  disunion,  the  American  Democracy  recognize  and  adopt  the 
principles  contained  in  the  organic  laws  establishing  the  Territories  of  Nebraska 
and  Kansas,  as  embodying  the  only  sound  and  safe  solution  of  the  slavery  question, 
upon  which  the  great  National  idea  of  the  people  of  this  whole  country  can  repose 
in  its  determined  conservation  of  the  Union,  and  non-interference  of  Congress 
with  slavery  in  the  Territories  or  in  the  District  of  Columbia. 

2.  That  this  was  the  basis  of  the  compromises  of  1850,  confirmed  by  both  the 
Democratic  and  Whig  parties  in  National  Conventions,  ratified  by  the  people  in 
the  election  of  1852,  and  rightly  applied  to  the  organization  of  the  Territories 
in  1854. 

3.  That  by  the  uniform  application  of  the  Democratic  principle  to  the  organiza 
tion  of  the  Territories,  and  the  admission  of  new  States  with  or  without  domestic 
slavery,  as  they  may  elect,  the  equal  rights  of  all  the  States  will  ^be  preserved 
intact,  the  original  compacts  of  the  Constitution  maintained  inviolate,  and  the  per 
petuity  and  expansion  of  the  Union  insured  to  its  utmost  capacity  of  embracing, 
in  peace  and  harmony,  every  future  American  State  that  may  be  constituted  or 
annexed  with  a  republican  form  of  government. 

Resolved,  That  we  recognize  the  right  of  the  people  of  all  the  Territories,  includ 
ing  Kansas  and  Nebraska,  acting  through  the  legally  and  fairly  expressed  will  of 
a  majority  of  the  actual  residents,  and  whenever  the  number  of  their  inhabitants 
justifies  it,  to  form  a  Constitution  with  or  without  domestic  slavery,  and  be  ad 
mitted  into  the  Union  upon  terms  of  perfect  equality  with  the  other  States. 

Resolved,  finally,  That  in  view  of  the  condition  of  the  popular  institutions  of 
the  Old  World,-  (and  the  dangerous  tendencies  of  sectional  agitation,  combined 
with  the  attempt  to  enforce  civil  and  religious  disabilities  against  the  rights  of  ac 
quiring  and  enjoying  citizenship  in  our  own  land,)  a  high  and  sacred  duty  is  de 
volved  with  increased  responsibility  upon  the  Democratic  party  of  this  country, 
as  the  party  of  the  Union,  to  uphold  and  maintain  the  rights  of  every  State,  and 
thereby  the  union  of  the  States — and  to  sustain  and  advance  among  us  constitu- 


702  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

tional  liberty,  by  continuing  to  resist  all  monopolies  and  exclusive  legislation  for 
the  benefit  of  the  few  at  the  expense  of  the  many,  and  by  vigilant  and  constant 
adherence  to  those  principles  and  compromises  of  the  Constitution — which  are 
broad  enough  and  strong  enough  to  embrace  and  uphold  the  Union  as  it  was,  the 
Union  as  it  is,  and  the  Union  as  it  shall  be,  in  the  full  expression  of  the  energies 
and  capacity  of  this  great  and  progressive  people. 

1.  Resolved,  That  there  are  questions  connected  with  the  foreign  policy  of  this 
country  which  are  inferior  to  no  domestic  question  whatever.    The  time  has  come  for 
the  people  of  the  United  States  to  declare  themselves  in  favor  of  free  seas,  and 
progressive  free  trade  throughout  the  world,  and  by  solemn  manifestations  to 
place  their  moral  influence  at  the  side  of  their  successful. example. 

2.  Resolved,  That  our  geographical  and  political  position  with  reference  to  the 
other  States  of  this  continent,  no  less  than  the  interest  of  our  commerce  and  the 
development  of   our  growing  power,  requires  that  we  should  hold  sacred  the  prin 
ciples  involved  in  the  Monroe  doctrine.     Their  bearing  and  import  admit  of  no 
misconstruction,  and  should  be  applied  with  unbending  rigidity. 

3.  Resolved,  That  the  great  highway  which  nature  as  well  as  the  assent  of  States 
most  immediately  interested  in  its  maintenance  has  marked  out  for*  free  communi 
cation  between  the  Atlantic  and  the  Pacific  Oceans,  constitutes  one  of  the  most 
important  achievements  realized  by  the  spirit  of  modern  times,  in  the  unconquer 
able  energy  of  our  people ;  and  that  result  would  be  secured  by  a  timely  and  effi 
cient  exertion  of  the  control  which  we  have  the  right  to  claim  over  it,  and  no 
power  on  earth  should  be  suffered  to  impede  or  clog  its  progress  by  any  interfer 
ence  with  relations  that  it  may  suit  our  policy  to  establish  between  our  Govern 
ment  and  the  Governments  of  the  States  within  whose  dominions  it  lies;  we  can, 
under  no  circumstances  surrender  our  preponderance  in  the  adjustment  of  all 
questions  arising  out  of  it. 

4.  Resolved,  That  in  view  of  so  commanding  an  interest,  the  people  of  the 
United  States  can  not  but  sympathize  with  the  efforts  which  are  being  made  by 
the  people  of  Central  America  to  regenerate  that  portion  of  the  continent  which 
covers  the  passage  across  the  inter-oceanic  isthmus. 

-5.  Resolved,  That  the  Democratic  party  will  expect  of  the  next  administration 
that  every  proper  effort  be  made  to  insure  our  ascendency  in  the  Gulf  of  Mexico, 
and  to  maintain  permanent  protection  to  the  great  outlets  through  which  are 
emptied  into  its  waters  the  products  raised  out  of  the  soil,  and  the  commodities 
created  by  the  industry  of  the  people  of  our  western  valleys,  and  of  the  Union  at 
large. 

Resolved,  That  the  administration  of  Franklin  Pierce  has  been  true  to  Demo 
cratic  principles,  and,  therefore,  true  to  the  great  interests  of  the  country ;  in  the 
face  of  violent  opposition  he  has  maintained  the  laws  at  home  and  vindicated  the 
right's  of  American  citizens  abroad ;  and,  therefore,  we  proclaim  our  unqualified 
admiration  of  his  measures  and  policy. 

THE  DEMOCRATIC  PLATFORM,  ADOPTED  BY  THE  FRONT  STREET  THEA 
TRE  CONVENTION  AT  BALTIMORE,  JUNE  23,  1860. 

ORIGINALLY  ADOPTED  BY  THE  CONVENTION  AT  CHARLESTON,  APRIL  30,  1860. 

Resolved,  That  we,  the  Democracy  of  the  Union,  in  Convention  assembled,  hereby 
declare  our  affirmation  of  the  resolutions  unanimously  adopted  and  declared  as  a 
platform  of  principles  by  the  Democratic  Convention  at  Cincinnati,  in  the  year 
1856,  believing  that  Democratic  principles  are  unchangeable  in  their  nature  when 
applied  to  the  same  subject  matter,  and  we  recommend  as  our  only  further  resolu 
tions  the  following : 

That  inasmuch  as  differences  of  opinion  exist  in  the  Democratic  party  as  to  the 
nature  and  extent  of  the  powers  of  a  Territorial  Legislature,  and  as  to  the  powers 
and  duties  of  Congress,  under  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States,  over  the  insti 
tution  of  slavery  within  the  Territories — 

Resolved,  That  the  Democratic  party  will  abide  by  the  decision  of  the  Supreme 
Court  of  the  United  States,  over  the  institution  of  slavery  within  the  Territories. 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  703 

Resolved,  That  it  is  the  duty  of  the  United  States  to  afford  ample  and  complete- 
protection  to  all  its  citizens,  at  home  or  abroad,  and  whether  native  or  foreign 
born. 

Resolved,  That  one  of  the  necessities  of  the  age,  in  a  military,  commercial  and 
postal  point  of  view,  is  speedy  communication  between  the  Atlantic  and  the  Pacific 
States,  and  the  Democratic  party  pledge  such  Constitutional  enactment  as  will  in 
sure  the  completion  of  a  railroad  to  the  Pacific  coast  at  the  earliest  practicable 
period. 

Resolved,  That  the  Democratic  party  are  in  favor  of  the  acquisition  of  the  island 
of  Cuba,  on  such  terms  as  shall  be  honorable  to  ourselves  and  just  to  Spain. 

Resolved,  That  the  enactments  of  State  Legislatures  to  defeat  the  faithful  execu 
tion  of  the  Fugitive  Slave  Law  are  hostile  in  character,  subversive  of  the  Consti 
tution,  and  revolutionary  in  their  effect.  . 

On  the  last  day  of  the  session  of  the  Douglas  Democratic  Convention  at  Balti 
more,  the  following  resolution  was  adopted  and  added  to  the  platform : 

Resolved,  That  it  is  in  accordance  with  the  interpretation  of  the  Cincinnati  plat 
form,  that  during  the  existence  of  the  Territorial  Government,  the  measure  of 
restriction,  whatever  it  may  be,  imposed  by  the  Federal  Constitution  on  the  power 
of  the  Territorial  Legislature  over  the  subject  of  the  domestic  relations  (as  the 
same  has  been  or  shall  hereafter  be  finally  determined  by  the  Supreme  Court  of 
the  United  States),  should  be  respected  by  all  good  citizens,  and  enforced  with 
promptness  and  fidelity  by  every  branch  of  the  General  Government. 

MR.  DOUGLAS'S  LETTER  or  ACCEPTANCE. 

WASHINGTON,  June  27,  I860. 

GENTLEMEN — In  accordance  with  the  verbal  assurance  which  I  gave  you  when 
you  placed  in  my  hands  the  authentic  evidence  of  my  nomination  for  the  Presi 
dency  by  the  National  Convention  of  the  Democratic  party,  1  now  send  you  my 
formal  acceptance. 

Upon  a  careful  examination  of  the  platform  of  principles  adopted  at  Charleston 
and  re-affirmed  at  Baltimore,  with  an  additional  resolution  which  is  in  perfect, 
harmony  with  the  others,  I  find  it  to  be  a  faithful  embodiment  of  the  time-honored 
principles  of  the  Democratic  party,  as  the  same  were  proclaimed  and  understood 
by  all  parties  in  the  Presidential  contests  of  1848,  '52  and  '56. 

Upon  looking  into  the  proceedings  of  the  Convention,  also.  I  find  that  the  nom 
ination  was  made  with  great  unanimity,  in  the  presence  and  with  the  concurrence 
of  more  thnn  two-thirds  of  the  whole  number  of  delegates,  and  in  exact  accord 
ance  with  the  long-established  usages  of  the  party. 

My  inflexible  purpose  not  to  be  a  candidate,  nor  accept  the  nomination  in  any 
contingency,  except  as  the  regular  nominee  of  the  National  Democratic  party, 
and,  in  that  case,  only  upon  condition  that  the  usages  as  well  as  the  principles  of 
the  party  should  be  strictly  adhered  to,  had  been  proclaimed  for  a  long  time,  and 
become  well  known  to  the  country. 

These  conditions  having  all  been  complied  with  by  the  free  and  voluntary  action 
of  the  Democratic  masses  and  their  faithful  representatives,  without  any  agency, 
interference  or  procurement  on  my  part,  I  feel  bound,  in  honor  and  duty,  to  accept 
the  nomination. 

In  taking  this  step,  I  am  not  unmindful  of  the  responsibilities  it  imposes;  but, 
with  a  firm  reliance  on  Divine  Providence,  I  have  faith  that  the  people  will  com 
prehend  the  true  nature  of  the  issues  involved,  and  eventually  maintain  the  right. 

The  peace  of  the  country  and  safety  of  the  Union  have  been  put  in  jeopardy 
by  attempts  to  interfere  with  the  domestic  affairs  of  the  people  in  the  Territories, 
through  the  agency  of  the  Federal  Government. 

If  the  power  and  duty  of  the  Federal  interference  be  conceded,  two  hostile  sec 
tional  parties  must  be  the  inevitable  result;  the  one  inflaming  the  passions  and 
ambition  of  the  North,  and  the  other  of  the  South,  and  each  struggling  to  use  the 
Federal  power  and  authority  for  the  aggrandizement  of  its  own  section,  at  the  ex 
pense  of  the  equal  rights  of  the  other,  and  in  derogation  of  the  fundamental 


704  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

principles  of  self-government  which  were  firmly  established  in  this  country  by  the 
American  revolution,  as  the  basis  of  our  entire  republican  system. 

During  the  memorable  period  of  our  political  history,  when  the  advocates  of 
Federal  intervention  upon  the  question  of  slavery  in  the  Territories  had  well  nigh 
" precipitated  the  country  into  a  revolution" — the  Northern  interventionists  de 
manding  the  Wilmot  proviso  for  the  prohibition  of  slavery,  and  the  Southern  in 
terventionists  (then  few  in  number,  and  without  a  single  representative  in  either 
house  of  Congress)  insisting  upon  Congressional  legislation  for  the  protection  of 
slavery  in  opposition  to  the  wishes  of  the  people — in  either  case  it  will  be  remem 
bered  that  it  required  all  the  wisdom,  power  and  influence  of  a  Clay,  and  a  Web 
ster,  and  a  Cass,  supported  by  the  Whig  and  Democratic  parties  of  that  day,  to 
devise  and  carry  out  a  line  of  policy  which  would  restore  peace  to  the  country, 
and  stability  to  the  Union.  The  essential  living  principle  of  that  policy,  as  ap 
plied  to  the  legislation  of  1850,  was,  and  now  is,  non-intervention  with  slavery  in 
the  Territories. 

The  fair  application  of  this  just  and  equitable  principle  restored  harmony  and 
fraternity  to  a  distracted  country. 

If  we  can  depart  from  that  wise  and  just  policy  which  produced  these  happy 
results,  and  permit  the  country  to  be  again  distracted,  if  not  precipitated  into  a 
revolution,  by  a  sectional  contest  between  pro-slavery  and  anti-slavery  interven 
tionists,  where  shall  we  look  for  another  Clay,  another  Webster,  or  another  Cass, 
to  pilot  the  ship  of  State  over  the  breakers  into  a  haven  of  peace  and  safety  ? 

The  Federal  Union  must  be  preserved,  and  the  Constitution  must  be  maintained 
inviolate  in  all  its  parts.  Every  right  guaranteed  by  the  Constitution  must  be  pro 
tected  by  law  in  all  cases  where  legislation  is  necessary  to  its  engagement.  The 
judicial  authority,  as  provided  in  the  Constitution,  must  be  sustained,  and  its  de 
cisions  implicitly  obeyed  and  faHh fully  executed.  The  laws  must  be  administered 
and  the  constituted  authorities  upheld,  and  all  unlawful  resistance  suppressed. 
These  things  must  all  be  done  with  firmness,  impartiality,  and  fidelity,  if  we  ex 
pect  to  enjoy,  and  transmit  unimpaired  to  our  posterity,  that  blessed  inheritance 
which  we  have  received  in  trust  from  the  patriots  and  sages  of  the  Revolution. 
With  sincere  thanks  for  the  kind  and  agreeable  manner  in  which  you  have  made 
known  to  me  the  action  of  the  Convention,  I  have  the  honor  to  be,  very  respect 
fully,  your  fellow-citizen,  S.  A.  DOUGLAS. 

THE  DEMOCRATIC  PLATFORM,  ADOPTED  BY  THE  MARYLAND  INSTITUTE 
CONVENTION,  AT  BALTIMORE,  JUNE  23,  1860. 

ORIGINALLY  ADOPTED  BY  A  PORTION  OP  THE  SECEDERS  AT  CHARLESTON,  APRIL  30,  1860, 

Resolved,  That  the  platform  adopted  by  the  Democratic  party  at  Cincinnati,  be 
affirmed  with  the  following  explanatory  resolutions: 

1.  That  the  Government  of  a  Territory  organized  by  an  act  of  Congress  is  pro 
visional  and  temporary,  and  during  its  existence  all  citizens  of  the  United  States 
have  an  equal  right  to  settle,  with  their  property,  in  the  Territory,  without  their 
rights,  either  of  person  or  property,  being  destroyed  or  injured  by  Congressional 
or  Territorial  legislation. 

2.  That  it  is  the  duty  of  the  Federal  Government,  in  all  its  departments,  to 
protect  the  rights  of  persons  and  property  in  the  Territories,  and  wherever  else 
its  Constitutional  authority  extends. 

3.  That  when  the  settlers  in  a  Territory,  having  an  adequate  population,  form 
a  State  Constitution,  the  right  of  sovereignty  commences,  and  being  consummated 
by  their  admission  into  the  Union,  they  stand  on  an  equality  with  the  people  of 
other  States,  and  a  State  thus  organized  ought  to  be  admitted  into  the  Federal 
Union,  whether  the  Constitution  prohibits  or  recognizes  the  institution  of  slavery. 

Resolved,  That  the  Democratic  party  are  in  favor  of  the  acquisition  of  the 
Island  of  Cuba,  on  such  terms  as  shall  be  honorable  to  ourselves  and  just  to  Spain, 
at  the  earliest  practicable  moment. 

Resolved,  That  the  enactments  of  State  Legislatures  to  defeat  the  faithful  exe 
cution  of  the  Fugitive  Slave  Law  are  hostile  in  character,  subversive  of  the  Con 
stitution,  and  revolutionary  in  their  effect. 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Hen  in  Alabama.  705 

Resolved,  That  the  Democracy  of  the  United  States  recognize  it.  as  the  impera 
tive  duty  of  the  Government  to  protect  the  naturalized  citizen  in  all  his  rights, 
•whether  at  home  or  in  foreign  lands,  to  the  same  extent  as  its  native-born  citizens. 

Whereas,  One  of  the  greatest  necessities  of  the  age,  in  a  political,  commercial, 
postal,  and  military  point  of  view,  is  a  speedy  connection  between  the  Pacific  and 
Atlantic  coasts;  therefore,  be  it 

Resolved,  That  the  National  Democratic  party  do  hereby  pledge  themselves  to 
use  every  means  in  their  power  to  secure  the  passage  of  some  bill,  to  the  extent  of 
their  Constitutional  authority  by  Congress,  for  the  construction  of  a  Pacific  Rail 
road  from  the  Mississippi  River  to  the  Pacific  Ocean,  at  the  earliest  practical 
moment. 

MR.  BRECKINRIDGE'S  LETTER  OF  ACCEPTANCE. 

WASHINGTON  CITY,  July  6,  1800. 

DEAR  SIR — I  have  your  letter  of  the  23d  ultimo,  by  which  I  am  officially  in 
formed  of  my  nomination  for  the  office  of  President  of  the  United  States,  by  the 
Democratic  National  Convention,  lately  assembled  at  Baltimore.  The  circum 
stances  of  this  nomination  will  justify  me  in  referring  to  its  personal  aspect. 

I  have  not  sought  nor  desired  to  be  placed  before  the  country  for  the  office  of 
President.  When  my  name  was  presented  in  the  Convention  at  Charleston,  it  was 
withdrawn  by  a  friend,  in  obedience  to  my  expressed  wishes.  My  views  had  not 
changed  when  the  Convention  reassembled  at  Baltimore ;  and  when  I  heard  of  the 
differences  which  occurred  there,  my  indisposition  to  be  connected  prominently 
with  the  canvass  was  confirmed,  and  expressed  to  many  friends. 

Without  discussing  the  occurrences  which  preceded  the  nominations,  and  which 
are,  or  soon  will  be,  well  understood  by  the  country,  I  have  only  to  say  that  I  ap 
proved — as  just  and  necessary  to  the  preservation  of  the  National  organization, 
and  the  sacred  right  of  representation — the-  action  of  the  Convention  over  which 
you  continued  to  preside;  and  thus  approving  it,  and  having  resolved  to  sustain 
it,  I  feel  that  it  does  not  become  me  to  select  the  position  I  shall  occupy,  nor  to 
shrink  from  the  responsibilities  of  the  post  to  which  I  have  oeen  assigned.  Ac 
cordingly,  I  accept  the  nomination  from  a  sense  of  public  duty,  and,  as  I  think, 
uninfluenced  in  any  degree  by  the  allurements  of  ambition. 

I  avail  myself  of  this  occasion  to  say  that  the  confidence  in  my  personal  and 
public  character,  implied  by  the  action  of  the  Convention,  will  always  be  grate 
fully  remembered ;  and  it  is  but  just  also  to  my  own  feelings,  to  express  my  grat 
ification  at  the  association  of  my  name  with  that  of  my  friend  General  Lane,  a 
patriot  and  a  soldier,  whose  great  services  in  the  field  and  in  council,  entitle  him 
to  the  confidence  and  gratitude  of  his  country. 

The  resolutions  adopted  by  the  Convention  have  my  cordial  approval.  They 
are  just  to  all  parts  of  the  Union — to.  all  our  citizens,  native  and  naturalized — 
and  they  form  a  whole  policy  for  any  administration. 

The  questions  touching  the  rights  of  persons  and  property,  which  have  of  late 
been  much  discussed,  find  in  these  resolutions  a  Constitutional  solution.  Our 
Union  is  a  confederacy  of  equal,  sovereign  States,  for  the  purpose  enumerated  in 
the  Federal  Constitution.  Whatever  the  common  Government  holds  in  trust  for 
all  the  States  must  be  enjoyed  equally  by  each.  It  controls  the  Territories  in 
trust  for  all  the  States.  Nothing  less  than  sovereignty  can  destroy  or  impair  the 
rights  of  person  or  property.  While  they  continue  to  be  Territories,  they  are 
under  the  control  of  Congress;  but  the  Constitution  no  where  confers  the  right  on 
any  branch  of  the  Federal  Government  the  power  to  discriminate  against  the 
rights  of  the  States,  or  the  property  of  their  citizens  in  the  Territories.  .  It  fol 
lows  that  the  citizens  of  all  the  States  may  enter  the  Territories  of  the  Union  with 
their  property,  of  whatever  kind,  and  enjoy  it  during  the  Territorial  condition, 
without  let  01  hindrance,  either  by  Congress,  or  either  by  the  subordinate  Terri 
torial  Governments. 

These  principles  flow  directly  from  the  absence  of  sovereignty  in  the  Territo 
rial  Governments,  and  from  the  equality  of  the  States.  Indeed,  they  are  essen 
tial  to  that  equality  which  is,  and  ever  has  been,  the  vital  principle  of  our  Consti, 

45 


706  Reminiscences  of  PMic  Men  in  Alabama. 

tutional  Union.  They  have  been  settled  legislatively — settled  judicially — and  are 
sustained  by  right  reason.  They  rest,  on  the  rock  of  the  Constitution.  They  will 
preserve  the  (Constitution.  They  will  preserve  the  Union. 

It  is  idle  to  attempt  to  smother  these  great  issues,  or  to  misrepresent  them  by 
the  use  of  partisan  phrases,  which  are  misleading  and  delusive.  The  people  will 
look  beneath  such  expressions  as  "intervention,''  "Congressional  Slave  Code," 
and  the  like,  and  will  penetrate  to  the  real  questions  involved.  The  friends  of 
Constitutional  equality  do  not,  and  never  did,  demand  a  "Congressional  Slave 
Code,"  nor  any  other  "  code"  in  regard  to  property  in  the  Territories.  They  hold 
the  doctrine  of  non-intervention  by  Congress,  or  by  a  Territorial  Legislature, 
either  to  establish  or  prohibit  slavery;  but  they  assert  (fortified  by  the  highest 
judicial  tribunal  in  the  Union)  the  plain  duty  of  the  Federal  Government,  in  all 
its  departments,  to  secure,  when  necessary,  to  the  citizens  of  all  the  States,  the 
enjoyment  of  their  property  in  the  common  Territories,  as  everywhere  else  within 
its  jurisdiction.  The  only  logical  answer  to  this  would  seem  to  be  to  claim  sover 
eign  power  for  the  Territories,  or  to  deny  that  the  Constitution  recognized  property 
in  the  services  of  negro  slaves,  or  to  deny  that  such  property  can  exist. 

Inexorable  logic,  which  works  its  steady  way  through  clouds  and  passion,  com 
pels  the  country  to  meet  the  issue.  There  is  no  evasive,  middle  ground.  Already 
the  signs  multiply  of  a  fanatical  and  growing  party,  which  denies  that  under  the 
Constitution,  or  by  auy  other  law,  slave  property  can  exist;  and  ultimately  the 
struggle  must  come  between  that  party  and  the  National  Democracy,  sustained  by 
all  the  other  conservative  elements  in  the  Union. 

I  think  it  will  be  impossible  for  a  candid  mind  to  discern  hostility  to  the  Union 
or  a  taint  of  sectionalism  in  the  resolutions  adopted  by  the  Convention.  The  Con 
stitution  and  the  Union  repose  on  the  equality  of  the  States,  which  lies  like  a 
broad  foundation  underneath  our  whole  political  structure.  As  I  construe  them, 
the  resolutions  simply  assert  this  equality.  They  demand  nothing  for  any  State 
or  section  that  is  not  cheerfully  conceded  to  all  the  rest.  It  is  well  to  remember 
that  the  chief  disorders  which  have  afflicted  our  country,  have  grown  out  of  the 
violation  of  State  equality ;  and  that  as  long  as  this  great  principle  has  been  re 
spected,  we  have  befcn  blessed  with  harmony  and  peace.  Nor  will  it  be  easy  to 
persuade  the  country  that  resolutions  are  sectional  which  command  the  support  of 
a  majority  of  the  States,  and  are  approved  by  the  bone  and  body  of  the  old  Dem 
ocracy,  and  by  a  mass  of  conservative  opinion  everywhere,  without  regard  to 
party. 

It  has  been  necessary,  more  than  once  in  our  history,  to  pause  and  solemnly 
assert  the  true  character  of  this  Government.  A  memorable  instance  occurred 
which  ended  in  the  civil  revolution  of  1800.  The  Republicans  of  that  day,  like 
the  Democracy  of  this,  were  stigmatized  as  disunionists,  but  they  nobly  conducted 
the  contest  under  the  Constitution,  and  saved  our  political  system.  By  a  like  con 
stitutional  struggle  it  is  intended  now  to  assert  and  establish  the  equality  of  the 
States  as  the  only  basis  of  union  and  peace.  When  this  object,  so  National,  so 
constitutional,  so  just,  shall  be  accomplished,  the  last  cloud  will  disappear  fr6m 
the  American  sky,  and  with  common  hands  and  hearts,  the  States  and  the  people 
will  unite  to  develop  the  resources  of  the  whole  country,  to  bind  it  together  with 
the  bonds  of  intercourse  and  brotherhood,  and  to  impel  it  onward  in  its  great 
course.  The  Constitution  and  the  equality  of  the  States  !  these  are  symbols  of 
everlasting  Union;  let  these  be  the  rallying  cries  of  the  people. 

I  trust  that  this  canvass  will  be  conducted  without  rancor,  and  that  temperate 
arguments  will  take  the  place  of  hot  words  and  passionate  accusations.  Above 
all,  I  venture  humbly  to  hope  that  Divine  Providence,  to  whom  we  owe  our  origin, 
our  growth,  and  all  our  prosperity,  will  continue  to  protect  our  beloved  country 
against  all  danger,  foreign  and  domestic. 

I  am,  with  great  respect,  your  friend, 

JOHN  C.  BRECKINRIDGE, 

Jlon.  C.  Cmhing,  President  of  the  Democratic  National  Convention. 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  707 


CHAPTER  XL. 

Literary  Characters  of  Alabama — Authors  of  History  and  Romance. 

The  character  of  each  State,  and  of  each  community,  is  more  or 
less  respected  abroad,  from  the  ability  and  accomplishments  of  its 
authors  arid  its  literary  classes.  By  this  standard  the  claims  of 
Alabama  may  be  judged,  in  part,  by  the  list  here  introduced. 

JOSEPH  G.  BALDWIN,  author  of  the  "  Flush  Times  of  Alabama 
and  Mississippi,"  and  of  "Party  Leaders/'  has  been  noticed  else 
where  in  this  work,  as  a  member  of  the  Legislature. 

FREDERICK  A.  P.  BARNARD,  LL.D.,  was  born  in  Massachu 
setts,  in  1809,  and  graduated  at  Yale  College,  with  high  honors, 
in  1828.  In  1829,  he  was  appointed  Tutor  in  that  institution. 
In  1831,  he  was  one  of  the  Instructors  in  the  American  Asylum 
for  the  Deaf  and  Dumb  at  Hartford,  Connecticut,  and,  in  1833,  he 
transferred  his  employment  to  the  New  York  Institute  for  the 
Deaf  and  Dumb,  where  he  taught  until  1838. 

In  1838,  he  accepted  the  Professorship  of  Mathematics  and 
Natural  Philosophy  in  the  University  of  Alabama,  which  he  held 
until  1848,  and  afterward  filled  the  Chair  of  Chemistry  until  1854. 
From  Alabama,  he  passed,  in  1854,  to  the  Chair  of  Mathematics 
and  Astronomy  in  the  University  of  Mississippi,  and,  in  1856,  he 
was  elected  its  President.  In  consideration  of  his  great  learning, 
the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Laws  was  conferred  upon  him  by  Jeffer 
son  College,  in  that  State. 

The  published  works  of  Prof.  Barnard  include  a  small  treatise 
on  Arithmetic,  in  1830,  and  one  on  Grammar,  in  1834.  In  1855, 
he  published  Letters  on  College  Government,  and  a  Report  on 
Collegiate  Education,  made  to  the  Faculty  of  the  University  of 
Alabama,  of  which  he  had  been  many  years  the  Secretary. 

Professor  Barnard  was  a  very  industrious  and  prolific  writer. 
Besides  contributing  many  articles  to  the  newspapers,  he  wrote 
for  the  magazines,  especially  for  the  American  Journal  of  Educa 
tion,  from  the  commencement.  From  science  an$  literature,  he 
would  expand  into  the  most  graceful  humor,  as  the  occasion  might 
justify.  At  other  times,  he  was  grave  and  didactic.  Some  years 
ago,  he  took  orders  for  the  ministry,  in  the  Episcopal  Church. 


708  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

Besides  his  superior  qualifications  as  a  scholar,  Prof.  Barnard 
was  a  bright  Mason.  On  the  24th  of  June,  1841,  he  deliv 
ered  an  address  before  Eising  Virtue  Lodge,  No.  4,  Tuskaloosa, 
on  the  "  Claims  of  Masonry  upon  the  Respect  and  Veneration  of 
Mankind,"  which  was  published  in  pamphlet  form  at  the  request 
of  the  Lodge. 

On  llth  July,  1854,  the  anniversary  of  the  Phi  Beta  Kappa 
Society,  Professor  Barnard  pronounced  an  oration  of  great  merit, 
entitled  "Art  Culture:  Its  relation  to  National  Refinement  and 
National  Morality/7  which  was  published  in  a  pamphlet  of  43 
pages. 

The  present  location  and  employment  of  Professor  Barnard  may 
be  seen  by  the  following  extract  from  a  message  of  Gov.  Patton, 
dated  January  15,  1867: 

While  in  New  York  I  conferred  fully  with  the  United  States  Commissioners  for 
the  Paris  Exposition.  I  found  that  they  took  a  lively  interest  in  having  all  the 
States  properly  represented.  It  may  not  be  improper  to  observe  that  Alabama's 
interest  has  a  special  friend  in  F.  A.  P.  Barnard,  late  of  the  University  of  Ala 
bama,  and  now  President  of  Columbia  College,  in  New  York.  That  learned  gen 
tleman  is  the  principal  Commissioner  for  the  United  States,  and  is  particularly 
solicitous  for  a  liberal  contribution  of  the  various  mineral,  and  other  specimens 
which  will  properly  represent  the  vast  natural  resources  of  Alabama.  I  arranged 
with  the  Commissioner  for  the  transportation,  from  New  York  to  Paris,  of  all  such 
articles  as  might  be  prepared  and  forwarded.  A  considerable  variety  of  valuable 
specimens  has  already  been  furnished,  and  many  more  are  confidently  expected. 
I  respectfully  submit  to  the  Legislature  the  question  of  making  a  limited  appro 
priation  to  pay  the  expenses  of  transporting  specimens  from  the  interior  of  the 
State  to  Montgomery,  and  hence  to  New  York.  Several  gentlemen  of  the  State 
will  visit  Paris  during  the  ensuing  Spring,  some  of  whom  have  kindly  consented  to 
act  as  agents  to  represent  Alabama's  interest  at  the  Exposition. 

The  Commissioners  at  the  Paris  Universal  Exposition,  severally 
made  reports  which  were  published,  in  six  volumes,  by  order  of 
Congress.  The  third  volume,  profusely  illustrated,  consists  of 
the  Report  of  President  Barnard  on  the  "  Machinery  and  Processes 
of  the  Industrial  Arts;  and  Apparatus  of  the  Exact  Sciences." 
It  is  a  very  elaborate  paper  of  650  pages,  in  print,  justly  placing 
him  in  the  front  rank  of  men  of  science,  in  this  or  any  other 
country. 

JOHN  G.  BARE,  when  a  portionless  boy,  attracted  the  friendly 
notice  of  Mr.  Daniel  M.  Boyd,  a  merchant  tailor  of  Tuskaloosa, 
who  sent  him  to  the  University  of  Alabama,  where  he  graduated 
with  the  first  honor,  in  the  class  of  1841.  Afterward  he  was  em 
ployed  as  a  tutor,  and  gave  himself  up  to  his  passion  for  elegant 
literature,  in  which  he  excelled  as  a  writer  and  speaker.  No  one 
ever  left  the  institution  with  more  credit.  In  the  Mexican  war 
he  was  Captain  of  a  company  of  volunteers  from  Tuskaloosa 
county. 

His  service  in  the  Mexican  war  gave  him  great  popularity  at 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  709 

home.  On  his  return,  he  was  for  some  time  connected  with  the 
editorship  of  the  "Flag  of  the  Union/'  the  organ  of  the  Demo 
cratic  party.  In  the  meantime,  his  lively  and  graphic  pen  furnished 
many  articles  for  the  Northern  magazines  and  papers,  which  af 
forded  him  a  liberal  compensation.  He  wrote  tine  things  for 
"  Porter's  Spirit  of  the  Times,"  in  New  York,  which  were  much 
admired  by  the  public. 

In  1856,  Capt.  Barr  was  appointed  on  the  Electoral  ticket,  and 
canvassed  with  great  power  and  effect  for  Buchanan  and  Breckin- 
ridge.  His  political  information  was  sound,  and  his  style  of  speak 
ing  very  attractive.  Crowds  followed  to  hear  him.  At  the  session 
of  the  Legislature  in  1857,  a  flattering  testimonial  was  furnished 
him,  signed  by  all  the  Democratic  members,  and  the  President  of 
the  Senate,  and  the  Speaker  of  the  House,  recommending  the 
President  to  give  him  an  appointment  worthy  of  his  distinguished 
talents  and  great  party  services.  He  visited  Washington,  and 
delivered  his  papers.  After  some  delay,  President  Buchanan  gave 
him  the  Consulship  at  Melbourne  (in  Australia).  While  on  his 
passage,  he  died  at  sea,  and  was  buried  in  its  billows,  whose  dirge 
was  his  only  requiem.  In  the  Summer  of  1858,  a  Montgomery 
paper  thus  announced  the  sad  event : 

DEATH  OF  CAPT.  JOHN  G.  BARR. — It  will  be  seen  from  the  official  notice  from 
the  State  Department,  published  in  another  column,  that  Capt.  John  Q.  Barr,  of 
this  State,  lately  appointed  United  States  Consul  at  Melbourne,  died  on  his  way  to 
his  station,  on  the  18th  of  May  last,  from  sunstroke.  This  will  be  melancholy 
tidings  to  the  numerous  friends  of  this  gentleman,  and  especially  to  the  citizens 
of  Tuskaloosa,  where  he  was  well  known  and  highly  appreciated  for  his  many 
virtues.  In  the  death  of  Capt.  Barr,  Alabama  loses  a  patriotic  and  valuable  citi 
zen — a  son  whose  future  promised  to  adorn  a  bright  page  in  her  history. 

JEREMIAH  CLEMENS,  in  addition  to  authorship,  was  a  politi 
cian.  His  course  in  the  Legislature,  and  in  the  Senate  of  the 
United  States,  has  been  noticed  elsewhere  in  this  volume;  also 
the  works  which  he  published. 

Miss  AUGUSTA  J.  EVANS,  a  native  of  Georgia,  first  appeared 
before  the  public  in  1859,  as  the  author  of  "Beulah,"  a  novel  of 
great  intellectual  power  and  graphic  force,  which  secured  at  once 
a  reputation  among  the  very  highest  in  that  department  of  litera 
ture.  This  work  was  succeeded  by  "Macaria,  or  the  Altar  of 
Sacrifice,"  "St.  Elmo,"  and  "Vashti."  Her  earliest  production 
was  "Inez,  a  Tale  of  the  Alamo."  Miss  Evans  resided  in  Mobile 
during  the  composition  of  her  works,  except  the  first,  when  her 
parents  were  in  Texas.  In  the  meantime,  the  family  name  has 
been  changed,  and  she  is  now  Mrs.  Wilson,  as  happy  in  domestic 
life  as  she  was  brilliant  in  another  sphere. 

MRS.  CAROLINE  LEE  HENTZ  is  a  Northern  lady,  whose  family 
name  was  Whiting.  She  married  Professor  Hentz,  of  the 


710  Reminisc&ices  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

versity  of  North  Carolina.  Afterward,  they  removed  to  Alabama, 
and,  for  a  number  of  years,  resided  in  Florence.  About  1842, 
they  came  to  Tu$kaloosa,  and,  for  several  years,  had  charge  of  the 
Female  Institute  under  the  patronage  of  the  Presbyterian  Church. 
Thence  Mrs.  Hentz  removed  to  Columbus,  Georgia,  where  she 
was  Principal  of  a  Female  Seminary.  While  on  a  visit  to  one  of 
her  married  daughters,  in  Florida,  she  died  there  in  1856. 

She  wrote  "De  Lara,  or  The  Moorish  Bride,"  a  dramatic  poem, 
to  which  was  awarded  a  prize  of  $500.  It  was  performed  in  the 
Philadelphia  Theaters,  and  had  quite  a  run.  Her  other  works 
have  been — 

1.  Aunt  Patty's  Scrap  Bag.     1846. 

2.  The  Mob  Cap.     1848. 

3.  Linda,  or  The  Young  Pilot  of  the  Belle  Creole.     1850. 

4.  Rena,  or  The  Snow-Bird.     1851. 

5.  Marcias  Moreland,  or  The  Long  Moss  Spring.     1852. 

6.  Eoline,  or  Magnolia  Vale,     1852. 

7.  Wild  Jack.     1853. 

8.  Helen  and  Arthur,  or  Miss  Theresa's  Spinning  Wheel.   1853. 

9.  The  Planter's  Northern  Bride.     1854. 
10.  Ernest  Linwood.     1856. 

Many  of  these  works  have  been  republished  by  the  book-sellers 
in  uniform  editions,  and  have  had  quite  a  circulation. 

The  fact  that  Mrs.  Hentz  resided  many  years  in  Alabama,  and 
became  cordially  identified  in  feeling  with  Southern  society,  gives 
us  the  right  to  enroll  her  bright  name  among  the  professional 
authors  of  the  State. 

HENRY  W.  HILLIARD  was  born  in  North  Carolina,  in  1808, 
arid  now  resides  at  Augusta,  Georgia.  The  prime  of  his  life  was 
passed  in  Alabama,  where  he  attained  high  public  honors.  These 
are  noticed  under  another  head  in  this  work.  A  volume  of  his 
Speeches,  Essays  and  Addresses,  on  various  occasions,  was  pub 
lished  many  years  ago  by  Harper  &  Brothers,  New  York.  He 
is  a  gentleman  of  culture  and  refinement,  and  so  far  as  he  has 
acted  the  part  of  author,  in  annotations  to  "Roman  Nights/'  he 
has  been  successful. 

JOHNSON  J.  HOOPER,  as  author  of  "Simon  Suggs,"  and  other 
tales  of  a  grotesque  yet  popular  class,  enjoyed  a  large  degree  of 
public  favor  in  his  day.  Remarks  on  his  life,  and  as  a  writer,  will 
be  found  elsewhere  in  this  volume. 

MRS.  OCTA  VIA  WALTON  LE  VERT,  a  grand-daughter  of  George 
Walton,  one  of  the  signers  of  the  Declaration  of  American  Inde- 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Mm  in  Alabama.  71 1 

pendence  in  1776,  was  born  at  Augusta,  Georgia.  Thence  her  fa 
ther  removed  to  Pensacola,  Florida,  in  1832.  In  one  of  her  jour 
neys  in  the  stage,  before  the  time  of  railroads,  she  traveled  a  few 
days  most  agreeably  with  Washington  Irwing,  then  on  his  journey 
to  or  from  the  far  West.  She  frequently  visited  Washington  City, 
where  she  passed  much  of  her  time,  and  was  an  attentive  listener 
to  the  debates  of  Congress — occasionally  taking  notes  of  such  speak 
ers  as  Clay,  Calhoun,  Webster,  McDuffie  and  Benton ;  and  then 
in  social  argumentation  with  some  of  these  gentlemen,  she  would 
greatly  surprise  them  by  quoting  their  own  language. 

In  1836,  she  married  Dr.  Henry  S.  Levert,  of  Mobile.  She 
made  two  visits  to  Europe,  and  went  to  Rome,  where  she  was  pre 
sented  to  His  Holiness  the  Pope.  An  account  of  the  interview  is 
given  in  her  "Souvenirs  of  Travel/7  published  in  two  volumes 
after  her  return,  in  1857.  She  has  written  many  fine  things,  and 
has  been  quite  a  favorite  with  the  public.  For  the  last  several 
years,  she  has  resided  in  the  city  of  New  York. 

ALEXANDER  BEAUFORT  MEEK  was  born  in  Columbia,  South 
Carolina,  in  the  year  1814.  His  father,  Dr.  Samuel  Meek,  after 
ward  removed  to  Alabama,  and  settled  in  Tuskaloosa,  where  the 
son  graduated  in  the  State  University,  with  the  degree  of  Master 
of  Arts,  in  the  class  of  1833. 

After  completing  a  course  of  legal  studies,  he  was  admitted  to 
the  bar  in  1835.  In  the  Spring  of  1836,  he  volunteered,  and 
served  a  campaign  of  three  months,  as  a  non-commissioned  officer 
in  the  Indian  war  in  Florida.  On  his  return,  he  was  appointed 
by  Gov.  Clay  Attorney-General  of  the  State,  to  fill  a  vacancy. 

After  retiring  from  this  office,  Mr.  Meek  devoted  himself  mainly 
to  letters,  arid  to  composition,  for  which  purpose,  as  early  as  1835, 
he  was  connected  with  the  press  as  editor  of  the  "Flag  of  the 
Union,"  a  Democratic  paper  published  at  Tuskaloosa.  In  1839, 
he  edited  a  monthly  called  the  "Southron,"  and  in  1842,  was  ap 
pointed  by  the  Governor  Judge  of  the  County  Court  of  Tuska 
loosa  county,  to  fill  the  unexpired  term  of  Judge  M.  D.  Williams, 
who,  on  arriving  at  seventy  years  of  age,  was  rendered  ineli 
gible  by  the  Constitution.  In  1842,  he  published  a  "Supple 
ment"  to  the  Digest  of  Alabama.  In  1844,  he  visited  Washing 
ton  City  as  the  bearer  of  the  Electoral  vote  of  the  State,  and 
accompanied  Mr.  Wrilliam  L.  Yancey  on  the  field  when  he  fought 
a  duel  with  Mr.  Clingman,  of  North  Carolina. 

In  1845,  Judge  Meek  was  appointed  Law  Clerk  to  the  Solici 
tor  of  the  Treasury,  and  resided  a  year  in  Washington  City.  In 
1846,  he  was  appointed  by  President,  Polk  United  States  Attor 
ney  for  the  Southern  District  of  Alabama,  which  office  he  held 
four  years,  making  his  future  home  in  Mobile.  From  1848  to 


712  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

1853,  lie  was  associate  editor  of  the  "Mobile  Daily  Register.'* 
In  1853,  he  was  elected  a  Representative  in  the  Legislature,  and, 
as  Chairman  of  the  Committee  on  Education,  reported  the  bill  to 
"establish  and  maintain  a  system  of  free  public  schools  in  the 
State  of  Alabama."  The  report  which  accompanied  the  bill  was 
exceeding  able,  and  forms  more  than  eight  pages  of  the  printed 
Journal.  To  show  the  high  appreciation  by  the  House  of  these 
two  documents,  five  thousand  copies  of  the  bill,  and  ten  thousand 
copies  of  the  report,  were  ordered  to  be  printed.  This  produc 
tion  of  Judge  Meek,  so  creditable  to  his  intellect  and  his  heart,  is 
too  lengty  to  be  incorporated  here.  Its  perusal  will  amply  com 
pensate  the  intelligent  reader. 

In  1854,  he  was  elected  Judge  of  the  City  Court  of  Mobile,  a 
place  of  considerable  labor  and  emoluments,  yet  affording  suffi 
cient  leisure  to  communicate  with  the  press.  In  1855,  he  pub 
lished  "  The  Red  Eagle/'  a  poem  of  the  South,  in  a  very  beautiful 
volume,  and  in  1857,  he  gave  the  public  a  volume  of  "Orations, 
Sketches  and  Essays,  Romantic  Passages  in  South-Western  His 
tory,"  and  "Songs  and  Poems  of  the  South."  These  are  mainly 
collections  which  had  been  contributed  to  the  magazines  and 
papers,  at  intervals  more  or  less  distant,  from  the  time  he  left 
college,  at  the  age  of  nineteen — all  forming  an  adequate  founda 
tion  on  which  to  rest  his  fame  as  a  scholar  and  a  poet. 

In  1859,  Judge  Meek  was  again  returned  to  the  Legislature, 
and  was  elected  Speaker  of  the  House  of  Representatives.  He 
had  nearly  completed  a  History  of  Alabama,  when  the  war  broke 
out  in  1861,  which  prevented  its  publication.  He  was  certainly 
well  qualified  for  the  labor  which  he  had  undertaken,  and  it  is  to 
be  hoped  that  at  some  future  day,  when  the  political  pressure  on 
the  South  shall  undergo  some  degree  of  amelioration,  and  sec 
tional  and  individual  prosperity  revive,  the  work  will  be  pub 
lished,  as  a  worthy  companion  to  Pickett's  History,  brought  down, 
perhaps,  to  a  later  period. 

One  of  the  early  effusions  of  Judge  Meek  was  set  to  music, 
about  the  year  1840,  and  has  been  much  admired.  It  is  here 
reproduced  for  the  grandeur  of  its  sentiments,  as  well  as  for  the 
beauty  of  the  composition : 

LAND  OF  THE  SOUTH. 

Land  of  the  South — imperial  land — 

How  proud  thy  mountains  rise ! 
How  sweet  thy  scenes  on  every  hand — 

How  fair  thy  evening  skies ! 
But  not  for  this — oh  !  not  for  these — 

I  love  thy  fields  to  roam  ; 
Thou  hast  a  dearer  spell  to  me, 

Thou  art  my  native  home ! r 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  713 

Thy  rivers  roll  their  liquid  wealth, 

Unequalled  to  the  sea  ; ' 
Thy  hills  and  valleys  bloom  with  health, 

And  green  with  verdure  be  ! 
But  not  for  thy  proud  ocean  streams — 

Nor  for  thine  azure  dome — 
Sweet,  sunny  South,  I  cling  to  thee ; 

Thou  art  my  native  home  ! 

I've  stood  beneath  Italia' s  clime, 

Beloved  of  tale  and  song ; 
On  Helvyn's  hills,  proud  and  sublime, 

Where  Nature's  wonders  throng; 
By  Tempe's  classic,  sunlit  streams, 

Where  gods  of  old  did  roam ; 
But  ne'er  have  found  so  fair  a  land 

As  thou,  my  native  home  ! 

And  thou  hast  prouder  glories,  too, 

Than  Nature  ever  gave ; 
Peace  sheds  o'er  thee  her  genial  dew, 

And  Freedom's  pinions  wave — 
Fair  science  flings  her  pearls  around, 

Religion  lifts  her  dome  ; 
These,  these  endear  thee  to  my  heart, 

My  own  loved  native  home  ! 

And  "  Heaven's  best  gift  to  man  "  is  thine — 

God  bless  the  rosy  girls  ! 
Like  sylvan  flowers,  they  sweetly  shine — 

Their  hearts  are  pure  as  pearls  I 
And  grace  and  goodness  circle  them, 

Where'er  their  footsteps  roam  ; 
How  can  I  then,  whilst  loving  them, 

Not  love  my  native  home  ? 

Land  of  the  South — imperial  land — 

Then  here's  a  health  to  thee: 
Long  as  thy  mountain  barrier's  stand, 

May'st  thou  be  blessed  and  free  ; 
May  dark  dissension's  banner  ne'er 

Wave  o'  er  thy  fertile  loam  ; 
But  should  it  come,  there's  one  will  die 

To  save  his  native  home ! 

In  1841,  he  delivered  a  discourse  before  the  Literary  Societies 
of  LaGrange  College,  Alabama,  which  was  published,  by  request, 
in  a  pamphlet  of  30  pages.  It  is  entitled  "  Jack-Cadeism  and  the 
Fine  Arts."  He  delivered  many  addresses  of  the  kind  in  differ 
ent  States,  always  with  great  brilliancy  and  applause. 

While  residing  in  Mobile,  Judge  Sleek  married  Mrs.  Slatter, 
a  lady  of  considerable  wealth,  the  widow  of  Hope  Hull  Slatter, 
Esq.,  formerly  of  Georgia.  After  her  death,  he  married  Miss 
Cannon,  the  daughter  of  a  distinguished  citizen  of  Lowndes 
county,  Mississippi.  Judge  Meek  then  changed  his  residence  to 
Columbus,  in  that  State,  where  he  died,  in  the  Fall  of  1865,  aged 
fifty-one  years. 


N 

A  Reminiscences  of  Public  fifen  in  Alabama. 

ALBERT  JAMES  PICKETT,  born  in  Anson  County,  North  Caro 
lina,  in  1810,  canie  with  his  father,  Col.  William  R.  Pickett,  to 
Autauga  county,  Alabama,  in  1818.  In  acquiring  fortune  and  in 
fluence,  they  were  both  successful. 

A  biographical  sketch  of  Col.  A.  J.  Pickett,  written  by  Gen. 
C.  M.  Jackson,  was  published  in  pamphlet  form  in  1859.  Many 
interesting  passages  might  be  quoted,  if  space  would  allow. 

A  few  facts  from  the  memoir  must  suffice.  In  1832,  Col. 
Pickett  married  Miss  Sarah.  Smith,  eldest  daughter  of  William 
Harris,  Esq.  In  1836,  he  was  Aid  to  Gov.  Clay,  and  acted  as 
Assistant  Adjutant-General  in  the  Creek  war. 

In  1853,  the  name  of  Col.  Pickett  was  connected  in  the  public 
prints  with  the  nomination  for  Governor,  and  the  suggestion  was 
received  with  general  favor;  but  he  was  then  engaged  in  writing 
a  "History  of  the  South- West,"  and  declined  to  permit  the  use 
of  his  name  for  the  office.  He  was  a  prolific  and  entertaining 
writer,  and  gave  many  articles  and  sketches  to  the  newspaper 
press,  which  were  much  admired. 

A  few  years  before  his  death,  he  connected  himself  with  the 
Protestant  Episcopal  Church.  He  died  in  peace,  on  the  28th  day 
of  October,  1858,  at  the  age  of  forty-eight  years.  Thus  passed 
away  a  good  and  useful  man,  in  the  meridian  of  life.  In  conclu 
sion,  a  paragraph  from  the  "Sketch,"  by  Gen.  Jackson,  is  given: 

He  outlived  his  entire  family — father,  mother,  brother  and  sister — and  his  off 
spring  now  constitute  a  new  generation,  without  a  single  living  link  to  connect  it 
with  a  former  one.  He  left  a  devoted  wife,  several  affectionate  children,  and 
many  friends,  to  deplore  his  untimely  death ;  besides  the  proper  appreciation  by 
the  public  of  what  may  be  deemed  a  great  calamity — that  of  the  loss  of  one  who 
had  so  largely  contributed  to  the  general  welfare.  His  remains  were  followed  by 
a  large  concourse  of  relatives  and  friends,  and  interred  in  the  burying  ground  at 
the  old  family  residence  in  Autauga  county,  which  Col.  Pickett  had  inherited  — 
where  are  also  the  graves  of  his  father,  mother,  and  other  members  of  the  family. 

DR.  SAMUEL  C.  OLIVER  was  a  gentleman  of  letters,  who  re 
sided  at  Montgomery.  He  was  a  chaste  and  spirited  writer,  and 
contributed  many  articles  to  the  press.  He  wrote  a  political  ro 
mance,  "Onslow,"  which  is  more  particularly  noticed  in  a  sketch 
of  the  public  life  of  Dr.  Oliver,  to  be  found  in  another  chapter. 

WILLIAM  RUSSELL  SMITH  has  written  and  published  several 
books,  as  will  appear  in  the  notice  of  his  public  career  to  be  found 
elsewhere  in  this  volume.  He  wields  a  classical  pen,  and  his 
laurels  are  always  verdant. 

Miss  MILDRED  LOUISE  TARVER  has  a  claim  upon  public  favor, 
though  not  in  the  capacity  of  an  author  of  books,  it  may  be.  S  e 
was  raised  in  Montgomery  county,  and  her  mind  became  ear  y 
imbued  with  the  love  of  art.  She  painted  the  fine  and  much  ad- 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  715 

mired  portrait  of  Gen.  Clanton,  which  has  been  suspended  in  the 
Representative  Hall. 

The  author  has  endeavored  to  include  in  this  chapter  all  the 
names  within  his  knowledge  more  or  less  attached  to  literature  as 
a  profession,  or  who  have  contributed  freely  to  the  press  as  ama 
teur  writers.  In  addition  to  those  already  mentioned,  he  sub 
joins,  from  a  volume  entitled  "The  Living  Female  Writers  of 
the  South,"  the  following  in  Alabama: 

Madame  Adalaide  De  V.  Chaudron,  Miss  Kate  Gumming, 
Miss  Annie  Creight  Floyd,  Mrs.  E.  W.  Belamy,  Mary  E.  Cruse, 
Lilian  Rozell  Messenger,  Sarah  E.  Peck,  Julia  L.  Keyes,  Ina  M. 
Porter  Henry,  Catharine  W.  Towles,  Mrs.  Julia  Shelton,  Mary 
Ware,  Mrs.  E.  L.  Saxon,  S.  S.  Crute,  Anna  Tredair,  Caroline 
Theresa  Branch,  Bettie  Keyes  Hunter. 

Although  not  an  author,  in  a  literary  sense,  Mr.  William  C. 
Sanders,  a  native  of  Alabama,  deserves  favorable  mention,  as  an 
artist  of  recognized  merit.  He  passed  several  years  at  Rome,  in 
prosecuting  his  studies  as  a  portrait  painter,  and  now  justly  ranks 
among  the  most  eminent  of  his  profession  in  this  country. 


CHAPTER  XLI. 

Administrations  Noticed — Sketches  of  Governors  Fitzpatrick,  Collier, 
Moore,  Shorter,  and  Watts. 

In  other  parts  of  this  work  notices  appear  of  Governors  Bagby, 
Martin,  Chapman,  Winston,  Parsons,  Patton,  and  Lindsay,  with  a 
brief  outline  of  their  several  administrations.  Space  here  will 
not  permit  an  extensive  review  of  the  official  course  of  the  gen 
tlemen  whose  names  are  at  the  head  of  this  chapter.  A  mere 
outline,  in  the  personal  narrative,  must  suffice. 

BENJAMIN  FITZPATRICK  deserves  commemoration  for  his  vir 
tues  as  a  citizen  and  patriot,  and  for  faithful  service  in  the  highest 
positions  of  the  State.  He  was  a  native  of  Georgia,  and  when 
quite  a  young  man  came  to  Alabama,  about  the  year  1818,  when 
it  was  a  Territory.  He  read  law  in  the  office  of  the  Hon.  Nim- 
rod  E.  Benson,  and  after  his  admission  to  the  bar,  he  settled  in 


716  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

Montgomery,  where  he  formed  a  professional  partnership  with 
Henry  Goldthwaite,  Esq. 

In  1819,  he  was  elected  Solicitor  of  the  Montgomery  Circuit, 
and  reflected  in  1823.  In  the  meantime,  he  married  a  daughter 
of  Gen.  John  Elmore,  formerly  of  South  Carolina.  By  this  alli 
ance  he  became  the  brother-in-law  of  Hon.  Franklin  Elmore, 
subsequently  a  Senator  in  Congress  from  South  Carolina;  of  John 
A.  Elmore,  Esq.,  of  Montgomery;  of  William  Elmore,  Esq.,  At 
torney-General  of  Louisiana;  of  the  Hon.  Henry  M.  Elmore,  of 
Macon  county;  of  the  Hon.  Rush  Elmore,  Judge  of  the  United 
States  Court  in  Kansas,  and  of  Albert  Elmore,  Esq.,  late  Secre 
tary  of  State,  and  Collector  of  the  Port  of  Mobile.  The  Hon. 
Dixon  H.  Lewis  married  a  sister  of  Mrs.  Fitzpatrick.  This  large 
family  influence  contributed  to  the  building  up  of  his  fortunes. 
In  a  few  years  after  his  marriage,  he  retired  from  the  bar,  owing 
to  failing  health,  and  settled  on  his  plantation  in  Autauga  county, 
where  he  devoted  himself  successfully  to  agricultural  pursuits. 

In  1840,  as  an  Elector  on  the  Democratic  ticket,  he  visited  dif 
ferent  parts  of  the  State,  and  addressed  the  people  on  the  issues 
of  the  day,  boldly  and  explicitly  defending  the  measures  of  the 
administration,  which  had  been  assailed  by  the  Whig  party.  The 
result  of  the  election  is  well  known  for  the  large  majority  in  Ala 
bama  cast  for  Mr.  Van  Buren. 

In  the  Winter  of  1840,  Col.  Fitzpatrick  was  presented  as  the 
Democratic  candidate  for  Governor,  and  was  elected  over  his 
opponent,  Col.  James  W.  McClung — the  vote  being  27,974  against 
21,219,  showing  a  majority  of  6,755.  An  abstract  of  his  mes 
sages  indicates  his  policy  on  the  many  subjects  of  legislation,  which 
proved  so  popular  that  he  was  reflected  Governor  in  1843,  with 
out  opposition.  On  his  retiring  from  office,  in  1845,  resolutions, 
offered  by  the  Hon.  B.  F.  Porter,  were  unanimously  adopted  by 
the  General  Assembly,  approving  his  administration,  and  cordially 
respectful  personally. 

On  the  death  of  Mr.  Lewis,  in  1848,  Gov.  Chapman  appointed 
Gov.  Fitzpatrick  to  fill  the  unexpired  term  in  the  Senate  of  the 
United  States.  In  1853,  he  succeeded  Col.  King  in  the  Senate, 
by  the  appointment  of  Gov.  Collier,  and  was  elected  by  the  Leg 
islature  to  serve  the  unexpired  term.  In  1855,  he  was  reflected 
to  the  Senate  for  a  term  of  six  years.  The  highest  honor  of  the 
Senate  was  conferred  upon  him,  in  his  election  as  President  of  the 
Senate,  pro  tempore,  in  which  capacity  he  served  four  sessions  of 
Congress. 

The  eyes  of  the  whole  country  had  been  turned  upon  him  for 
the  purity  of  his  character.  At  the  Democratic  Convention  in 
Baltimore,  1860,  he  was  nominated  for  the  office,  of  Vice-President 
of  the  United  States,  on  the  ticket  with  Mr.  Douglas,  who  was  the 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  717 

nominee  for  President.  Much  to  the  disappointment  of  his  friends, 
and  to  the  regret  of  the  party,  he  declined  the  nomination.  The 
Hon.  Herschel  V.  Johnson,  of  Georgia,  was  then  placed  on  the 
ticket. 

When  Alabama  seceded  from  the  Union,  in  1861,  Gov.  Fitz- 
patrick  withdrew  from  the  Senate,  as  did  the  entire  delegation 
from  Congress,  from  a  sense  of  duty,  as  owing  paramount  allegi 
ance  to  the  State.  When  the  war  terminated,  in  1865,  and  Pres 
ident  Johnson  appointed  a  Provisional  Governor  for  Alabama  to 
execute  his  policy  for  reconstructing  the  rebel  States,  a  Convention 
of  the  people  was  ordered  to  form  a  new  Constitution.  Governor 
Fitzpatrick  was  elected  a  delegate  from  Autauga  county,  and  was 
chosen  President  of  the  Convention.  This  was  his  last  public 
service. 

The  effects  of  the  \var  on  the  South,  and  his  own  losses  by  the 
emancipation  of  his  large  slave  property,  no  doubt  preyed  upon 
his  spirits,  though  he  generally  appeared  cheerful.  After  a  short 
illness  he  died,  November  21,  1869,  aged  about  seventy  years. 

The  next  day,  Gov.  Smith  transmitted  a  special  message,  an 
nouncing  the  sad  event,  and  resolutions  were  adopted  by  the  Leg 
islature  in  terms  of  eulogy  and  condolence.  The  members  of  the 
two  Houses  attended  the  funeral  as  chief  mourners.  A  very  hand 
some  monument  has  since  been  erected,  by  the  family,  over  the 
remains  of  Gov.  Fitzpatrick,  in  the  cemetery  near  Montgomery. 

The  leading  feature  in  his  character  was  integrity — stern  and 
inflexible.  This  he  never  compromised  for  any  purpose  whatever. 
He  never  wore  the  mask  of  hypocrisy.  Always  bland  and  cour 
teous,  he  never  promised  with  the  intention  to  deceive,  nor  did 
he  profess  friendship  which  he  did  not  really  feel.  As  a  states 
man  he  was  actuated  by  honest  principles,  and  never  for  a  selfish 
object.  He  was  the  patron  of  economy,  and  exerted  himself1  to 
cut  off  all  unnecessary  expenditures  of  the  public  money.  In 
this  respect  his  example  deserves  all  commendation.  He  inspected 
the  whole  minutia  of  Government  entrusted  to  his  care,  and  he 
required  all  the  officers  designated  to  aid  in  the  execution  of  the 
laws,  and  to  perform  certain  duties,  to  act  their  parts  faithfully; 
or,  if  in  default,  to  substitute  others  in  their  place.  All  his  official 
labor  and  obligations  were  promptly  performed.  It  was  his  priv 
ilege,  as  it  certainly  was  his  inclination,  to  exact  the  same  of 
others,  for  the  public  interest.  My  official  connection  with  Gov. 
Fitzpatrick,  throughout  his  administration,  and  our  intimate  per 
sonal  relations,  enable  me  to  bear  this  testimony  to  his  exalted 
worth. 

Soon  after  his  term  of  office  expired,  in  1845,  being  several 
years  a  widower,  Gov.  Fitzpatrick  married  Miss  Aurelia  Blassin- 
game,  a  very  accomplished  daughter  of  William  E.  Blassingame, 


718  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

a  prominent  and  wealthy  citizen  of  Perry  county.  She  contrib 
uted  greatly  to  his  happiness;  and  in  the  elegant  and  refined  so 
ciety  among  the  families  of  members  of  Congress,  and  other  cul 
tivated  people  who  assembled  at  Washington,  she  was  distinguished 
for  intelligence,  and  for  the  grace  and  dignity  of  her  deportment. 
In  the  Summer  of  1872,  she  followed  her  gentle  and  affectionate 
husband  to  the  tomb. 

HENRY  WATSON  COLLIER  was  born  in  Lunenburg  county,  Vir 
ginia,  in  the  year  1801.  He  obtained  a  classical  education,  and 
was  sometime  a  papil  of  Dr.  Moses  Waddell,  in  his  celebrated 
school,  at  Willington,  South  Carolina,  where  George  McDuffie, 
James  L.  Petigru,  Augustus  B.  Longstreet,  and  others  known  to 
fame,  were  educated.  After  pursuing  a  course  of  legal  studies, 
he  was  admitted  to  the  bar,  and  settled  in  Huntsville,  Alabama. 
Remaining  there  only  a  short  time  in  the  practice  of  his  profes 
sion,  he  changed  his  residence  to  Tuskaloosa,  where  he  resided 
until  his  death.  At  an  early  day,  he  was  elected  to  the  Legis 
lature. 

His  proficiency  as  a  lawyer  caused  him  to  be  elected  to  the 
Circuit  Bench  at  the  age  of  twenty-seven  years,  in  which  station 
he  continued  until  1836,  when  he  was  elected  an  Associate  Justice 
of  the  Supreme  Court.  A  vacancy  having  occurred  in  the  mean 
time,  he  was  made  Chief  Justice,  an  office  which  he  held  until  he 
was  elected  Governor  in  1849.  He  was  reflected  Governor,  in 
1851,  and,  at  the  expiration  of  his  term,  in  1853,  he  retired  to 
private  life.  His  health  having  failed,  he  visited  the  Bailey 
Springs,  near  Florence,  in  the  Summer  of  1855,  where  he  died. 

Gov.  Collier  was  no  ordinary  man,  and  it  was  his  good  fortune 
to  have  a  wife  of  congenial  taste,  who  made  his  home  happy. 
With  such  a  stimulus  to  virtue  and  ambition,  it  appeared  an  easy 
task  for  him  to  reach  high  places,  and  to  dispense  a  liberal  and 
elegant  hospitality.  He  married  Miss  Mary  Battle,  of  North 
Carolina,  a  sister  of  Alfred  Battle,  Esq.,  of  Tuskaloosa.  They 
were  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  and  their 
houses  were  the  preachers7  homes  whenever  they  visited  the  city. 
The  Rev.  Bishop  Capers  was  the  guest  of  Judge  Collier,  in  1846, 
and,  in  1847,  he  entertained,  in  like  manner,  the  Rev.  Henry  B. 
Bascom,  while  those  distinguished  ministers  were  on  their  travels, 
and  before  the  latter  was  elected  Bishop.  At  the  Annual  Confer 
ence,  in  January,  1847,  the  venerable  Bishop  Soule  was  his  guest. 
Standing  at  the  very  head  of  society,  with  all  the  appliances  of 
wealth  and  refinement  to  grace  their  mansion,  Judge  Collier  and 
his  lady  \vere  the  first  in  influence  and  position  to  attract  all  en 
lightened  strangers,  and  to  afford  them  a  social  entertainment 
whenever  circumstances  permitted.  Lpng  will  their  kindness  be 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  719 

held  in  grateful  remembrance  by  hundreds  who  shared  their  beau 
tiful  hospitality.  It  is  pleasant  to  record  these  things.  Since  the 
death  of  her  husband,  that  refined  and  pious  lady,  who  presided 
with  so  much  dignity  and  ease  in  her  household,  has  gone  to  join 
him  in  a  better  world.  They  have  left  several  children  to  emu 
late  their  virtues,  and  to  be  cheered  by  their  example. 

When  first  I  knew  Judge  Collier,  in  1837,  he  was  on  the  bench 
of  the  Supreme  Court,  with  Ormond  and  Goldthwaite,  his  asso 
ciates.  I  ascertained,  that  while  presiding  in  the  Circuit  Court, 
which,  by  alternation  of  the  Judges  as  required  by  law,  led  him, 
at  different  times,  to  almost  every  county  in  the  State,  he  never 
failed  to  give  entire  satisfaction  to  the  bar,  and  to  all  parties  inter 
ested.  His  very  looks  on  the  judgment  seat  inspired  respect  and 
confidence.  At  all  times  patient  and  dignified,  he  listened  atten 
tively  to  the  the  arguments  of  the  veriest  junior  of  the  profes 
sion,  and  with  words  of  kindness,  and  looks  of  affability,  would 
encourage  him  to  proceed,  until  his  diffidence  was  overcome. 

To  an  example  so  worthy,  it  may  be  added,  as  best  of 'all,  that 
Gov.  Collier  was  the  finest  specimen  of  a  Christian-  gentleman. 
He  had  been  many  years  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  in  which  he  held  official  relations  as  steward  and  leader. 
He  often  prayed  in  public,  and  in  his  family  he  was  punctual  in 
his  morning  and  evening  devotions,  having  set  up  the  family  altar, 
and  never  allowing  it  to  be  neglected  when  present.  In  assessing 
contributions  for  the  support  of  the  stationed  minister  and  his 
family,  he  gave  annually  one  hundred  dollars,  and  a  like  sum  was 
paid,  each,  by  Judge  Ormond,  Gen.  Dent,  Alfred  Battle,  Willis 
Banks,  Edward  B.  Vaughn,  and  David  Scott,  all  men  of  wealth, 
and  members  of  the  church — the  seven  bearing  about  half  the 
expenses  required  to  support  the  household  at  the  parsonage., 
Such  liberality  may  not  now  be  expected,  from  the  altered  cir 
cumstances  of  men. 

It  may  be  as  well  to  notice  here,  as  at  any  other  point  of  this 
narrative,  that  the  Reports  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  Alabama, 
now  extending  to  some  forty  volumes,  contain  the  opinions  de 
livered  by  Chief-Justice  Collier,  which  form  his  most  enduring 
monument.  His  power  of  analysis,  when  handling  the  intricacies 
of  a  case,  and  the  statement  of  authorities,  show  the  grasp  of  his 
mind,  and  its  mature  discipline  in  legal  science.  He  was  an  in 
dustrious  worker,  and  never  favored  himself  when  public  duties 
required  a  sacrifice  of  his  personal  comfort.  Not  only.were  his 
days  given  to  the  Supreme  Court,  but  late  hours  of  the  night 
found  him  in  his  office,  examining  authorities,  and  writing  out  his 
opinions.  He  occasionally  had  leisure  to  visit  his  plantation,  early 
in  the  morning  or  late  in  the  afternoon,  and  this  exercise  was  ben 
eficial  to  his  health  and  spirits.**"  No  such  thing  as  idleness  01 


720  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

languor  was  permitted  to  waste  his  time — all  was  cheerfulness  and 
activity  in  his  employments. 

In  his  message  to  the  Legislature  at  the  session  of  1855,  Gov. 
Winston  said : 

While  the  industry  of  the  planter  has  thus  been  rewarded,  we  have  been  exempt 
from  the  devastating  ravages  of  disease,  to  the  extent  that  others  have  suffered. 
Though  we  have  been  so  spared  and  blessed  as  a  people,  yet  we  have  to  regret  the 
loss  of  some  of  our  most  worthy  and  estimable  citizens.  Of  the  number  whose 
death  we  have  to  deplore,  is  my  immediate  predecessor,  the  Hon.  Henry  W.  Collier, 
who,  in  the  vigor  of  physical  and  mental  ability,  addressed  you  the  last  biennial 
communication,  from  this  department.  He  had  been  long  honorably  connected 
with  the  public  service  in  this  State,  and  at  all  times  enjoyed  the  confide'nce  of 
those  who  knew  him,  as  a  man  of  ability,  integrity,  and  sterling  worth.  He  died 
in  the  northern  part  of  the  State,  whither  he  had  gone  to  recruit  his  health.  In 
his  death  the  community  have  lost  a  good  citizen,  and  the  State  a  faithful  servant. 

JOINT   RESOLUTIONS   IN   REGARD   TO   THE   DEATH    OF   HON.    HENRY   W.    COLLIER. 

1.  Be  it  resolved  by  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives  of  the  State  of  Ala 
bama  in  General  Assembly  convened,  That  as  the  representatives  of  the  people,  we 
owe  a  tribi*te  of  respect  to  the  memory  of  their  distinguished  fellow-citizen,  the 
late  Henry  W.  Collier. 

2.  Be  it  resolved,  That  in  the  language  of  the  Executive,  "he  enjoyed  the  con 
fidence  of  those  who  knew  him,  as  a  man  of  ability,  integrity,  and  public  worth;" 
and  that  we  can  point  with  singular  pride  and  pleasure  to  his  elevated  career  as  a 
statesman  and  a  jurist,  as  furnishing  an  encouraging  example  to  those  aspiring  to 
true  eminence,  by  pursuing  the  path  of  virtue,  of  right,  and  of  honor. 

3.  Be  il  Resolved,  That  as  Alabamians,  we  will  ever  cherish  his  memory  with 
grateful  feelings,  for  his  useful  and  exemplary  life,  and  his  true  devotion  to  the 
interest  of  the  State,  and  with  a  deep  sense  of  our  loss  by  his  death. 

APPROVED,  Jan.  25,  1856. 

ANDREW  B.  MOOKE,  a  native  of  South  Carolina,  was  elected  to 
the  Alabama  House  of  Kepresentatives  from  Perry  county  in 
1839 — a  lawyer  by  profession.  He  was  defeated  by  the  Whigs  in 
J.840,  but  was  elected  in  1842,  and  though  representing  a  South 
ern  county,  he  took  high  ground  in  favor  of  the  white  basis,  of 
North- Alabama  origin,  which  prevailed  in  the  Legislature.  In 
1843,  strong  opposition  was  made  to  him  by  the  Whigs,  on  ac 
count  of  his  vote  for  the  white  basis;  in  spite  of  which,  however, 
he  was  reflected,  as  he  was  also  in  the  years  1843, 1844,  and  1845. 
At  the  three  latter  sessions  he  was  elected  Speaker. 

Mr.  Moore  frequently  called  some  member  to  the  Chair  when 
a  question  was  taken  up  which  he  wished  to  discuss,  and  freely 
mingled  in  debate  on  the  floor.  He  came  with  thorough  prepar 
ation,  and  his  lucid  arguments  had  considerable  influence.  As  a 
party  tactician,  he  was  skilful  and  rigid,  seldom  granting  quarter 
to  an  adversary,  and  always  ready  for  the  contest.  He  possessed 
a  commanding  person  and  expressive  physiognomy,  which  seemed 
to  qualify  him  for  a  leader.  His  mind  was  logical,  and  tenacious 
of  facts,  ever  having  at  his  control  the  necessary  data  to  support 
his  statements  when  required.  He  was,  indeed,  a  prominent 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  721 

figure  in  any  discussion,  particularly  such  as  involved  the  repre 
sentative  character  of  the  Government  and  the  sovereignty  of  the 
State.  On  such  occasions  his  power  was  manifest.  He  seldom 
participated  in  minor  debates,  but  reserved  his  ^strength  for  the 
more  important  topics. 

Mr.  Moore  remained  in  private  life,  after  1845,  until  1850, 
when  he  was  a  candidate  for  Judge  of  the  Circuit  Court,  and  was 
defeated  by  Judge  Phelan.  In  1851,  the  latter  gentleman  was 
promoted  to  the  Bench  of  the  Supreme  Court,  when  Mr.  Moore 
was  appointed,  by  Judge  Collier,  to  fill  the  vacancy  on  the  Circuit 
Bench,  to  which  he  was  regularly  elected  until  1857,  when  he 
was  nominated  by  the  Democratic  party  for  the  office  of  Governor, 
to  succeed  Gov.  Winston.  There  was  quite  a  contest  among  the 
aspirants  of  the  party  for  the  nomination,  but  none  for  Governor. 
He  was  elected  without  opposition.  For  reelection  to  his  second 
term  in  1859,  he  was  opposed  by  William  F.  Samford,  Esq.,  over 
whom  he  obtained  a  large  majority. 

At  the  session  of  the  Legislature,  in  1859,  joint  resolutions 
were  adopted  authorizing  the  Governor  to  call  a  Convention  of 
the  people  of  the  State,  in  the  event  that  an  Abolition  candidate 
was  elected  President  of  the  United  States  in  1860.  This  emer 
gency  having  arisen  by  the  election  of  Mr.  Lincoln,  Gov.  Moore 
promptly  issued  his  proclamation  ordering  an  election  of  delegates 
from  the  several  counties,  to  meet  in  Convention  at  Montgomery, 
in  January,  1861,  for  the  purpose  of  taking  such  steps  as  might  be 
necessary  to  withdraw  the  State  from  the  Union,  as  the  Legisla 
ture  had  directed.  The  Ordinance  of  Secession  was  passed  on 
the  llth  day  of  January.  In  the  meantime,  Gov.  Moore  had  sent 
a  military  command  to  take  possession  of  the  Forts  at  Pensacola, 
Florida,  as  a  precautionary  measure  to  prevent  their  being  occu 
pied  by  the  United  States  troops  as  a  point  from  which  to  invade 
Alabama.  This  step  was  much  commented  upon  in  the  Conven 
tion;  by  some  with  favor,  and  by  others  with  objection.  None, 
however,  questioned  the  patriotic  motives  of  the  Governor,  who 
was  known  to  be  thoroughly  a  secessionist,  and  much  impressed 
with  the  advantages  of  disunion  to  the  South.  The  war  was  fairly 
in  progress  when  he  retired  from  the  Executive  in  November, 
1861;  and  he  was  a  private  citizen  when  the  war  terminated,  in 
1865,  by  surrender,  in  a  manner  wholly  different  from  what  he 
had  anticipated,  when  signing  documents  which  brought  on  the 
difficulty.  He  was  not  alone  in  error,  nor  in  the  integrity  of  his 
conduct,  however  deplorable  the  consequences  to  the  South. 

Gov.  Moore  is  still  living,  though  for  many  years  he  has  suffered 
great  bodily  affliction.     He  is  a  gentleman  of  high  moral  character, 
being  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  and  always  agreea- 
46 


722  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

ble  and  blameless  in  private  life.     As  a  Legislator,  Judge,  and 
Chief  Magistrate,  he  has  an  honorable  record. 

JOHN  GILL  SHORTER  was  born  in  Jasper  county,  Georgia,  in 
1818,  and  graduated  at  the  University  of  that  State  in  1837.  His 
father,  the  late  Gen.  Reuben  C.  Shorter,  removed  to  Alabama, 
and  settled  at  Eufaula,  (then  Irwinton,)  in  1836.  After  a  course 
of  law  studies,  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1838.  He  was  ap 
pointed,  in  1842,  by  Gov.  Fitzpatrick,  Solicitor  of  the  Judicial 
Circuit  in  which  he  resided,  to  fill  a  vacancy. 

In  1845,  Mr.  Shorter  was  returned  to  the  Senate,  being  the  first 
Senator  elected  from  Barbour  county  after  its  separation  from  Rus 
sell.  He  was  not  again  a  candidate  until  1851,  when  he  was 
elected  to  the  House.  During  that  session,  the  Hon.  George 
Goldthwaite  was  promoted  from  the  Circuit  to  the  bench  of  the 
Supreme  Court,  and  soon  after  the  adjournment,  Governor  Collier 
appointed  Mr.  Shorter,  Judge  of  the  Circuit  Court,  to  fill  the 
vacancy.  He  was  elected  to  the  office  by  the  people  of  his  Cir 
cuit  in  1852,  and  was  reflected,  without  opposition,  after  a  service 
of  six  years — in  all,  nine  years  on  the  bench,  to  the  public  satis 
faction. 

When  the  Secession  Convention  of  Georgia  was  sitting,  in  Jan 
uary,  1861,  Judge  Shorter  appeared  before  it  as  a  Commissioner 
from  Alabama.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Provisional  Congress, 
and,  in  1861,  was  brought  forward  by  the  masses  of  the  people 
as  a  candidate  for  Governor,  and  was  elected  without  any  regular 
opposition.  In  1863,  he  was  defeated  in  a  contest  for  reelection 
by  the  Hon.  Thomas  H.  Watts,  late  Attorney-General  of  the  Con 
federate  States. 

In  justice  to  Gov.  Shorter,  it  may  be  said  that  it  was  utterly 
impossible  for  any  man  to  fulfill  the  public  expectations,  and  to 
satisfy  all  complaints  during  the  war.  So  many  difficult  questions 
arose  as  the  war  progressed,  touching  conscription,  quota  of  State 
troops  for  the  Confederate  service,  tax  in  kind  for  the  support  of 
the  army,  a  revenue  and  specific  tax  under  acts  of  Congress,  a  tax 
for  the  support  of  the  State  Government,  and  for  the  redemption 
of  its  bonds,  and  the  general  supervision  of  State  affairs,  compli 
cated  by  the  war — all  these  embarrassments  to  the  Executive  pro 
duced  a  feeling  of  popular  dissatisfaction  which  probably  no  wis 
dom  could  have  prevented,  under  the  circumstances.  The  sentence 
against  him  was  harsh  indeed,  and  it  is  believed  that  it  was  uncalled 
for  and  unauthorized  on  the  principle  of  justice.  Gov.  Shorter 
was  a  man  of  more  than  ordinary  abilities,  of  considerable  expe 
rience  in  public  life,  and  his  honor  was  spotless.  His  administra 
tion  was  a  good  one,  all  the  difficulties  in  his  pathway  fairly  con 
sidered. 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  723 

His  retirement  is,  no  doubt,  attended  with  great  tranquillity 
and  enjoyment,  as  he  is  wealthy  and  pious,  being  a  member  of  the 
Baptist  Church.  He  is  held  in  high  esteem  by  the  community. 
His  wife  is  a  daughter  of  Dr.  Cullen  Battle,  of  Barbour,  and  a 
sister  of  Gen.  Cullen  Battle,  of  Macon  county.  In  addition  to  a 
large  planting  interest,  he  pursues  the  practice  of  the  law  at  Eu- 
faula,  to  increase  his  income  and  his  usefulness. 

[NOTE. — After  a  short  illness,  GOT.  Shorter  died  May  29th,  1872,  aged  fifty- 
four  years.] 

THOMAS  HILL  WATTS,  born  in  Alabama,  was  educated  at  the 
University  of  Virginia.  He  selected  the  profession  of  the  law, 
and  soon  obtained  a  good  practice.  In  1842,  when  quite  young, 
he  was  elected  a  Representative  in  the  Legislature  from  Butler 
county,  and  continued  to  serve  until  1845.  He  afterward  re 
moved  to  Montgomery,  and  represented  that  county  in  1851  and 
1853.  In  1855,  he  was  the  Whig  candidate  for  Congress  in  the 
District,  and  was  defeated  by  James  F.  Dowdell,  Esq.  About 
this  time,  Mr.  Watts  was  the  acknowledged  leader  of  his  party, 
and  in  1860,  he  was  placed  on  the  Bell  and  Everett  ticket  as 
Elector  for  the  State  at  large,  by  which  his  Union  sentiments 
were  declared.  After  the  election  of  Mr.  Lincoln  to  the  Presi 
dency,  in  November,  1860,  Mr.  Watts  became  a  secessionist  from 
the  position  Alabama  had  taken  through  her  Legislature,  prepara 
tory  to  withdrawing  from  the  Union.  He  served  in  the  Conven 
tion  of  1861,  which  passed  the  Ordinance  of  Secession. 

When  war  was  proclaimed  against  the  Southern  States  by  Pres 
ident  Lincoln,  Mr.  Watts  raised  a  regiment,  of  which  he  was 
elected  Colonel.  With  his  command,  he  first  served  at  Pensa- 
cola,  and  in  April,  1862,  he  participated  in  the  battle  of  Shiloh, 
where  his  bravery  and  daring  qualities  under  fire,  gained  for  him 
a  fine  reputation  in  military  circles,  and  throughout  the  whole 
country.  He  was  warmly  solicited  to  become  a  candidate  for  Gov 
ernor  in  1861,  and  strong  appeals  were  made  to  him  for  this  pur 
pose,  without  regard  to  old  party  divisions,  when  he  positively 
forbid  the  use  of  his  name  in  the  canvass.  Yet,  notwithstanding 
his  refusal  to  be  a  candidate,  a  large  number  of  votes  were  cast 
for  him,  as  a  testimony  of  public  favor. 

After  Mr.  Benjamin  vacated  the  Department  of  Justice  to  act 
as  Secretary  of  War,  President  Davis  appointed  Col.  Watts  Attor 
ney-General  of  the  Confederate  States,  which  compelled  his  re 
moval  to  Richmond.  There  he  remained  in  the  active  and  faith 
ful  discharge  of  his  onerous  public  duties  until  he  was  elected 
Governor,  in  1863,  when  he  resigned.  In  his  Executive  admin 
istration,  he  encountered  the  same  obstacles  and  complaints  which 
so  greatly  embarrassed  his  predecessor,  whom  he  had  superseded 


724  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

by  a  large  majority.  The  war  was  still  raging,  and  after  the  cap 
ture  of  Vicksburg,  and  the  repulse  at  Gettysburg,  in  July,  1863, 
the  cause  of  the  South,  for  the  first  time,  began  to  assume  a  dis 
couraging  aspect,  which  rendered  the  conduct  of  public  affairs 
still  more  difficult,  and  the  task  of  meeting  all  emergencies  to  the 
satisfaction  of  the  people  utterly  impracticable.  All  that  possibly 
could  be  done  by  the  most  vigilant  address,  and  the  most  careful 
use  of  means  at  his  command  for  the  public  defense,  wTas  accom 
plished  by  Gov.  Watts  in  the  course  of  his  administration.  He 
applied  himself  with  energy  to  the  work  in  hand,  and  guarded 
the  interests  of  Alabama  to  the  best  of  his  ability. 

Never  was  there  a  more  trying  or  critical  juncture  in  the  expe 
rience  of  any  public  man.  The  popularity  of  Col.  Watts  was 
almost  without  precedent  when  called  to  the  Executive.  His 
courage  had  been  exhibited  in  the  field,  and  his  wise  counsels  in 
the  cabinet.  Much  was  expected  of  him.  The  South  began  to 
stagger  from  exhaustion.  More  than  half  a  million  of  her  citi 
zens  had  been  withdrawn  from  the  pursuits  of  agriculture  and 
other  avocations  necessary  to  subsistence.  Families  at  home  had 
toiled  to  supply  clothing  to  the  army.  Every  spare  yard  of 
cloth  of  domestic  manufacture  had  been  made  up  into  garments, 
and  forwarded  to  relatives  in  camp,  who  stood  as  a  wall  of 
defense,  to  keep  back  the  Northern  millions  from  devastating 
Southern  soil  and  Southern  firesides.  From  the  boy  of  sixteen 
to  the  sire  of  sixty,  a  requisition  was  made  for  the  public  service. 
Plantations  were  left  without  managers,  and  homes  without  a  male 
protector.  Confederate  tax-gatherers  seized  the  cotton,  the  corn, 
the  wheat,  potatoes,  the  hogs,  the  lard,  the  cattle,  by  tenths,  after 
a  scant  production  from  a  deficiency  of  well  directed  labor;  and 
then  came  the  money  tax  to  cover  nearly  all  the  rest,  in  per  cent- 
age  on  land,  and  slaves,  and  merchandise,  and  nearly  all  descrip 
tions  of  property  and  investments — assessed  and  collected  under 
large  penalties,  and  yet  with  no  murmuring  by  the  people,  until 
it  was  perceived,  from  some  fatal  errors  in  Confederate  policy,  and 
from  idle  dissensions  about  State  Sovereignty,  that  the  Southern 
horizon  was  growing  dark,  and  the  last  ray  of  hope  was  almost 
extinguished.  It  was  the  fortune  of  Gov.  Watts  to  occupy  a  posi 
tion  of  high  responsibility  at  such  a  period,  and  to-feel  the  anxie 
ties  which  it  naturally  inspired,  while  he  had  not  the  material 
power  to  relieve  the  people  from  their  heavy  burdens,  or  to  roll 
back  the  disastrous  flood  likely  to  sweep  down  the  Southern  States 
into  the  gulf  of  annihilation. 

Such  was  the  sad  picture  when  Gov.  Watts  took  the  helm  of 
State,  only  to  be  completed  by  the  surrender  of  the  Confederate 
armies  in  April,  1865,  during  the  second  year  of  his  administra 
tion.  Then  followed  the  Provisional  Government,  the  presence 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  725 

of  Federal  bayonets  at  the  Capitol,  to  give  supremacy  to  the 
negro  over  the  white  man,  under  the  Reconstruction  Acts  of  Con 
gress,  and  compulsory  amendments  to  the  Constitution.  By  the 
magic  of  Radicalism,  he  suddenly  found  himself  no  longer  the 
Governor  of  a  sovereign  State,  but  a  disfranchised  rebel  of  a  pro 
vince  tinder  military  rule,  with  commissions  in  vogue  superseding 
the  laws,  and  convicting  white  men  of  high  crimes  and  misde 
meanors  on  negro  testimony.  From  being  the  master  of  slaves, 
Gov.  Watts  found  his  condition  reversed,  and  that  his  slaves  were 
his  master  at  the  ballot-box.  The  originality  of  the  relation  was 
still  further  enhanced  by  the  fact  that,  while  he  was  rendered  in 
capable  of  holding  office  of  any  kind,  by  Congressional  prohibi 
tion,  his  former  slaves  were  politically  competent  to  be  Governors, 
Legislators,  and  Judges.  Such  was  the  condition  of  things  which 
preceded  and  followed  his  exit  from  the  Chief  Magistracy  of  Ala 
bama.  In  all  this,  his  manhood  and  his  honor  have  been  pre 
served  intact. 

Enough  has  been  said  for  the  purposes  of  history  to  place  Gov. 
Watts  in  a  proper  light  before  the  public.  Something  may  be 
added  as  to  his  domestic  relations,  and  his  private  character.  He 
married  the  daughter  of  Wade  Allen,  Esq.,  a  wealthy  citizen  of 
Montgomery.  For  many  years  he  has  been  a  member  of  the 
Baptist  Church,  always  contributing  freely  to  the  support  of  the 
ministry,  and  to  all  charitable  and  benevolent  enterprises.  Much 
to  his  praise,  he  has  always  been  a  strict  temperance  man,  and 
never  in  his  whole  life  offered  another  a  drink  of  ardent  spirits. 
His  example  in  this  respect  is  worthy  of  all  commendation.  His 
disposition  is  frank  and  cordial,  and  a  noble  sympathy  for  the  wel 
fare  of  his  fellow-men  pervades  his  whole  character.  His  physi 
cal  powers  are  of  great  endurance,  and  the  faculties  of  his  mind 
are  of  a  very  high  order.  At  the  bar  his  standing  is  in  the  very 
first  rank.  He  resides  in  the  city  of  Montgomery,  and  has  a  lu 
crative  practice  in  his  profession. 


726  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 


CHAPTER  XLII. 

Grouping  of  Characters  and  Events. 

The  remaining  portion  of  this  work  must  be  condensed,  and 
the  sketches  abridged  far  beyond  the  wishes  and  design  of  the 
author,  owing  to  the  space  occupied  by  preceding  chapters.  Yet 
the  outline  will  be  sufficient,  as  a  record,  for  public  use.  Narra 
tive  and  biography  will  be  blended  in  a  brief  space,  without  re 
gard  to  any  special  arrangement  of  names  or  dates. 

JOHN  t  ANTHONY  WINSTON  was  born  and  raised  in  North- 
Alabama.  Soon  after  attaining  his  majority,  he  brought  his  slaves 
to  Sumter,  where  he  established  a  large  plantation,  including  some 
of  the  richest  lands  in  that  county.  In  1839,  he  was  elected  a 
Representative  in  the  Legislature,  from  Sumter,  again  in  1840, 
and  also  in  1842.  In  1843,  he  was  elected  to  the  Senate,  of 
which  body  he  was  chosen  President,  in  1845.  He  was  reflected 
to  the  Senate,  in  1847,  and  was  again  the  presiding  officer.  From 
that  time  until  1852  he  continued  in  the  Senate,  and,  in  1853,  he 
was  nominated  as  the  Democratic  candidate  for  Governor,  and 
elected. 

In  1845,  he  was  a  candidate  for  reelection,  and  was  opposed  by 
the  Hon.  George  D.  Shortridge.  The  canvass  was  marked  by  un 
usual  activity  and  bitterness — both  competitors  addressing  the  peo 
ple  in  various  parts  of  the  State — the  principles  of  the  Democratic 
party  represented  and  supported  by  Gov.  Winston,  and  those  of 
the  Know-Nothiugs,  or  American  party,  Defended  by  Judge  Short- 
ridge.  The  result  was  the  reelection  of  Governor  Winston  by  a 
majority  of  about  12,OCO  votes. 

It  is  proper  to  state  that  he  was  a  delegate  to  the  Baltimore 
Convention,  in  1848,  which  nominated  Gen.  Cass  for  the  Presi 
dency.  His  able  speech  in  that  body  vindicating  the  good  faith  of 
the  National  Democracy,  at  once  gave  him  quite  a  reputation  in 
other  States.  While  in  the  Senate,  and  at  sessions  where  he  was 
not  the  presiding  officer,  he  was  the  acknowledged  leader  of  the 
Democratic  party,  and  fully  sustained  himself  and  his  principles 
in  every  discussion  when  it  became  necessary. 

When  there  was  some  division  in  the  Democratic  party  as  to 
the  nominee  for  President,  in  1860,  he  was  prominent  in  the 


iieminiscences  of  Public  Men  m  Alabama.  727 

delegation  from  Alabama  in  the  Charleston  Convention,  and  was 
afterward  placed  on  the  Douglas  Electoral  Ticket.  Soon  after  the 
commencement  of  the  war,  in  1861,  Gov.  Winston  raised  a  regi 
ment,  which  he  commanded,  at  Yorktown,  while  in  service  in 
Virginia;  but  his  health,  already  delicate,  now  rapidly  failing 
from  exposure  in  camp,  he  was  compelled  to  resign  and  return 
home.  After  the  surrender  of  the  Confederate  armies,  and  the 
partial  reorganization  of  Akibania,  he  was  elected  by  the  Legisla 
ture,  at  the  session  of  1 866-^7,  a  Senator  in  the  Congress  of  the 
United  States,  over  Gen.  George  S.  Houston;  but,  from  circum 
stances  well  known  to  the  country,  arising  from  the  action  of  Con 
gress  relative  to  the  Southern  States  lately  in  rebellion,  he  did 
not  take  his  seat.  He  still  resides  at  his  plantation  in  Sumter, 
passing  most  of  his  Winters,  probably,  in  Mobile,  where,  for  many 
years,  he  was  a  member  of  the  large  commission  house  of  John 
A.  Winston  &  Co. 

While  in  the  Legislature,  he  frequently  engaged  in  debate. 
His  manner  was  peculiarly  sarcastic  and  biting  when  he  was  pro 
voked  by  an  antagonist.  Possessed  of  large  and  varied  information 
on  public  affairs,  and  on  the  principles  of  Government,  he  never 
failed  to  exert  a  considerable  influence  in  the  deliberative  bodies 
of  which  he  was  a  member.  He  is  essentially  a  man  of  note,  and 
has  left  the  impress  of  his  name  and  opinions  on  the  legislative 
record  of  Alabama.  A  special  notice  of  his  administration  as 
Governor,  from  1853  to  1857,  appears  in  another  part  of  this  work. 

[NOTE. — The  above  sketch  was  written  more  than  twelve  months  before  Gov. 
Winston  died  in  January,  1872.  Testimonials  of  respect  were  given  by  the  Ex 
ecutive  and  Legislature.] 

JOHX  WILLIAM  AUGUSTINE  SANFORD,  the  present  Attorney- 
General  of  Alabama,  is  a  native  of  Georgia.  He  was  educated 
at  Oglethorpe  University,  where  he  received  a  diploma  of  gradu 
ation,  and  subsequently  entered  Dane  Law  College  of  Harvard 
University,  at  Cambridge,  Massachusetts.  After  completing  his 
course  of  study  at  this  institution,  he  came  to  Montgomery,  Ala 
bama,  where  he  read  law  in  the  office  of  Nathan  Harris,  Esq., 
and  in  due  time  was  admitted  to  the  bar.  He  has  since  continued 
to  reside  in  that  city,  engaged  in  the  practice  of  his  profession. 

In  1856,  Mr.  Sanford  was  an  Elector  on  the  Buchanan  and 
Breckinridge  ticket,  and  thoroughly  canvassed  the  Third  Con 
gressional  District.  In  1860,  he  married  Miss  Sallie  M.  Taylor, 
the  youngest  daughter  of  Col.  William  H.  Taylor,  of  Mont 
gomery. 

Being  a  Democrat  of  the  State  Rights  school,  Mr.  Sanford  made 
every  exertion  to  secure  ^the  election  of  Breckinridge  and  Lane 
in  1860.  And  after  the  election  of  Mr.  Lincoln  to  the  Presi- 


728  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

dency,  he  advocated  the  secession  of  Alabama  as  the  most  effect 
ive  mode  of  protecting  her  people,  and  vindicating  her  rights. 

At  the  commencement  of  the  war,  in  April,  1861,  he  volun 
teered  in  the  Third  Alabama  Regiment,  the  first  that  left  the 
State  to  form  the  Northern  Army  of  Virginia.  He  was  appointed 
Quartermaster  of  the  regiment  by  Col.  Lomax,  and  served  in  that 
capacity  until  the  Winter  of  1862,  when  he  resigned,  and  re 
turned  to  Alabama,  where  he  succeeded  in  raising  a  regiment, 
under  authority  of  the  Secretary  of  War.  He  was  chosen  Lieu 
tenant-Colonel  of  the  Third  Battalion  of  Hilliard's  Legion.  Sub 
sequently,  these  battalions  were  formed  into  a  brigade,  commanded 
by  Gen.  Grade.  Col.  Sanford  participated  in  the  battles;  and 
when  the  legion  was  consolidated  into  regiments,  he  was  pro 
moted  to  the  command  of  the  Sixtieth  Alabama  Regiment.  He 
served  through  the  campaign  of  East-Tennessee,  and,  being  or 
dered  to  Virginia,  he  was  in  the  engagements  around  Richmond 
and  Petersburg,  and  at  Drury's  Bluft*  and  shared  in  the  battles 
preceding  the  surrender  of  Gen.  Lee  at  Appomattox,  April  9, 
1865. 

Returning  to  his  home  in  Alabama,  Col.  Sanford  resumed  the 
practice  of  his  profession ;  and  in  November,  1865,  was  elected 
Attorney-General.  In  July,  1868,  he  and  others  were  displaced 
by  Gen.  Meade,  the  District  Commander,  to  make  room  for  offi 
cers  under  the  Government  established  by  Congress  for  Alabama. 
Upon  his  expulsion,  he  addressed  a  letter  to  Gen.  Meade,  assert 
ing  the  right  of  Alabama  to  establish  a  Government  for  herself — 
commenting  on  the  iniquity  of  the  Reconstruction  laws,  and  protest 
ing  against  the  tyranny  and  usurpation  of  the  Federal  authorities. 
This-  letter  was  generally  published,  and  met  the  approbation  of 
our  people,  so  far  as  public  opinion  could  be  inferred  by  his  nom 
ination  in  September,  1870,  by  a  large  State  Convention,  and  by 
his  election  by  a  large  popular  vote  in  November  of  that  year. 

Such  is  the  honorable  record  of  the  distinguished  Attorney- 
Goneral  of  Alabama. 

Amid  the  great  rush  on  the  public  treasury  for  high  salaries, 
and  still  increasing  compensation,  which  of  late  years  has  been 
made  by  office-seekers  and  office-holders,  without  regard  to  any 
fixed  principles  in  the  contract,  it  is  refreshing  to  witness  'an  hon 
orable  exception,  as  in  the  following  letter : 

STATE  OF  ALABAMA,  OFFICE  OF  ATTORNEY-GENERAL,  ") 
MONTGOMERY,  February  16,  1872.      J 

Hon.  John  P.  Ifubbard,  Speaker  of  the  House  of  Representatives : 

SIR — During  its  last  session  the  General  Assembly  appropriated  twenty-eight 
hundred  dollars  to  pay  the  salary  of  the  Attorney-General.  This  action  was  in 
duced  by  its  knowledge  and  just  appreciation  of  the  labors,  the  duties  and  re 
sponsibility  that  devolve  on  that  officer ;  and  also,  by  the  desire  that  the  compensa- 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  729 

lion  of  the  subordinate  officials  of  the  Executive  Department  of  the  State  should 
approach  equality. 

This  sum  was  allowed  for  the  services  of  the  late  Attorney-General,  for^the 
fiscal  years  ending,  respectively,  on  the  30th  of  September,  1869,  and  on  the  oOth 
day  of  September,  1870,  and  was  paid  to  him. 

The  present  Constitution  of  the  State  went  into  operation  on  the  13th  day  of 
July,  1868.  It  provides  that  the  salaries  of  certain  officers  "shall  neither  be  in 
creased  nor  diminished  during  the  period  for  which  they  shall  have  been  elected." 
Among  them  is  the  Attorney-General.  His  salary  was  fixed  by  section  109  of  the 
Revised  Code,  at  the  sum  of  two  thousand  dollars.  This  section  has  not  been 
amended.  And  as  the  salary  of  the  Attorney-General  could  not  be  increased, 
under  the  Constitution  by  the  mere  act  of  appropriation,  approved  since  my  in 
duction  into  office,  I  have  declined  to  receive  the  additional  eight  hundred  dollars. 

As  the  House  of  Representatives  is  about  to  consider  the  "bill  of  appropria 
tions  for  the  fiscal  year  ending  on  the  30th  September,  1372,"  I  deem  it  proper  to 
make  this  statement.  » 

I  am,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

JOHN  W.  A.  SANFORD. 

ABRAM  MARTIN  was  born  and  educated  in  South  Carolina, 
whence  he  removed  to  Tennessee,  and  afterward  to  Alabama,  set 
tling  in  Montgomery  as  a  lawyer. 

On  the  death  of  Judge  William  R,  Pickett,  in  1837,  he  was 
elected  Judge  of  the  Circuit  Court.  At  various  times  Judge 
Martin  has  executed  with  ability  and  faithfulness  a  number  of 
honorable  commissions  from  the  State.  He  has  always  maintained 
a  high  rank  at  the  bar,  and  for  usefulness  as  a  citizen.  At  a  ven 
erable  age,  his  influence  is  still  exerted  for  the  public  good.  He 
was  a  brother  of  the  late  John  Martin,  who  for  many  years  was 
President  of  the  Branch  Bank  at  Montgomery. 

N.  H.  R.  DAWSOX,  of  Dallas,  served  in  the  Legislature  through 
the  sessions  of  1863  and  1864.  He  was  a  delegate  to  the  Dera'o- 
cratic  National  Conventions  in  1860.  His  father,  the  late  Law 
rence  E.  Dawson,  Esq.,  is  honorably  mentioned  by  Judge  O'Neall, 
in  the  "Bench  and  Bar  of  South  Carolina,"  as  a  lawyer  of  great 
ability  and  eloquence.  Possessed  of  fine  talents  and  culture,  the 
son  resides  at  Selma,  in  the  meridian  of  life,  and  is  a  partner  of 
Gen.  E.  W.  Pettus  in  the  practice  of  law. 

AUGUSTUS  B.  FANNTN,  of  Macon,  was  formerly  a  Representa 
tive  in  the  Legislature  of  Georgia,  and  on  his  retiring  from  that 
body,  in  1859,  a  complimentary  resolution,  offered  by  Mr.  George 
N.  Lester,  of  Cobb,  was  adopted:  "That  we  part  with  our  fellow 
Representative  with  sincere  regret,  and  that  go  where  he  may, 
our  best  wishes  for  his  prosperity  and  happiness  will  ever  attend 
him." 

Coming  to  Alabama  soon  thereafter,  he  was  elected  to  the 
House  of  Representatives,  where  his  expansive  views,  his  lofty 
bearing  and  ripe  statesmanship,  soon  made  him  a  man  of  note. 


730  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Atabamd. 

In  politics,  he  was  an  old  line  Whig,  and  supported  Bell  and  Ev 
erett,  in  1860.  But  after  Alabama  seceded,  he  did  not  hesitate 
to  espouse  her  measures  of  self-vidication. 

Prudent  in  his  arrangements,  and  stripped  of  property  by  the 
war,  he  took  out  a  policy  of  insurance  on  his  life  for  $10,000,  to 
save  his  family  from  pecuniary  distress  in  case  of  his  death.  While 
on  a  visit  to  Montgomery,  in  December,  1868,  he  died  suddenly 
at  the  house  of  his  brother-in-law,  Fort  Hargrove,  Esq.,  much 
lamented  by  all  who  knew  him. 

WILLIAM  H.  BARNES  came  from  Georgia  to  Alabama,  and  was 
admitted  to  ^the  bar  in  1845,  locating  at  Dadevilie,  whence,  in 
1857,  he  removed  to  LaFayette,  where  he  resided  until  1869,  and 
then  came  to  Opelika,  where  he  now  resides,  in  the  successful 
practice  of  his  profession.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Convention 
of  1861,  and  in  August  of  that  year  he  was  elected  to  the  Senate, 
in  which  he  served  during  the  war,  and  was  reflected  in  1865. 
As  Chairman  of  the  Judiciary  Committee,  his  able  reports  con 
tributed  much  to  the  dispatch  of  the  public  business. 

WILLIAM  M.  BEOOKS  was  elected  Solicitor  in  1840,  and  again 
in  1844.  In  1857,  he  was  appointed  Judge  of  the  Circuit  Court. 
He  belonged  to  the  Southern  wing  of  the  Democratic  party,  which 
supported  Mr.  Breckinridge  for  President,  and  was  a  delegate  to 
the  Charleston  and  Baltimore  Conventions  of  1860.  In  1861,  he 
was  a  delegate  from  Perry  county,  and  was  President  of  the  Con 
vention  which  passed  the  Ordinance  of  Secession. 

LEWIS  L.  CATO  served  in  the  Senate  from  Barbour  county, 
from  1862  to  1865,  with  great  efficiency,  and  was  heard  with  pleas 
ure  on  all  questions  which  he  thought  proper  to  discuss.  He  was 
dignified  and  courteous,  rigidly  adhering  to  parliamentary  law. 
He  died  from  paralysis  since  the  war. 

WILLIAM  H.  CHAMBERS,  of  Barbour,  was  a  Georgian,  a  mem 
ber  of  the  bar,  and  also  a  successful  merchant  at  Eufaula.  He 
was  highly  educated,  and  served  in  the  Legislature  in  1859  and 
1863,  with  reputation.  He  was  a  Christian  gentleman  of  great 
suavity  of  manner. 

1 

DAVID  CLorTON,  a  native  of  Georgia,  was  educated  at  Ran 
dolph  Macon  College,  Virginia.  In  1859,  he  was  elected  to  Con 
gress.  In  1860,  he  was  appointed  by  Gov.  Moore,  a  Commissioner 
to  Delaware,  in  view  of  the  great  Southern  movement.  He  is  a 
gentleman  of  eminent  abilities,  and  a  member  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church,  and  President  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  of 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  73l 

East-Alabama   College.     From   Eufaula  he  removed  to  Mont 
gomery,  where  he  now  resides. 

EGBERT  H.  ERWIN,  of  Wilcox,  came  to  the  House  in  1853,  and 
to  the  Senate  in  1863.  Well  educated,  of  noble  qualities  of  mind 
and  heart,  he  sustained  a  high  rank  in  public  and  social  life.  He 
married  a  daughter  of  James  Tait,  Esq.,  a  wealthy  planter  of  Wil 
cox,  and  is  now  (1872)  a  member  of  a  commission  house  in  Mobile. 

JOHN  FOESYTH,  of  Mobile,  son  of  the  late  Hon.  John  Forsyth, 
of  Georgia,  was  an  officer  in  the  Mexican  war,  in  which  he  acted 
with  much  gallantry.  For  many  years  he  has  stood  at  the  head 
of  the  Democrtic  press  of  Alabama,  as  editor  of  the  "Mobile 
Register,"  a  thoroughly  informed  politician,  who  was  appointed 
by  President  Pierce,  Minister  to  Mexico,  in  charge  of  important 
negotiations  in  1856. 

In  1859,  Mr.  Forsyth  was  elected  to  the  House  from  Mobile, 
and  fully  sustained  his  high  reputation.  He  was  decidedly  South 
ern  in  his  principles  and  feelings,  and  advocated,  through  the 
press  and  in  the  Legislature,  the  doctrine  of  State  Rights.  In 
1860,  he  was  a  delegate  to  the  Charleston  Convention,  and  sup 
ported  Mr.  Douglas  for  the  Presidency. 

Soon  after  the  Confederate  Government  was  formed,  President 
Davis  appointed  Mr.  Forsyth,  ex-Gov.  Roman  of  Louisiana,  and 
the  Hon.  Martin  J.  Crawford  of  Georgia,  Commissioners  to  visit 
Washington  City,  and  oifer1  to  negotiate  with  President  Lincoln, 
touching  a  peaceful  and  honorable  arrangement  of  the  differences 
growing  out  of  the  secession  of  the  Southern  States,  which  offer 
was  rejected.  During  the  war,  and  throughout  the  severe  ordeal 
to  which  the  Southern  people  have  been  subjected,  Mr.  Forsyth 
has  been  a  fearless  champion  of  the  Constitution,  and  one  of  the 
ablest  vindicators  of  the  South. 

SAMUEL  A.  HALE  was  editor  of  the  "Flag  of  the  Union,'7  at 
Tuskaloosa,  where  I  formed  his  acquaintance  in  1837.  He  and 
Mr.  James  Phelan  were  afterward  elected  Public  Printers.  He 
sold  out  his  interest  in  the  office  to  John  McCormick,  Esq.,  about 
1843,  and  then  removed  to  Livingston,  where  he  has  since  been 
engaged  in  the  practice  of  the  law. 

In  justice  to  Mr.  Hale,  it  may  be  said,  that  he  was  uniformly 
opposed  to  what  he  considered  the  extravagant  assumptions 
and  pretensions  of  the  State  Rights  party,  "which  culminated  (to 
use  his  own  language)  in  the  secession  of  the  Southern  States — 
the  most  stupendous  act  of  folly  the  world  has  ever  seen.  If  the 
headstone  of  my  grave  should  bear  no  other  inscription,  I  would 
have  it  there  recorded,  that  I  was  opposed  to  secession." 


732  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

WILLIAM  PINCKNEY  JACK,  a  native  of  East-Tennessee,  and 
connected  with  large  family  influences,  was  elected  to  the  House 
from  Franklin  county  in  1857,  and  served  through  the  called  ses 
sion  of  1860.  He  was  a  young  man  of  ability  and  resolution, 
and  assisted  in  maturing  the  measures  necessary  to  protect  the 
State.  Although  his  future  in  public  life  seemed  inviting,  he  re 
tired  after  a  short  service,  to  resume  the  labors  of  his  profession. 

LEVI  "W.  LAWLEK,  of  Talladega,  in  early  life,  was  Receiver  of 
the  Land  Office  at  Mardisville,  with  great  business  qualities,  which 
have  led  him  to  success  and  prosperity.  He  was  elected  a  Briga 
dier-General  of  militia,  and  when  the  troubles  of  the  South  began 
to  multiply,  he  took  an  extreme  position  with  those  who  ultimately 
led  Alabama  out  of  the  Union.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Baptist 
Church,  and  belongs  to  the  old  commercial  house  of  Baker,  Law- 
ler  &  Co.,  in  Mobile. 

HON.  ROBERT  B.  LINDSAY  is  a  native  of  Scotland,  where  he 
enjoyed  the  advantages  of  a  liberal  education.  From  his  fourth 
to  his  thirtieth  year,  he  was  connected  with  schools — first  as  a 
pupil,  and  next  as  a  teacher.  The  latter  employment  he  pursued 
for  some  years  after  he  emigrated  to  Alabama.  He  located  in 
Tuscumbia,  where  he  engaged  successfully  in  the  practice  of  the 
law.  In  the  meantime,  he  married  a  daughter  of  Anthony  Win 
ston,.  Esq.,  a  wealthy  planter  of  North-Alabama. 

In  1853,  Mr.  Lindsay  was  elected  to  the  House  from  Franklin, 
and  in  1857,  to  the  Senate.  He  was  an  Elector  on  the  Douglas 
ticket  in  1860.  In  1865,  he  was  again  returned  to  the  Senate, 
and  applied  himself  with  diligence  and  ability  to  the  work  of 
legislation.  He  was  a  fine  debater,  clear  in  his  statements  and 
conclusions,  and  dignified  in  his  address,  always  exercising  a 
marked  influence  by  his  superior  information  and  conservative 
views.  At  the  Democratic  State  Convention,  in  September,  1870, 
he  was  nominated  for  Governor.  He  prosecuted  the  canvass  ably 
and  earnestly,  and  in  November,  he  was  elected  over  the  incum 
bent,  Gov.  William  H.  Smith,  the  Radical  candidate.  At  the 
proper  time,  he  was  installed  in  office,  and  after  some  delay,  at 
one  time  likely  to  produce  disagreeable  consequences,  the  public 
records  and  property  were  turned  over  to  him  by  his  predecessor. 

Gov.  Lindsay  has  encountered  with  firmness  many  obstacles  in 
his  administration.  Actuated  by  a  patriotic  desire  to  do  right,  and 
to  serve  the  public  faithfully,  he  was  content  with  one  term,  and 
refused  to  permit  his  name  to  be  used  in  the  Nominating  Conven 
tion  of  1872.  His  happiness  will  be  sought  in  retirement,  and 
not  in  public  strife. 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  733 

DR.  E.  H.  MOREN,  a  highly  educated  gentleman  and  accom 
plished  physician,  is  a  native  of  Virginia.  Feeble  health,  at 
tended  by  occasional  bleeding  at  the  lungs,  induced  him  to  travel 
extensively  in  the  South,  in  the  hope  of  improvement.  Finding 
that  the  climate  of  Alabama  agreed  with  him,  he  settled  in  Bibb 
county,  in  1851,  where,  in  1860,  he  married  Mary  Frances,  daugh 
ter  of  S.  W.  Davidson,  Esq.,  a  planter  of  large  property  and  in 
fluence. 

Pie  was  first  returned  to  the  Senate  in  1861,  and  served  contin 
uously  until  the  close  of  the  session  of  1866.  He  was  a  member 
of  the  Committee  on  Finance  and  Taxation,  and  by  his  zeal,  intel 
ligence,  and  activity,  afforded  valuable  aid  in  devising  a  system  of 
revenue  at  a  time  when  the  Treasury  of  Alabama  was  exhausted, 
and  the  public  credit  in  imminent  peril.  He  was  Chairman  of 
the  Joint  Committee  on  Retrenchment,  and  in  February,  1866,  he 
made  a  scrutinizing  report,  which  may  be  seen  on  the  Senate 
Journal,  page  290. 

In  September,  1870,  he  was  nominated  by  the  Democratic 
and  Conservative  party  as  a  candidate  for  Lieutenant-Governor. 
He  boldly  met  the  issues  of  the  canvass,  by  addressing  large  mul 
titudes  of  the  people.  The  cadidates  for  State  offices  adverse  to 
the  Radical  party  were  elected — the  official  vote  for  Lieutenant- 
Governor  being,  for  E.  H.  Moren,  78,681,  and  for  P.  Burton,  74,- 
304— majority,  4,377. 

The  Legislature  convened  about  the  20th  of  November,  and 
the  law  required  that  the  votes  should  be  counted  in  joint  meet 
ing  of  the  two  Houses,  during  the  first  week  of  the  session.  In 
the  meantime,  Gov.  Smith,  the  Radical  incumbent,  obtained  an 
injunction  from  Chancellor  Saffold,  directed  to  R.  N.  Barr,  Presi 
dent  of  the  Senate,  commanding  him  to  abstain  from  counting  the 
votes  for  Governor  and  State  Treasurer  until  further  judicial 
orders.  When  the  hour  of  2  o'clock  arrived,  on  Saturday,  the 
last  day,  as  designated  by  the  President  of  the  Senate,  the  latter 
informed  the  two  Houses  in  Convention,  that,  in  obedience  to  the 
injunction  served  on  him,  for  alleged  illegality  in  the  election,  he 
would  decline  counting  the  votes  for  Governor  and  Treasurer,  but 
was  willing  to  count  the  votes  for  the  other  State  officers.  On 
examination  of  the  returns,  it  was  declared  that,  for  Secretary  of 
State,  J.  J.  Parker  had  received  76,721  votes,  and  J.  T.  Rapier, 
72,538;  and  for  Attorney-General,  John  W.  A.  Sanford  had  re 
ceived  77,736  votes,  and  Joshua  Morse,  74,423.  The  two  gen 
tlemen  having  a  majority  were  announced  as  duly  elected. 

The  President,  and  all  the  members  of  the  Senate,  except  Mr. 
A.  N.  Worthy,  of  Pike,  belonged  to  the  Radical  or "  Republican 
party,  then  withdrew  from  the  House,  in  order  to  prevent  the  re 
turns  for  Governor  and  Treasurer  being  counted.  Perhaps  a  few 


734  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

Radical  Senators  lingered  in  the  House.  In  the  meantime,  the 
Lieutenant-Governor  elect  having  been  notified  by  a  Committee, 
appeared  in  the  House,  as  in  joint  meeting,  and  took  the  oath  of 
office,  and  forthwith  assumed  the  chair  as  presiding  officer.  He 
directed  the  Secretary  of  State,  C.  A.  Miller,  to  furnish  the  re 
turns  for  Governor  and  Treasurer,  which  being  done,  they  were 
counted  and  the  result  declared— for  Robert  B.  Lindsay,  76,977 
votes,  and  for  William  H.  Smith,  75,568,  showing  a  majority  of 
1,429  for  Mr.  Lindsay,  who  was  proclaimed  as  duly  elected  Gov 
ernor.  For  State  Treasurer,  the  vote  stood,  for  James  F.  Grant, 
76,902;  for  Arthur  Bingham,  74,376  —  showing  a  majority  of 
2,526,  for  the  former,  who  was  declared  duly  elected.  Where 
upon,  a  Committee  at  once  waited  upon  the  Governor  elect,  and 
escorted  him  to  the  Representative  Chamber,  as  in  presence  of 
the  two  Houses,  when  he  was  duly  installed  into  the  Executive 
office.  This  consummation  quieted  a  very  great  excitement  in 
the  public  mind,  as  the  proceedings  by  injunction  were  known  to 
be  frivolous,  and  intended  to  defeat  the  popular  will  as  expressed 
at  the  ballot-box,  thereby  seeking  to  retain  the  Executive  and 
the  Treasury  in  the  hands  of  a  party  who  had  been  condemned 
by  the  people.  For  this  peaceful  and  just  termination  of  a  bitter 
contest,  Dr.  Moren,  the  Lieutenant-Governor,  is  entitled  to  the 
public  thanks. 

He  has  presided  over  the  Senate  during  his  first  term  in  a 
manner  so  able  and  satisfactory  that,  in  June,  1872,  he  was  nom 
inated  by  a  State  Convention  for  reelection  to  the  office,  and  at 
the  present  writing,  (October,  1872)  his  prospects  are  encouraging 
for  a  renewal  of  the  public  confidence. 

Such  is  the  brief  record  of  a  gentleman  who  is  entitled  to  high 
rank  for  uprightness,  and  for  intelligence  and  public  spirit  in  a 
legislative  capacity.  The  author  of  this  work  had  the  pleasure  of 
serving  with  Dr.  Moren  six  sessions  in  the  Senate,  and  had  ample 
opportunity  to  know  his  true  character. 


P-cminiscenc^s  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  735 


CHAPTER  XLIII. 

Governors  Parsons  and  Patton — Conclusion — Deferred  Sketches. 

LEWIS  E.  PARSONS,  a  native  of  the  State  of  New  York,  settled 
in  Talladega,  in  1841,  where  he  established  himself  in  the  prac 
tice  of  the  law.  He  rose  rapidly,  and  was  successful  in  his  pro 
fession.  A  firm  and  decided  Whig,  in  politics,  without  any  com 
promise  or  concession,  he  was  defeated  for  the  Legislature  on  the 
American  ticket,  in  1855.  In  1859,  he  was  elected  to  the  House 
of  Representatives;  and  in  1860,  he  allied  himself  with  the  Dem 
ocratic  party  as  the  best  means,  in  his  judgment,  to  save  the  country 
from  threatened  danger.  In  1860,  he  was  a  delegate  to  the  Balti 
more  Convention  which  supported  Mr.  Douglas  for  the  Presidency. 
As  a  Representative  in  the  Legislature,  in  1863,  he  took  a  high 
position  among  men  of  talent  and  strong  debating  powers.  From 
that  time  his  character,  as  a  public  man,  has  been  favorably  known 
to  the  people  of  Alabama. 

He  has  uniformly  been  a  Union  man,  without  disguise,  though 
offering  no  factious  opposition  to  the  majority.  •  All  parties  be 
lieved  him  honest,  and  only  conservative  in  his  views.  When, 
in  the  Summer  of  1865,  President  Johnson  announced  his  policy 
of  reorganizing  the  seceded  States,  Mr.  Parsons  was  appointed 
Provisional  Governor  of  Alabama,  with  every  token  of  public 
approbation. 

On  the  20th  of  July,  Gov.  Parsons  issued  his  proclamation,  di 
recting  an  election  to  be  held  in  each  county,  on  the  3d  of  August, 
for  delegates  to  a  State  Convention,  to  assemble  on  the  12th  of 
September,  1865.  A  summary  of  proceedings  thereafter  is  given 
in  a  published  manifesto  issued  by  Gov.  Parsons  on  the  20th  De 
cember,  1865,  formally  relinquishing  the  Provisional  Government, 
and  concluding  as  follows: 

The  said  Convention,  in  which  the  wisdom  and  patriotism  of  the  people  of  Ala 
bama  are  admirably  blended,  assembled  at  the  Capitol  on  the  day  indicated,  and 
was  duly  organized,  each  county  in  the  State  being  represented  by  the  same  num 
ber  of  delegates  as  Representatives  in  the  General  Assembly  of  said  State,  on  the 
llth  day  of  January,  1861 ;  and  after  making  many  important  changes  of  the  Con 
stitution  of  the  State,  among  which  are : 

An  ordinance  in  relation  to  the  institution  of  slavery,  and  the  abolition  thereof; 

An  ordinance  declaring  the  Ordinance  of  Secession  null  and  void ; 

An  ordinance  declaring  null  and  void^  certain  ordinances  and  other  proceedings 


736  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

of  a  Convention  of  the  State  of  Alabama,  adopted  in  January  and  March,  A.  D. 
1861; 

An  ordinance  declaring  the  war  debt  void,  and  for  other  purposes ; 

An  ordinance  concerning  election  of  State,  county,  and  municipal  officers,  and 
members  of  Congress,  and  for  the  assembling  of  the  Legislature,  at  the  Capitol, 
on  the  third  Monday  in  November,  1865; 

Adjourned  to  reassemble  at  the  call  of  the  Hon.  Benjamin  Fitzpatrick,  Presi 
dent  of  the  Convention,  at  any  time  before  the  first  day  of  September,  A.  D.  1866 ; 

That  the  Legislature  assembled  on  the  day  appointed,  to-wit :  the  20th  of  No 
vember,  A.  D.  1865,  and  was  organized  according  to  the  Constitution  and  laws  of 
the  State ; 

That  among  other  acts,  it  adopted  joint  resolutions  of  the  General  Assembly  of 
Alabama,ratifying  an  amendment  to  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States,  ap 
proved  December  2d,  1865 ;  and  an  act  to  protect  freedmen  in  their  rights  of  per 
son  and  property  in  this  State ; 

That  Senators  and  Representatives  have  been  elected  by  the  people  and  State, 
to  the  Congress  of  the  United  States ; 

That  the  President  of  the  United  States  has  been  officially  advised,  from  time 
to  time,  of  the  foregoing  acts  performed  for  the  purpose  of  restoring  our  beloved 
State  to  her  proper  relation  to  the  Federal  Union  ; 

That  on  the  10th  day  of  December,  1865,  the  President  of  the  United  States 
authorised  the  inauguration  of  the  Hon.  Robert  M.  Patton,  Governor  elect  of  the 
State  of  Alabama,  at  such  time  as  might  be  indicated  by  the  Legislature ; 

That  said  inauguration  took  place  on  the  13th  day  of  December,  1865,  in  the 
presence  of  a  Convention  of  the  Houses  of  the  General  Assembly  of  this  State, 
in  the  hall  of  the  House  of  Representatives,  and,  in  accordance  with  the  time- 
honored  usage  of  this  State,  the  great  seal  of  the  State  was  delivered  to  him  as 
Governor  of  Alabama,  by  the  Provisional  Governor ; 

That  on  the  18th  of  December,  instant,  at  the  hour  of  11  P.  M.,  the  Provisional 
Governor  received  a  telegram  from  the  Hon.  William  H.  Seward,  Secretary  of 
State  of  the  United  States,  dated  at  Washington  on  that  day,  informing  him  that 
"the  time  had  arrived  when,  in  the  judgment  of  the  President  of  the  United 
States,  the  care  and  conduct  of  the  proper  affairs  of  the  State  of  Alabama  may  be 
remitted  to  the  Constitutional  authority,  chosen  by  the  people  thereof,  without 
danger  to  the  peace  and  safety  of  the  United  States.  By  direction  of  the  Presi 
dent,  therefore,  you  are  relieved  from  the  trust  which  was  heretofore  reposed  in 
you  as  Provisional  Governor  of  Alabama.  Whenever  the  Governor  elect  shall 
have  accepted  and  become  qualified  to  discharge  the  duties  of  the  Executive  office, 
you  will  transfer  the  papers  and  property  of  the  State  now  in  your  custody,  to 
his  Excellency  the  Governor  elect." 

Now,  therefore,  I,  Lewis  E.  Parsons,  as  Provisional  Governor,  under  the  in 
structions  aforesaid,  do  by  these  presents,  in  this  solemn  and  public  manner, 
transfer  the  papers  and  property  of  the  State,  now  in  my  custody,  to  his  Excel 
lency,  Robert  M.  Patton,  Governor  of  the  State  of  Alaboma. 

No  attempt  will  be  made  here  to  give  a  history  of  the  brief 
administration  of  Gov.  Parsons,  under  the  novel  and  peculiar  cir 
cumstances  in  which  he  was  placed.  The  State  Convention  of 
September,  over  which  the  Hon.  Benjamin  Fitzpatrick  presided, 
unanimously 

Resolved,  That  this  Convention  express  its  confidence  in  the  integrity,  patriot 
ism,  and  capacity,  of  Hon.  Lewis  E.  Parsons,  Provisional  Governor  of  this  State, 
and  the  members  hereof  acknowledge  the  courtesy  and  kindness  which  have  uni 
formly  distinguished  his  conduct  in  his  intercourse  with  them. 

As  evidence  of  a  still  higher  degree  of  public  favor,  the  Gen 
eral  Assembly,  at  its  session  in  November  and  December,  1865, 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  737 

unanimously  elected  ex-Gov.  Parsons  a  Senator  in  the  Congress 
of  the  United  States  for  a  term  of  six  years.  That  he  was  not 
permitted  by  the  powers  at  Washington  to  take  his  seat,  does  not 
impair  the  force  of  the  compliment. 

My  purpose  has  been  to  make  a  brief  record  of  the  public  life 
of  ex-Gov.  Parsons,  without  touching,  in  the  smallest  degree,  the 
course  of  action  he  has  thought  proper  to  pursue  on  political  ques 
tions.  Hitherto,  the  personal  relations  between  him  and  the 
author  of  this  work  have  been  of  the  most  friendly  character,  and 
they  are  still  unchanged. 

Intellectually,  Gov.  Parsons  is  a  strong  man.  For  thirty  years 
he  has  been  a  citizen  of  Alabama,  and  a  leading  member  of  the 
bar,  always  maintaining  a  spotless  name  in  his  profession,  and  in 
the  private  walks  of  life.  He  married  Miss  Wake,  of  Kentucky, 
a  lady  of  great  intelligence  and  worth,  who  has  greatly  contrib 
uted  to  his  happiness.  Possessing  an  easy  fortune  in  retirement, 
he  still  pursues  the  labor  of  his  profession  with  tlie  industry  of 
former  years,  and  is  noted  for  his  kindness  of  heart,  and  for  his 
liberal  public  charities. 

ROBERT  M.  PATTON  is  a  native  of  Virginia,  and  settled 
in  Nort-Alabarna  as  a  merchant,  in  which  pursuit  he  was  quite 
successful.  He  has  served  a  long  time  in  the  Legislature  from 
Laudcrdale.  In  1847,  he  \vas  a  Whig  member  of  the  House, 
and  in  1855,  was  elected  to  the  Senate,  about  which  time  he  at 
tached  himself  to  the  Democratic  party,  when  the  American 
organization  assumed  such  a  formidable  aspect  in  public  affairs. 
In  1861,  he  was  elected  President  of  the  Senate. 

His  course  in  the  Senate  was  marked  by  great  intelligence  and 
propriety.  He  was  to  all  intents  and  purposes  a  laborious  and 
useful  member,  always  ready  to  lend  his  counsels  to  the  public 
good,  and  to  support  such  measures  as  the  welfare  of  the  people 
demanded. 

In  1^65,  he  was  brought  forward  for  Governor,  and  was  elected 
over  Col.  M.  J.  Bulger.  He  took  charge  of  the  Executive  office 
in  December,  1865,  where  he  remained  until  July,  1868,  when 
he  was  displaced  by  the  Reconstruction  measures  of  Congress. 
His  administration  was  beset  with  many  difficulties.  The  State 
had  just  passed  through  an  exhausting  struggle,  which  left  her 
powerless,  and  at  the  feet  of  the  conquerer.  A  military  com 
mander  supervised  his  appointments  to  office,  and  almost  every 
official  act.  Armed  men  were  always  present  at  the  Capitol  to 
inspire  awe,  and  challenge  obedience.  Yet,  calm,  prudent,  and 
with  business  tact  and  energy,  he  did  the  best  which  circumstances 
permitted.  To  do  him  complete  justice  would  require  a  more 
extended  notice  than  the  present  occasion  would  allow.  His  com- 
47 


738  Reminiscences  of  PMic  Men  in  Alabama. 

munications  to  the  Legislature  and  his  whole  official  record  should 
pass  in  review,  in  order  that  a  correct  judgment  might  be  formed  of 
this  good  man,  and  patriotic  citizen.  He  was  always  foremost  in 
his  public  and  private  character,  in  relieving  the  necessitous  classes 
of  our  people  during  and  at  the  close  of  the  war.  He  is  a  mem 
ber  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  and  has  long  been  connected  with 
Sunday-schools.  Such  an  example  deserves  the  highest  commend 
ation, 

CONCLUSION. 

Here  my  task  is  finished,  for  the  present,  as  to  the  Public 
Men  of  Alabama.  I  have  passed  over  the  ground  covered  by 
my  <(  Reminiscences,"  and  have  noticed,  to  a  greater  or  less  ex 
tent,  several  hundred  characters,  who  have  figured  on  the  polit 
ical  arena.  This  task  has  been  performed  in  a  spirit  of  impar 
tiality  and  faithfulness.  The  space  between  1860  and  1865  has 
been  left,  in  a  great  measure,  unoccupied — the  events  and  legis 
lation  of  that  period  being  of  such  a  nature  as  to  render  the  labor 
of  condensation  too  delicate  and  responsible  for  the  pen  of  the 
author,  in  view  of  the  large  quantity  of  matter  before  it  was 
reached. 

The  Appendix  will  furnish  a  record  copious  in  extent  and  va 
riety,  which  it  is  believed  will  prove  of  general  interest  to  the. 
people  of  Alabama.     No  labor  of  this  kind  has  ever  before  been 
attempted  in  the  State  to  preserve  the  memory  of  so  many  actors 
on  the  public  stage. 

The  author  exceedingly  regrets  that  the  names  of  a  number  of 
gentlemen  of  whom  special  notices  had  been  prepared  in  Chapters 
XLIII  and  XLIV,  as  the  work  was  originally  planned,  do  not 
appear  in  this  volume.  Should  it  be  his  fortune  to  come  before 
the  public,  at  another  time,  with  additioual  "Reminiscences,"  for 
which  abundant  materials  exist,  the  author  will  take  pleasure  in 
incorporating  these  memoirs,  which  now,  for  the  want  of  space, 
are  necessarily  deferred.  The  best  atonement  he  can  make  for 
the  temporary  omission,  is  to  give  the  names  embraced  in  the 
manuscript,  which,  from  excess  of  quantity,  has  been  abridged,  so 
as  to  come  within  the  limits  of  this  volumne.  Those  names  are 
the  following: 

1.  Francis  B.  Clarke,  of  Mobile; 

2.  Nicholas  Davis,  Jr.,  of  Limestone; 

3.  James  W.  Echols,  of  Macon; 

4.  Frederick  G.  Ferguson,  of  Macon; 

5.  William  H.  Forney,  of  Calhoun^ 

6.  Charles  P.  Gage,  of  Mobile; 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabafma.  739 

7.  John  Grant,  of  Mobile; 

8.  C.  C.  Huckabee,  of  Greene ; 

9.  James  Jackson,  of  Lauderdale; 

10.  John  C.  Judkins,  of  Macon; 

11.  John  Y.  Kilpatrick,  of  Clarke; 

12.  Samuel  Leeper,  of  Shelby; 

13.  Eobert  F.  Ligon,  of  Macon; 

14.  Wylie  W.  Mason,  Chancellor; 

15.  J.  C.  Meadors,  of  Chambers; 

16.  Warner  W.  Meadors,  of  Chambers; 

17.  Americus  C.  Mitchell,  of  Barbour; 

18.  Sydenham  Moore,  of  Greene; 

19.  Ezekiel  A.  Powell,  of  Tuskaloosa; 

20.  Eichard  H.  Powell,  of  Bullock; 

21.  Daniel  Pratt,  of  Autauga; 

22.  Turner  Eeavis,  of  Sumter; 

23.  William  Eichardson,  of  Limestone; 

24.  James  L.  Sheffield,  of  Marshall; 

25.  Martin  L.  Stansel,  of  Pickens; 

26.  Lewis  Stone,  of  Pickens; 

27.  Dr.  Frank  W.  Sykes,  of  Lawrence; 

28.  John  E.  Tompkins,  of  Sumter; 

29.  George  S.  Walden,  of  Talladega; 

30.  Eobert  B.  Waller,  of  Greene; 

31.  Newton  L.  Whitfield,  of  Tuskaloosa; 

32.  Dr.  Alfred  M.  Worthy,  of  Pike. 


APPENDIX. 


AN    ACT 

To  authorize  WILLIAM  GARRETT,  late  Secretary  of  State,  to  make  certain  lists  from 
the  Registers  and  Journals  in  the  State  Department  and  State  Library,  to  aid 
in  the  completion  of  a  roll  of  public  officers  and  members  of  the  Legislature  in 
the  State,  to  form  a  part  of  his  Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama 
for  thirty  years. 

SECTION  1.  Be  it  enacted  by  the  General  Assembly  of  Alabama,  That  WILLIAM 
GARRETT,  of  Coosa  county,  late  Secretary  of  State,  be,  and  he  is,  authorized  to  use 
and  make  extracts  from  any  of  the  official  Registers  or  Journals  of  the  two  Houses 
of  the  General  Assembly  in  the  State  Department  or  State  Library,  in  making  a 
list  of  public  officers  and  members  of  the  General  Assembly  from  the  organization 
of  the  State  Government,  and  that  he  shall  be  allowed  to  make  such  extracts  free 
of  charge  or  hindrance;  Provided,  That  none  of  such  Registers  or  Records  shall 
be  removed  from  the  Capitol  in  making  such  lists. 
Approved  February  13,  1872. 


I.     ROLL  OF  THE  GENERAL  ASSEMBLY. 

Names  of  Senators  and  Representatives  in  the  Legislature  of  Alabama,  from 
1819  to  1872.     [Names  of  Senators  in  Italics.} 

I.     AUTAUGA    COUNTY. 

1819— Ifowell  Rose,  Philips  Fitzpatrick,  Charles  A.  Dennis. 

1820 — Ifowell  Rose,  James  Jackson,  Philips  Fitzpatrick. 

lS2l—IIowell  Rhose,  William  R.  Pickett,  John  Elmore. 

1822— William  R.  Pickett,  Philips  Fitzpatrick. 

1823— William  R,  Pickett,     1824— William  R.  Pickett. 

1825 — James  Jackson,  Robert  Brodnax,  John  McNeill. 

1S2Q— James  Jackson,  Robert  Brodnax,  Eli  Terry. 

1827 — Robert  Brodnax,  Eli  Terry.     1828 — Robert  Brodnax,  Eli  Terry. 

1829 — Willium  R.  Pickett,  Robert  Brodnax,  William  Hester. 

1830—  William  R.  Pickett,  Robert  Brodnax,  Dixon  Hall,  Senr. 

1831—  William  R.  Pickett,  Robert  Brodnax,  Dixon  Hall,  Senr. 
1832 — William  R.  Pickett,  Robert  Brodnax,  S.  S.  Simmdns. 
1833 — Williom  R.  Pickett,  S.  S.  Simmons,  Dixon  Hall,  Jr. 

1834 — Robert  Brodnax,  S.  S.  Simmons,  William  Burt,  James  B.  Robinson. 
1835 — Robert  Brodnax,  S.  S.  Simmons,  Benjamin  Davis,  Dixon  Hall,  Jr. 


742  Appendix  to 

1836 — Robert  Brodnax,  S.  S.  Simmons,  Ben.  Davis,  John  P.  De  Jarnette. 

1837 Samuel  S.  Simmons,  W.  Burt,  T.  W.  Brevard,  John  P.  De  Jarnette. 

1838 Samuel  S.  Simmons,  D.  Hall,  Jr.,  Thomas  Hogg,  John  W.  Withers. 

1839 Samuel  S.  Simmons,  Dixon  Hall,  Jr.,  John  W.  Withers. 

1840 Dixon  Hall,  Benjamin  Davis,  Absalom  Doster. 

1841 Dixon  Hall,  William  S.  Morgan,  John  Steele. 

1842 Dixon  Hall,  William  S.  Morgan,  John  E.  Mitchell. 

1843 — John  Steele,  Crawford  M.  Jackson. 

1844 — John  Steele,  Crawford  M.  Jackson. 

1845 — Crawford  M.  Jackson,  John  Steele. 

IStf—Seth  P.  Storrs,  C.  M.  Jackson,  John  Wood. 

1849— Seth  P.  Storrs,  Boiling  Hall,  John  Wood. 

ISBl—Seth  P.  Storrs,  Boiling  Hall,  Charles  C.  Howard. 

1853— Boiling  Hall.     1855— C.  M.  Jackson.     1857— C.  M.  Jackson. 

1861— Daniel  Pratt.     1863— Leonidas  Howard. 

1865— Charles  S.  G.  Doster.     1868— A.  Baker.     1870— C.  S.  G.  Doster. 

II.     BAKER   COUNTY. 

(Newly  organized — not  represented.) 

III.  BALDWIN   COUNTY. 

1819 — Thomas  Carson.     1820 — Joseph  Mims. 

1821 — Elijah  Montgomery.     1822 — Ludd  Harris.     1823 — Silas  Dinsmore,  Jr. 
1827— David  Mims.     1829— David  Mims.     1830— James  F.  Roberts. 
1831— Soseph  Hall.     1832— Joseph  Hall.     1833— Joseph  Hall. 
1834— James  L.  Seaberry.     1835— Joseph  Hall.     1836— Lee  Slaughter. 
1837— Cade  M.  Godbold.     1838— Cade  M.  Godbold.     1838— David  Mims. 
1840— Gerald  B.  Hall.     1841— Gerald  B.  Hall.     1842— William  H.  Gasque. 
1843— Richard  S.  Moore.     1844— Gerald  B.  Hall.     1845— J.  H.  Hastie. 
1847— R.  McDonald.     1849—  Cade  M.  Godbold,  Reuben  M.  McDonald. 
1851— William  Booth.     1853— William  Wilkins.     1855— P.  H.  Byrne. 
1857— Joseph  Nelson.     1859— T.  C.  Barlow.     1861— Reuben  McDonald. 
1863 — R.  B.  Bryers.     1865 — George  W.  Robinson. 
1868— A.  L.  Holman.     1870—0.  S.  Holmes. 

IV.  BARBOUR    COUNTY. 

1834— Osborn  J.  Williams.     1835—0.  J.  Williams.     1836— Green  Beauchamp. 

1837 —  William  Wellborn,  Green  Beauchamp. 

1838—  William  Wellborn,  John  P.  Booth. 

1839—  William  Wellborn,  J.  W.  Mann,  John  W.  A.  Pettit. 
1840— Jefferson  Buford,  J.  W.  Mann,  William  T.  Shanks. 
1841 — Jefferson  Buford,  John  L.  Hunter,  Hugh  N.  Crawford. 
1842 — Jefferson  Buford,  John  W.  A.  Pettit,  John  Jackson. 
1843 — John  Jackson,  Judge.Williams. 

1844— Patrick  H.  Mitchell,  B.  F.  Treadwell. 

1845— John  Gill  Shorter,  William  T.  Shanks,  A.  M.  Sanford, 

1847— Jefferson  Buford,  Hugh  N.  Crawford,  L.  S.  Smith. 

184$— Jefferson  Buford^  Benjamin  Gardner,  Paul  McCall. 

1851— E.  R,  Flewellen,  John  Gill  Shorter,  John  W.  W.  Jackson, 

1853— Bait  Peterson,  John  Cochran,  J.  F.  Conner1,  P.  McCall. 

1855— Batt  Peterson,  John  Cochran,  M.  A.  Browder,  Worthy  J.  Grubbs. 

1857— #rfu'm*  C.  Buclock,  Henry  D.  Clayton,  John  C.  McRae,  M.  A.  Browder. 

1859— Edward  a  Bullock,  W,  B.  Bowen,  H.  D.  Clayton,  William  H.  Chambers. 

1861— Edrtard  C.  Bullock,  E.  M.  Herrtm,  C.  A.  Parker,  E.  S.  Ott. 

1863 — Leu)i*  L.  Cato,  W.  H.  Chambers,  C.  A.  Parker,  Casper  W.  Jones. 

1865— Americus  C.  Mitchell,  H.  Pipkin,  G.  H.  Davis,  Henry  Faulk. 

1869—7.  W.  Mabry,  Thomas  Diggs,*  C.  Doster,  Dtfvid  Lore. 

1870— J.  W.  Mabry,  Jacob  Black,  Thomas  J.  Clark,*  T.  II.  Diggs.* 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  743 

*      V.    BIBB  COUNTY. 

1810 — Littlepage  Simms,  Jonathan  Jones.  »    ' 

1820 — Charles  A.  Dennis,  Gabriel  Benson. 

1821— Mathew  Jones.     1822— J.  Jones,  John  Wallace. 

1823— Charles  A.  Dennis,  Alexander  Hill. 

1824 — Alexander  Hill,  Jonathan  Jones. 

1825 — Jonathan  Jones..    1826 — Jonathan  Jones. 

1827 — James  B.  Clark.     1828— James  B.  Clark,  Alexander  Hill. 

1829 — Thomas  Crawford,  J.  B.  Clark,  Jonathan  Jones. 

1830—  Thomas  Crawford,  David  R.  Boyd,  J.  B.  Clark. 

1831 — Thomas  Crawford,  D.  R.  Boyd,  Julius  Goodwin. 

1832 — Alexander  Hill,  James  W.  Davis,  John  E.  Summers. 

1833 — Alexander  Hill,  James  W.  Davis,  John  E.  Summers. 

1834— Alexander  Hill,  David  E.  Davis,  and  Hopkins  Pratt. 

1835— James  Hill,  David  E.  Davis,  Robert  Parker. 

1836 — James  Hill,  John  Williams,  William  Christian. 

1837 — James  Hill,  James  W.  Davis,  Robert  Parker. 

1838 — James  Hill,  Lewis  Kennedy,  John  E.  Summers. 

1839 — James  Hill;  Frederick  James,  John  Williams. 

1840— S.  W.  Davidson,  David  E.  Davis. 

1841— David  E.  Davis,  Ezekiel  Henry. 

1842— Robert  Hill,  Kenneth  Morrison. 

1843— Pleasant  Hill,  David  E.  Davis. 

1844— B.  L.  Defrese,  Kenneth  Morrison. 

1845— Robert  Hill.     1847— James  W.  Davis. 

1849— Oliver  S.  Quinn.     1851— James  W.  Davis. 

1853— James  W.  Davis,  Charles  P.  Findley. 

1855— J.  Bernhard,  Dr.  Crawford. 

1857— Robert  Parker.     1859— S.  W.  Davidson,  Jr. 

1861—7^.  //.  Moren,  H.  D.  Calhoun. 

1863— AT.  77.  Moren,  James  W.  Davis. 

1865— 7£  77.  Moren,  James  W.  Davis. 

1868— J.  W.  Mahon,  P.  A.  Kendrick.     1870— T.  J.  Smithennan. 

VI.    BLOUNT  COUNTY. 

1819 — Gabriel  Ilanby,  John  Brown,  Isaac  Brown,  Benjamin  Matterson. 

1820 — Isaac  Brown,  John  Brown,  (Col.)  John  Brown. 

1821 — John  Brown,  Moses  Ayres. 

1822— Marston  Mead.     1823— Marston  Mead. 

1824— Marston  Mead.     1825— Marston  Mead. 

1826 — Marston  Mead.     1827 — 

1828 — William  II .  Musgrove,  David  Rogers. 

1829 — Marston  Mead,  Daniel  Murphree. 

1830 — William  II.  Musgrove,  Daniel  Murphree. 

1831 — William  H.  Musgrove,  Thomas  Shearer. 

1832 — William  II.  Musgrove,  Samuel  Johnson. 

1833— William  H.  Musgrove,  Samuel  Johnson. 

1834 — Samuel  Johnson,  Daniel  Murphree,  Emery  Loyd. 

1835 — William  77.  Musgrove,  E.  Loyd,  Middleton  S.  Johnson. 

1836 — William  77.  Musgrove,  M.  S.  Johnson,  Enoch  Aldridge. 

1837 — William  77.  Musgrove,  Joseph  Tiffin,  Enoch  Aldridge. 

1838 — Emery  Loyd,  Greenberry  H.  Harrison,  Marston  Mead. 

1S39— Emery  Loyd,  Mace  T.  P.  Brindley,  Ira  E.  McMillan. 

1840— Emery  Loyd,  Ira  E.  McMillan,  Godfrey  Fowler. 

1841— Mace  T.  P.  Brindley,  Ira  E.  McMillan,  William  H.  Musgrove. 

1842— Mace  T.  P.  Brindley,  Godfrey  Fowler,  Isaac  Whorton. 

1843— Mace  T.  P.  Brindley,  Enoch  Aldridge,  Ira  E.  McMillan. 

1844— Mace  T.  P.  Brindley,  Enoch  Aldridge,  Aquilla  Jones. 


744  Appendix  to 

1845 — Mace  T.  P.  Brindley,  Enoch  Aldridge.  • 

1847 — Mace  T.  P.  Brindley,  Enoch  Aldridge. 
1849 — Mace  T.  P.  Brindley,  Enoch  Aldridge. 
1851— Enoch  Aldridge,  Thomas  W.  Staton. 

1853 Mace  T.  P.  Brindley,  Enoch  Aldridge,  William  P.  St.  John. 

1855 Mace  T.  P.  Brindley,  Thomas  W.  Staton,  Reuben  Ellis. 

1857 — Thomas  W.  Staton,  William  H.  Edwards. 
1859— Thomas  W.  Staton,  Enoch  Aldridge,  A.  M.  Gibson. 
1861 —  William  N.  Crump,  Enoch  Aldridge,  Reuben  Ellis. 
1863 — William  N.  Crump,  Reuben  Ellis,  A.  M.  Gibson. 
1865—  William  H.  Edwards,  A.  M.  Gibson,  S.  Palmer. 
1868— J.  White.     1870— A.  P.  Payne. 

VII.  BULLOCK  COUNTY. 

1868— *B.  F.  Royal,  D.  H.  Hill,  D.  A.  McCall. 
1870— *B.  F.  Royal,  G.  M.  Drake,  Lawrence  Speed. 

VIII.  BUTLER  CpUNTY. 

1825— Nathaniel  Cook.     1826— Nathaniel  Cook. 

1827— Nathaniel  Cook.     1828— Nathaniel  Cook. 

1820— Nathaniel  Cook.     1830— Nathaniel  Cook. 

1831— Nathaniel  Cook.     1832— Nathaniel  Cook. 

1833 — Edward  Bowen.     1834 — Edward  Bowen,  H.  L.  Henderson. 

1835— H.  L.  Henderson,  John  W.  Womack. 

1836 — H.  L.  Henderson,  Henry  T.  Jones. 

1837— Herndon  L.  Henderson,  John  W.  Womack,  H.  T.  Jones. 

1838 — Herndon  L.  Henderson,  Henry  T.  Jones,  Walter  H.  Crenshaw. 

1839 — Hermdon  L.  Henderson,  James  W.  Wade,  Jesse  Womack. 

1840 — Jesse  Womack,  Walter  H.  Crenshaw,  Edward  Bowen. 

1841 — Jesse  Womack,  Walter  H.  Crenshaw,  Joseph  Rhodes. 

1842 — Asa  Arrington,  Thomas  H.  Watts,  H.  L.  Henderson. 

1843— Asa  Arrington,  M.  D.  K.  Taylor,  W.  H.  Trawick. 

1844 — Asa  Arrington,  Thomas  H.  Watts,  Joseph  Rhodes. 

1845— Marion  D.  K.  Taylor,  Thomas  H.  Watts. 

1847— Walter  H.  Crenshaw,  B.  W.  Henderson. 

1849— Johhn  S.  McMullen,  Edward  Bowen. 

1851 — Walter  H.  Crenshaw,  J.  S.  McMullen,  Brockman  W.  Henderson. 

1853—  Walter  H.  Crenshaw,  Thomas  J.  Bennett,  James  R.  Yeldell. 

1855— R,  R.  Wright,  John  S.  McMullen. 

1857 — Thomas  J.  Burnett,  Samuel  Adams,  A.  B.  Scarborough. 

1859 — Thomas  J.  Burnett,  Samuel  Adams,  M.  C.  Lane. 

1861— Walter  H.  Crenshaw,  Thomas  J.  Burnett. 

1863— Walter  H.  Crenshaw,  S.  F.  Gafford. 

1865—  Walter  H.  Crenshaw,  S.  F.  Gafford,  Thomas  C.  Crenshaw. 

1868—  William  Miller,  Jr.,  John  A.  Hunt. 

1870—  William  Miller,  Jr.,  J.  L.  Powell. 

ix.   CALHOUN  (PREVIOUS  TO  1855  BENTON)  COUNTY. 

1834 — William  Arnold,  Charles  Lewis.     1835 — William  Arnold,  Jesse  Turner. 
1836—  William  Arnold  John  Turner.     1837—  William  Arnold,  William  B.  Martin. 
1838 — William  Arnold,  William  B.  Martin. 

1839— John  R.  Clarke,  Thomas  A.  Walker,  John  Cochran,  John  T.  A.  Hughes. 
1840— Jo hn  R.  Clarke,  T.  A.  Walker,  J.  T.  A.  Hughes,  Stephen  Kelly. 

1841—  John  R.  Clarke,  T.  A.  Walker,  John  Cochran,  Matthew  Allen. 

1842—  Thomas  A.  Walker,  William  B.  Martin,  J.  Cochran,  Miles  W.  Abernathy. 
1843 — Thomas  A.  Walker,  W.  B.  Martin,  Matthew  Allen,  Henry  T.  Reed. 
1844 — Thomas  A.  Walker,  William  Young,  Spartan r Allen,  Lewis  D.  Jones. 
1845— John  R.  Clarke,  Matthew  Allen,  A.  J.  Walker,  Elijah  Kerr. 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  745 

1847 —  William  B.  Martin,  11.  H.  Wilson,  Woodford  Hanna,  Giles  L.  Driver. 
1840—  William  Z>.  Martin,  George  0.  Whutley,  Asa  Skelton,  John  N.  Young. 
1851—  A.  J,  Walker,  Martin  Allen,  William  P.  Davis,  William  C.  Price. 
1853—  William  B.  Martin,  Asa  Skelton,  W.  P.  Davies,  J.  N.  Wills. 
1855— Miles  W.  Abernathy,  J.  P.  Moragne,  W.  P.  Davis,  Gideon  C.  Ellis. 
1857— Miles   W.  Abernathy,  John  H.  Caldwell,  John  H.  Wright,  J.  J.  Baugh. 
1859— 7%oH«M  .4.  Walker,  William  H.  Forney,  J.  11.  Wright,  William  T.  Bushe. 
\%Ql— Thomas  A.  Walker,  S.  M.  Caruth,  D.  D.  McClelland,  W.  B.  Martin. 
1863—  Thomas  A.  Walker,  W.  M.  Ilames,  D.  T.  Ilyan,  £.  T.  Reed. 
IMS— William  It.  Forney,  W.  J.  Borden,  H.  McBee,  G.  C.  Ellis. 
1808— Thomas  D.  Fister'.     1870— James  Crook. 

X.  CHAMBERS    COUNTY. 

1834 — Nathaniel  If.  Gricc.     IS.0,.") — Lcroy  McCoy.     1836 — Charles  McLemore. 
1887 — Charles  McLemore.     18:58 — William  L.  Craytoii. 

1839—  George  Reese,  Toliver  Towles,  Arnold  Scale. 
1840 — George  Reesr,  Charles  McLemore,  Leroy  McCoy. 
1841 — George  Reese,  Charles  McLemore,  Matthew  Phillips. 
1842 — James  E.  Reese,  Charles  McLemore,  William  S.  Morgan. 
1843 — James  E.  Reese,  William  llolstein,  Charles  McLemore. 
1844 — fames  E.  Reese,  Waid  Hill,  Nathaniel  Grady. 

1845—  Charles  McLemore,  N.  Grady,  Daniel  8.  Robertson,  G.  D.  Brantly,  Waid  Hill. 
1847 — Robert   P.    Mitchell,    Fortune    M.    Chisolm,     LaFayette   Robinson,    Toliver 

Towles,  Green  D.  Brantly. 
1840 — Charles  Md^inore,  Joseph  Barrow,  F.  M.  Chisolm,  Benjamin  L.  Goodman, 

John  M.  Kennedy. 
1851 — Charles  McLemore,  William  W.  Carlisle,  P.  M.  Allison,  George  W.  Hemlree, 

Calvin  Presly. 

1853— rVw/7™  McLemnre,  Daniel  S.  Robinson,  Gibson  F.  Hill,  Jesse  B.  Todd. 
1855 — A'.  ./.  Jiacon,  John  K.  Alford,  Toliver  Towles,  George  F.  Taylor. 
1857— Robert  Mitchell,  A.  J.  Carlisle,  Warner  W.  Meadors. 
1861—  William  II.  Barnes,  W.  A.  Johnson,  T.  L.  Penn. 
1863—  William  H.  Barnes,  J.  J.  McLemore,  John  C.  Towles. 
18*55 — William  H.  Rarm-x,  J.  C.  Meadors,  James  L.  Robinson. 
1808-   W.  L.  Taylor,  B.  McGraw.     1870— Jonathan  Ware,  R.  B.  Lumpkin. 

XI.  CHEROICKE    COUNTY. 

1837 — George  Clifton.     1838 — George  Clifton. 

1830— George  Clifton,  Samuel  1).  J.  Moore. 

1840— John  H.  Garrett,  William  G.  Hale. 

1841 — Arthur  Foxtir,  John  H.  Garrett,  William  Ilenslce. 

1842— Arthur  Foster,  Thomas  B.  Cooper,  J.  M.  Hendrix. 

1843 — Arthur  Foster,  J.  M.  Hendrix,  William  IL  Garrett, 

1844 — William  II.  Garrett,  Thomas  B.  Cooper. 

1845— William  H.  Garrett,  F.  M.  Hardwick. 

1847—  William  II.  Garrett,  F.  M.  Hardwick,  William  W.  Little. 

1840—  William  II.  Garrett,  Thomas  B.  Cooper,  F.  M.  Hardwick. 
1851 — William  H.  Garrett,  Thomas  B.  Cooper,  Thomas  S.  Moragne. 

1853— John  M.  Ihndrix,  James  M.  Clifton,  G.  W.  Lawrence,  Henry  C.  Sanford. 
1855 — Benjamin  C.  Yancei/,  E.  G.  Bradley,  Sands  C.  Ward,  Henry  C.  Sanford. 
1857 — Samuel  K.  McSpadden,  L.  M.  Stith,  A.  G.  Bennett,  Jhomas  Espy,  William  A. 

Richardson. 
1850 — Samuel  K.  McSpadden,  Dozier  Thornton,  James  M.  Clifton,  Thomas  B.  Cooper, 

F.  M.  Hardwick. 

1861—  F.  M.  Hardwick,  A.  R.  Brindley,  W.  W.  Little,  J.  D.  Miller,  A.  Snodgrass. 
1863— .F.  M.  Hardwick,  John  Brandon,  Thomas  B.  Cooper,  George  W.  Howell,  W. 

A.  Vincent. 
1865 — A.  L.  Woodliff,  Thomas  B.  Cooper,  J.  W.  Brandon,  John  Lawrence,  John 

Potter. 
1868— Henry  C,  Sanford,  James  A.  Reeves.     1870— James  H.  Leath. 

48 


746  Appendix  to 


XII.  CHOCTAW    COUNTY. 

1853— Edward  McCall.     1855—  Thomas  M.  C.  Prince,  John  W.  Penuington. 

1857 — John  W.  Peunington,  Ambrose  Cullom. 

1859— John  G.  Slater,  T.  L.  Fielder. 

18(il—  J.  T.  Foster,  J.  A.  M.  Thompson.     1863— James  S.  Evans,  J.  T.  Foster. 

1865 — John  T.  Foster,  G.  F.  Smith,  Joshua  Morse. 

1868— John  T.  Foster,  James  S.  Evans.     1870— John  T.  Foster,  G.  Frank  Smith. 

XIII.  CLARKE    COUNTY. 

1819 — Joseph  B.  Chambers,  William  Murrell,  G.  W.  Creagh. 
1820 — Joseph  B.   Chambers,  William  Murrell,  G.  W.  Creagh. 
1821 — Joseph  B.   Chambers,  James  Magoffin,  Edward  Kennedy. 
1822 — Neill  Stnith,^  James  Fitz,  Edward  Kennedy. 
1823 — Neill  Smith,  James  Fitz,  John  G.  Creagh. 
1824 — Neill  Smith,  John  G,  Creagh,  Richard  Dickers  on. 
1825 — George  S.  Gaines,  John  G.  Creagh. 
1826 — George  S.  Gaines,  Elias  H.  Dubose. 

1827— Joseph  B.  Earle,  -   .     1828— Joseph  B.  Earle,  William  Mobley. 

1829— Neill  Smith,  William  Mobley.     1830— Neill  Smith,  William  Mobley. 

1881— Neill  Smith,  Samuel  Wilkinson.     1832— Neill  Smith,  John  G.  Creagh. 

1833— John  G.  Creagh.     1834— Abel  H.  Dubose.     1835— Neill  Smith. 

1836— Thomas  Sanders.     1837— R.  P.  Carney.     1838— Gerard  W.  Creagh. 

1839 — Gerard  W.  Creagh,  Samuel  Forwood. 

1840—  Gerard  W.  Creagh,  William  F.  Jones. 

1841 — Gerard  W,  Creagh,  Lorenzo  James.    1842 — Gerard  W.  Creagh,  Peter  Dubose. 

1843—  Gerard  W.  Oreagh,  John  W.  Portis. 

1844—  Gerard  W.  Creagh,  John  W.  Portis. 
1845 — Gerard  W.  Creagh,  Morgan  Carleton. 
1847—  Gerard  W.  Creagh,  Thomas  B.  Rivers. 
1849 — Gerard  W.  Creagh,  Lorenzo  James. 
1851 — Lorenzo  James,  A.  J.  Henshaw. 
1853— James  S.  Dickinson,  E.  S.  Thornton. 

1855— James  J.  Goode.     1857— James  J.  Goode.     1859— W.  J.  Hearin. 
1861— Origen  S.  Jewett,  W.  J.  Hearin. 
1863— Robert  Brodnax,  John  Y.  Kilpatrick. 
1865— John  Y.  Kilpatrick,  Thomas  B.  Savage. 
1868— B.  R.  Wilson.     1870— H.  C.  Grayson. 

XIV.    CLAY  COUNTY. 

1868— T.  W.  Newsom.     1870— J.  H.  White. 

XV.    CLEBOURNE  COUNTY. 

1868— //.  //.  'Wise,  M.  R.  Bell.     1870— #.  //.  Wise,  Wilson  P.  Ho  well. 

XVI.    COFFEE  COUNTY. 

1845 — Jones  B.  Kendrick,  Abraham  Warren. 

1847 — Lewis  Hutcheson,  Irwin  Rodgers. 

1849— Jesse  O'Neal,  William  Holley. 

1851—  Jesse  O'Neal,  William  Holley. 

1853— Jesse  O'Neal,  Gappa  T.  Yelverton. 

1855— Daniel  II.  Horn,  A.  L.  Milligan. 

1857 — Daniel  H.  Horn,  Jeremiah  Warren. 

1859 — Daniel  H.  Horn,  Jeremiah  Warren. 

1861— Hill  R.  H.  Horn.     1863— John  G.  Moore. 

1865— John  G.  Moore.     1868— John  G.  Moore.     1870— John  G.  Moore. 

tDr.  Smith  was  several  times  a  member  of  the  North  Carolina  House  of  Commons,  hie  first 
session  being  1810. 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.         .      747 

XVII.    COLBERT  COUNTY. 

1868— C.  P.  Simmons.     1870— 

XVIII.    CONECUH  COUNTY. 

1819— John  Herbert,  William  Lee,  Thomas  Watts. 

1820 — John  Herbert,  Samuel  Cook.  Thomas  Armstrong. 

1821 — John  W.  Devereux,  Eldridge  S.  Greening,  John  E.  Graham. 

1822 — John  W.  Devereux,  Samuel  W.  Oliver,  John  Fields. 

1823— John  W.  Devereux,  S.  W.  Oliver,  James  Salter. 

1824— John  W.  Devereux,  S.  W.  Oliver,  John  Green. 

1825—  William  Jones,  S.  W.  Oliver,  Eldridge  S.  Greening. 

1826—  William  Jones,  S.  W.  Oliver,  Eldridge  S.  Greening. 

1827—  William  Jones,  S.  W.  Oliver,  Eldridge  S.  Greening. 
1828 — William.  Hemphill,  Joseph  P.  Clough,  James  Salter. 
1829 — William  Hemphill,  John  Green,  Henry  E.  Curtis. 
1830 — William  Hemphill,  Joseph  P.  Clough,  Samuel  DuboSe. 
1831—  William  Hemphill,  John  Watkins,  S.  W.  Oliver. 
1832 — William  Hemphill,  S.  W.  Oliver,  Julian  S.  Devereux. 

1833—  William  Hemphill,  S.  W.  Oliver,  Watkins  Salter. 

1834—  William  Hemphill,  S.  W.  Oliver. 

1835—  William  Hemphill,  William  Ashley. 
1836 — Samuel  W.  Oliver,  J.  V.  Perryman. 
1837— John  W.  Devereux,  J.  V.  Perryman. 
1838 — Tohn  W.  Devereux,  James  M.  Boiling. 
1839— James  M.  Boiling.     1840— William  A.  Bell. 
1841— Churchill  Jones.     1842— Churchill  Jones. 
1843— Churchill  Jones.     1£44— A.  W.  Jones. 
1845— James  A.  Stallworth.     1847— J.  A.  Stallworth. 
1849— William  A.  Ashley.     1851— William  A.  Ashley. 
1853—  William  A.  Ashley,  Andrew  Jay. 

1855—  William  A.  Ashley,  Andrew  Jay. 
1857 — John  D.  Cavey.     1859 — John  D.  Cavey. 
1861— William  A.  Ashley.     1863— William  Green. 
1865—  William  A.  Ashley,  Francis  M.  Walker. 
1868— J.  Yates.     1870— J.  W.  Etheridge. 

XIX.    COOSA  COUNTY. 

1837— William  W.  Morris.     1838— William  W.  Morris. 

1839— Armistead  B.  Dawson.     1840— William  W.  Morris. 

1841— William  L.  Yancey.     1842— Anderson  H.  Kendrick. 

1843—  William  L.  Yancey,  Howell  Rose. 

1844 — Sampson  W.  Harris,  Howell  Rose. 

1845— Sampson  W.  Harris,  Howell  Rose,  James  R.  Powell. 

1847 — Daniel  Crawford,  Samuel  Spigner. 

1849— Anderson  H.  Kendrick,  Frederick  F.  Foscue. 

1851— Neill  S.  Graham,  Henry  W.  Cox. 

1853 — James  R.  Powell,  William  Garrett,  James  H.  Weaver. 

1855 — James  R.  Powell,  Neill  S.  Graham,  George  Taylor. 

1857 — Daniel  Crawford,  Alex.  Smith,  Geo.  E.  Brewer,  Evan  Calfee. 

1859 — George  E.  Brewer,  Alex.  Smith,  Calvin  Humphries,  W.  D.  Walden. 

IS&l—Georae  E.  Brewer,  D.  W.  Bozeman,  Albert  Crumpler,  Allen  D.  Maxwell. 

1863—  William    Garrett,   Thomas    U.    T.   McCain,  E.  S.  C.  Parker,  James  Van- 

sandt. 

1865—  Wittiam  Garrett,  T.  U.  C.  McCain,  J.  Vansandt,  John  Edwards, 
1868—  Thomas  Lambert,  James  Vansandt. 
J870— William  L.  Johnson. 


748  Appendix  to 


XX.  COVINGTON  COUNTY. 

1887— .Tosiah  Jones.     1838 — Josiah  Jones. 

1839— Josiah  Jones.     1840— Laird  B.  Fleming. 

1841— Josiah  Jones.     1842 — Josiah  Jones. 

1843 — George  A.  Snowden.     1844 — George  A.  Snowden. 

1845 — George  A.  Snowden.     1847 — Josiah  Jones. 

184!) — Alfred  Holley.     1851 — George  A.  Snowden. 

1853— Alfred  Holley.     1855— W.  T.  Acree. 

1857— Alfred  Holley.     1859— Alfred  Jlolley. 

\m\-DeWitt  C.  Davis,  J.  G.  Robinson. 

1863— DeWitt  C.  Davis,  Alfred  Holley. 

lS65—DeWitt  C.  Davis,  J.  B.  Chapman. 

1868— C.  J.  Mancill.     1870— C.  J.  Mancill. 

XXI.  CRENSIIAW  COUNTY, 

1868— William  Mastin.    '1870— W.  P.  Callaway. 

XXII.     DALE   COUNTY. 

1833 — Abraham  Warren.     1834 — Abraham  Warren. 

1835 — Abraham  Warren.     1836 — Abraham  Warren. 

1837 — Abraham  Warren.     1838— Abraham  Warren. 

1839— Abraham  Warren.     1840— J.  G.  Blair. 

1841— Archibald  H.  Justice.     1842— Levin  A.  Skipper. 

1843— J.  H.  Galloway.     1844— John  Merrick. 

1845^-John  Merrick.     1847— James  C.  Ward. 

1849— E.  R.  Boon.     1851— E.  R.  Boon. 

1853— James  C.  Ward.     1855— James  C.  Ward. 

1857 — James  McKinnie,  Hay  wood  Martin,  Elias  Register. 

1859— Noah  Fountain,  L.  Griffin.     1861— D.  B.  Creech,  J.  L.  Lee. 

1863—72.  P.  Peacock,  Q.  L.  C.  Franklin,  H.  I.  M.  Kennon. 

1865— R,  P.  Peacock,  P.  M.  Galloway,  C.  T.  Cotton. 

1868— Philip  King,  J.  R.  Ard. 

1870— Philip  King,  J.  M.  Carmichael. 

XXIII.    DALLAS  COUNTY. 

1819 — Thomas  Casey,  Edwin  D.  King,  James  Saffold. 

1820 — Thomas  Rinyold,  Isaac  S.  McMeans,  Horatio  S.  Perry. 

1821 — Thomas  Casey,  Walter  Crenshaw,  Randall  Duckworth. 

1822— Thomas  Casey,  Thomas  B'.  Rutherford,  Walter  Crenshaw. 

1823 — Thomas  Casey,  Walter  Crenshaw,  George  Phillips. 

1824 — Thomas  Casey,  Walter  Crenshaw,  Joseph  Pickens. 

1825 — Thomas  Casey,  Joseph  Pickens,  James  Saffold,  Walter  Crenshaw. 

1826 — Thomas  Casey,  Bernard  Johnson,  Walter  Crenshaw,  J.  Pickens. 

1827 — Thomas  Casey,  Erasmus  Walker,  John  C.  Sharp,  John  A.  Tarver. 

1828—  Thomas  Casey,  Ezekiel  Pickens,  E.  Walker,  John  A.  Tarver. 

1829— Horatio  G.  Perry,  Uriah  Grigsby,  W.  Taylor,  J.  C.  VanDyke. 

1830 — Horatio  G.  Perry,  Benjamin  11.  Hogan,  William  Taylor,  P.  W.  Herbert. 

1831 — Horatio  G.  Perry,  Peter  W.  Herbert,  John  W.  Paul,  E.  Saunders. 

1832—  George  Phillips,  Peter  Walter  Herbert,  Ethelbert  W.  Saunders. 

1833 — George  Phillips,  George  W.  Gayle,  E.  W.  Saunders,  Jesse  Beene. 

1834 — George  Phillips,  B.  Johnson,  George  W.  Gayle,  James  M.  Calhoun. 

1835— Jesse  Beene,  Burwell  Boykin,  J.  M.  Calhoun,  J.  P.  Saffold. 

1836— Jesse  Beene,  J.  M.  Calhoun,  B.  Boykin^  J.  J.  Greening. 

1837— Jesse  Beene,  J.  M.  Calhoun,  W.  S.  Pliillips,  J.  J.  Greening. 

1838 — James  M.  Calhoun,  W.  S.  Phillips,  Uriah  Grigsby,  W.  C.  Clifton. 

1839 — James  M.  Calhoun,  Daniel  H.  Norwood,  William  H.  Norris. 

1840—  William  S.  Phillips,  Daniel  H.  Norwood,  William  H.  Norris, 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  749 

1841 — William  S.  Phillips,  Daniel  H.  Norwood,  William  H.  Norris. 
^842 — William  S,  Phillips,  James  M.  Calhoun,  William  H.  Norris. 
1843 — William  H.  Norris,  Robert  S.  Hatcher,  Geo.  R.  Evans. 

1844—  William  H.  Norris,  William  B.  King,  C.  B.  Watts. 

1845—  William  IL  Norris,  George  W.  Gayle,  E.  W.  Saunders. 
1847 — Charles  G.  Edwards,  George  C.  Phillips,  Ashley  W.  Spaight. 
1849 — Charles  G.  Edwards,  Robert  S.  Hatcher,  George  P.  Blevins. 
1851 — F.  A.  Saunders,  H.  Bussey,  Benjamin  M.  Woolsey. 
1853— Samuel  R.  Blake,  R.  S.  Hatcher,  George  C.  Phillips. 
1855— Robert  S.  Hatcher,  II.  J.  English,  B.  M.  Woolsey. 

1857 — James  M.  Calhoun,  Thomas  E.  Irby,  A.  G.  Mabry. 

1859 — James  M.  Calhoun,  A.  G.  Mabry,  Thomas  E.  Irby. 

1861-Womw  M.  Calhoun,  A.  G.  Mabry,  W.  M.  Smith. 

1863— E.  Bell,  N.  H.  R.  Dawson. 

1865— James  T.  Reese,  A.  G.  Mabry. 

1868 — D.  E  Coon,  W.  A.  Brantly,  Joseph  Drawn,  Spencer  Weaver,  A.  Emmons, 

John  Hardy. 
1870 — George  F.  Marlowe,  Jr.,  Jere  Haralson,*  R.  Johnson,*  H.  Cochran,  Edward 

Gee.* 

XXIV.  I)E  KALB  COUNT V. 

1837— Solomon  C.  Smith.     1838— Solomon  C.  Smith. 

1839— Solomon  C.  Smith,  Andrew  Wilson,  W.  T.  Mooney. 

1840 — Solomon  C.  Smith,  William  0.  Winston,  A.  Wilson. 

1841 — William  0.  Winston,  Thomas  J.  Rodgers. 

1842— William  0.  Winston,  John  M.  Langford. 

1843— William  0.  Winston,  John  M.  Langford. 

18^— Solomon  C.  Smith,  W.  O.  Winston,  B.  R.  Webb. 

1845— Solomon  C.  Smith,  Robert  Murphy,  Notley  M.  Warren. 

1847— Robert  Murphy,  Notley  M.  Warren. 

1849 — Madison  Hendricks,  Robert  Murphy. 

1851 — Alexander  W.  Majors,  Notley  M.  Warren. 

1853 — James  Lamar,  M.  C.  Newman,  Robert  Murphy. 

1855 — James  Lnmar,  William  0.  Winston,  Thomas  J.  Burgess. 

1857 — Robert  W.  Higgins,  Alexander  W.  Majors. 

1859— Robert  W.  Ilif/giiis,  Thomas  J.  Burgess,  S.  Cowan. 

IWA— Robert  W.  Hit/yin*,  L.  W.  Lynch,  G.  W.  Malone. 

1863—  Jeptha  Edwards,  G.  W.  Malone. 

1SQ5— William  O.   Winston,  G.  W.  Malone,  N.  M.  Warren. 

1868— G.  W.  Malone.     1870— John  B.  Appleton. 

XXV.  ELMORE  COUNTY. 

1868—  7.  A.  Furden,  William  V.  Turner.     1870— B.  F.  Benson. 

XXVr.    ESCAMBIA  COUNT V. 

(Not  Represented.) 

XXVII.    ETOWAII  COUNTY. 

(Not  Represented,) 

XXVIII.    FAYETtE  COUNTY, 

1827— Jesse  Vanhoose.     1828— Samuel  Parker.     1829-  John  Shipp. 
1830— James  K.  McCollum.     1831— James  K.  McCollmn. 
1832— Caswell  C.  Thompson.     1833— William  S.  Taylor. 
1834— William  S.  Taylor,  Caswell  C.  Thompson. 
1835— William  S.  Taylor,  Burr  W.  Wilson. 
1836— William  S.  Taylor,  C.  Boyd. 


760  Appendix  to 

1^1— Burr  W.  Wilson,  W.  S.  Taylor,  Lawrence  Brasher. 

1838— Burr  W.  Wilson,  W.  S.  Taylor,  R.  J.  Morrow. 

1839— Burr  W.  Wilson,  W.  S.  Taylor,  Wilson  Cobb. 

1840— Burr  W.  Wilson,  W.  Cobb,  Elijah  Marchbanks. 

1841— Burr   W.  Wilson,  W.  S.  Taylor,  E.  Marchbarks. 

1842 — Burr  W.  Wilson,  James  M.  Morris,  Allen  Harris. 

1843— Elijah  Marchbanks,  J.  M.  Morris,  Allen  Harris. 

1844— Elijah  Marchbanks,  Alvis  Davis,  W.  W.  Bell. 

1845 — Elijah  Marchbanks,  Alvis  Davis,  Elzer  Williams.  , 

1847 — Daniel  Coggin,  Alvis  Davis,  John  R.  Kirkland. 

1849— Daniel  Coggin,  A.  J.  Coleman,  J.  K.  McCollum. 

1851—  Elliott  P.  Jones,  A.  J.  Coleman,  J.  K.  McCollum. 

1853— Elliott  P.  Jones,  E.  W.  Lawrence,  A.  R.  Reynolds. 

\%tt— Elliott  P.  Jones,  Thomas  P.  McConnell,  J.  R.  Kirkland. 

1857 — Elliott  P.  Jones,  A.  J.  Coleman,  James  Brock. 

1859— Elliott  P.  Jones,  Jeptha  Seay,  A.  J.  Coleman. 

1861— -A  J.  Coleman,  Alexander  Cobb,  J.  Middleton. 

1863— .4.  J.  Coleman,  Alexander  Cobb,  J.  Seay. 

1865— Elliott  P.  Jones,  Thomas  Mabry,  Alex.  Cobb. 

1868— J.  F.  Morton .     1870— William  H.  Kennedy. 

XXIX.    FRANKLIN  COUNTY. 

1819—  William  Metcalf,  Thomas  Sargent,  Anthony  Winston. 
1820 — William  Metcalf,  John  Duke,  Temple  Sargent. 
1821—  William  Lucas,  William  W.  Parham,  Theophilus  Skinner. 
1822 — William  Lucas,  Anthony  Winston,  T.  Skinner. 

1823—  William  Metcalf,  Temple  Sargent,  T.  Skinner. 

1824—  William  Metcalf,  T.  Skinner,  William  W.  Parham. 
1825 — Theophilus  Skinner,  Peter  Martin,  James  Davis. 
1826 — Theophilus  Skinner,  W.  W.  Parham,  James  Davis. 
1827 — Theophilus  Skinner,  John  L.  McRae,  T.  Sargent. 
1828 — Quin  Morton,  Benjamin  W.  Hudson,  John  Lewis. 

1829—  Quin  Morton,  B.  W.  Hudson,  Albert  C.  Horton. 

1830—  Quin  Norton,  B.  W.  Hudson,  Albert  C.  Horton. 
1831— Quin  Morton,  J.  L.  McRae,  William  W.  Payne. 

1832 — Qmin  Morton,  Renjamin  W.  Hudson,  • 

1833— Quin  Morton,  J.  L.  McRae,  B.  W.  Hudson. 
1834 — Quin  Morton,  T.  Sargent,  Gregory  D.  Stone. 
1835— Benjamin  W.  Hudson,  John  A.  Nooe,  T.  Skinner. 
1836— Benjamia   W.  Hudson,  T.  Skinner,  Robert  A.  Baker. 
\%W— Benjamin  W.  Hudson,  R.  A.  Baker,  T.  Skinner. 
1838— Benjamin    W.  Hudson,  R.  A.  Baker,  James  T.  Cook. 

1839—  Benjamin  W.  Hudson,  R.  A.  Baker,  B.  Reynolds,  J.  T.  Richeson. 

1840— Benjamin   W.  Hudson,  R.  A.  Baker,  B.  Reynolds,  E.  McCollough. 

1841— Benjamin  W.  Hudson,  F.  G.  Norman,  B.  Reynolds,  B.  R.  Garland. 

1842— Benjamin   W.  Hudson,  F.  G.  Norman,  B.  R.  Garland,  J.  T.  Richeson. 

1843 — Benjamin  W.  Hudson,  F.  G.  Norman,  H.  C.  Jones,  Lemuel  Cook. 

1844 — Benjamin   W.  Hudson,  F.  G.  Norman,  H.  C.  Jones,  F.  C.  Vinson. 

1845 — Benjamin  W.  Hudson,  F.  G.  Norman,  Wesley  M.  Smith,  B.  R.  Garland. 

1847 — Bonaparte  R.  Garland,  F.  G.  Norman,  J.  Richeson,  R.  H.  Ricks. 

1849— Bonaparte  R.  Garland,  S.  Corsbee,  F.  Thorn,  R.  S.  Watkins. 

1851— Richard  II.  Ricks,  Wesley  M.  Smith,  R.  S.  Watkins,  W.  H.  Petty. 

1853—  Henry  C.  Jones,  R.  S.  Watkins,  R.  B.  Lindsay,  C.  A.  Carroll. 

1855— Henry  C.  Jones,  L.  B.  Mouton,  W.  M.  Smith,  Thomas  Thorn. 

1857 — Robert  B.  Lindsrii/,  R.  E.  Bell,  W.  M.  Jackson. 

1859—  William  M.  Jackson,  William  P.  Jack,  William,  C.  Gates. 

1861—  William  M.  Jackson,  A.  A.  Hughes,  0.  0.  Nelson. 

18G3—  William  M.  Jackson,  A.  W.  Ligon,  A.  Orr. 

1805— Robert  B.  Lindsay,  F.  L.  B.  Goodwin,  Thomas'Thom. 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  751 

1868— D.  V.  Sevier,  H.C.  Tompkins. 

1870— D.  V.  Sevier,  W.  W.  Weatherford,  John  A.  Steele. 

XXX.    GENEVA  COUNTY. 

(Not  Represented.) 

I  XXXI.     GREENE  COUNTY. 

1822 — Hiram  Shortridge,  Zach  Merriwether. 

1823 — Zachariah  Merriwether,  Julius  H.  Sims. 

1824— Zachariah  Merriwether,  Ezekiel  Pickens. 

1825 — Zachariah  Merriwether,  J.  H.  Sims,  J.  C.  Neill,  R.  H.  Nance. 

1826— Zachariah  Merriwether,  J.  H.  Neill,  M.  F.  Rainey. 

1821—Zacharah  Merriwether,  M.  F.  Rainey,  D.  B.  Richardson,  Edward  B.  Colgin. 

1828—Zachrriah  Merriwether,  E.  B.  Colgin,  D.  B.  Richardson,  J.  B.  Gage. 

1829 — Zachariah  M  err  in- ether,  John  Gayle,  George  Hays,  D.  B.  Richardson. 

1830— Zachariah  Merriwether,  John  Gayle,  T.  Riddle,  Thomas  Chiles. 

1831— John  Erwin,  Walter  N.  Moffett,  T.  Riddle,  James  Snedicor. 

1832 — John  Erwin,  Daniel  M.  Witherspoon,  W.  N.  Moffett,  W.  F.  Fortson. 

1833 — John  Erwin,  Albert  C.  Horton,  William  F.  Fortson. 

1834— John  Erwin,  A.  C.  Horton,  Patrick  May,  D.  B.  Richardson. 

1835 — Thomas  Riddle,  John  J.  Winston,  James  Gage,  John  May. 

1836 — Thomas  Riddle,  John  May,  John  Erwin. 

1837 — Thomas  Riddle,  John  Erwin,  Sol.  McAlpine,  D.  P.  Bestor. 

1838—  Thomas  Riddle,  John  M.  Bates,  S.  McAlpine,  Elisha  Young. . 

1839—  Thomas  Riddle,  John  M.  Bates,  S.  McAlpine,  Elisha  Young. 

1840 — Harry  I.  Thornton,  William  M.  Murphy,  S.  McAlpine,  Elisha  Young. 

1841 — Harry  I.  Thornton,  James  Chiles,  S.  McAlpine,  Elisha  Young. 

1842 — Harry  I.  Thornton,  William  G.  Jones,  John  Erwin,  J.  M.  Witherspoon. 

1843— Solomon  McAlpine,  J.  D.  Webb,  S.  F.  Hale,  J.  M.  Witherspoon. 

1844— Solomon  McAlpine,  Isaac  Groom,  G.  G.  Perrine,  P.  W.  Kittrell. 

1845— Solomon  McAlpine,  Pleasant  W.  Kittrell,  Joseph  W.  Taylor. 

1847— Zachariah  Merriwether,  P.  .W.  Kittrell,  Joseph  W.  Taylor. 

IMQ—Witliam  M.  Murphy,  A.  R.  Davis,  Alex.  R.  Gates. 

1851— George  G.  Perrine,  James  D.  Webb,  Allen  C.  Jones. 

1853 — James  D.  Webb.  Richard  F.  Inge,  Augustus  Benners. 

1855 — Joseph  W.  Taylor,  J.  N.  Carpenter,  William  II.  Fowler. 

1857— Allen  C.  Jones,  Stephen  F.  Hale,  R.  D.  Huckabee. 

1859— Allen  C.  Jones,  Stephen  F.  Hale,  R.  D.  Huckabee. 

1861 — Augustus  Benners,  Wiley  Coleman. 

1863 — Augustus  Benners,  Wiley  Coleman. 

1865—  C.  C.  Huckabee,  Robert  B.  Waller,  John  G.  Pierce. 

1868 — A.  M.  Mclntosh,  Benjamin  Alexander,  J.  W.  Coleman. 

1870— A  M.  Mclntosh,  Israel  G.  Smith,  James  M.  Bullock. 

XXXII.    HALE  COUNTY. 

1868—5.  Johnston,  J.  K.  Green,  J.  M.  Walker. 

1870 — B.  Johntson,  George  M.  Duskin,  James  K.  Green.* 

XXXIII.    HENRY  COUNTY. 

1822— Benjamin  Harvey.     1823— Benjamin  Harvey. 
1824— William  C.  Watson. 

1825—  William  Irwin,  William  C.  Watson. 

1826—  William  Irwin,  Bartlett  Smith. 
1827 — William  Irwin,  James  Ward. 

1828—  William  Irwin,  James  Ward. 

1829—  William  Irwin,  James  Ward.      • 

1830—  William  Irwin,  Jam.es  Ward, 


752  Appendix  io 


—  William  Irwin,  James  Ward. 
2—  William  Irwin,  James  Ward. 
1833—  William  Irwin,  Abner  Hill,  James  Ward. 
Ig35_  William  Irwin,  George  W.  Williams,  James  Ward. 
1836  —  William  Irwin,  James  Ward,  Alexander  C.  Gordon. 
Ig37  —  Richard  C.  Spann,  George  W.  Williams,  A.  C.  Gordon. 
1838—  James  Ward,  James  Murphy,  Alex.  C.  McAllister. 
Ig39  —  James  Ward,  James  Murphy,  Alex.  C.  McAllister. 
Ig40  —  Angus  McAllister,  Alex.  Blackshear,  James  Pynes. 
1841—  Angus  McAllister,  A.  J.  McAllister,  Bartlett  Smith. 
1842  —  Angus  McAllister,  James  Pynes,  William  Gamble. 

1843—  James  Ward,  George  W.  Williams,  R.  McGriff. 

1844—  James  Ward,  Moses  W.  Spaight,  William  Gamble. 

1845—  James  Ward,  George  W.  Williams,  Richard  McGriff. 
Ig47  —  Angus  McAllister,  George  W.  Williams,  James  Pynes. 
Ig49—  Rate  Matthews,  J.  M.  Perry  man,  James  J.  Sowell. 
lQ5l—Elisha  Matthews,  Geo.  W.  Williams,  A.  J.  McAllister. 
I8o3—  James  Searcy,  Aaron  Odom,  J.  L.  Hays. 
\S55--James  Searcy,  Aaron  Odom,  James  Pynes. 

1857  —  James  Searcy,  James  Pynes,  James  Murphy. 
18M—  William  Wood,  B.  C.  Flake,  P.  M.  Thomas. 
1861—  William  Wood,  L.  Parish,  C.  J.  Reynolds. 
18Q3—  William  Wood,  Geo.  W.  Williams,  L.  Parish. 
1865—  William  Wood,  Aaron  Odom,  George  W.  Culver. 
1868—  E.  E.  Tiller.     1870—  William  C.  Gates. 

XXXIV.     JACKSON  COUNTY. 

1820—  William  D.  Gaines,  — 

1821—  William  D.  Gaines,  William  Barclay,  George  W.  Hopkins,  Booker  Smith. 
18*22—  William  J).  Gaines,  Alex.  Dulaney,  William  Barclay,  Thomas  Bailey. 

1823—  Robert  McCamey,  W.  Barclay,  Daniel  Peyton. 

1824—  Robert  McCamey,  Daniel  Peyton,  W.  D.  Gaines,  S.  Moore. 

1825—  Robert  McCamey,  D.  Peyton,  J.  Baxter,  C.  H.  Lewis,  P.  H.  Ambrister. 

1826—  Robert  McCamey,  Samuel  B.   Moore,  William  Barclay,  William  A.   Davis, 
Philip  H.  Ambrister. 

1827  —  Robert  McCamey,  Samuel  B.  Moore,  William  A.  Davis,  James  Russell,  Dan 

iel  Price. 
1828—  Robert  McCamey,  James  Russell,  Philip  II.  Ambrister,  Jones  Smith,  Starnes 

S.  Wellborn. 
1829  —  Samuel  B.  Moore,  James  Smith,  William  Barclay,  James  Raulston,  James 

Russell. 
1830—  Samuel  B.  Moore,  John  B.  Stephens,  William  Barclay,  Daniel  Price,  John 

Gilbreath. 
1831  —  William  Barclay,  Henry  Norwood,  Evven  Swink,  John   Gilbreath,  John  B. 

Stephens. 
1832—  William  Barclay,  Caleb    B.   Hudson,  John    Lusk,  Benjamin   C.    Goodrich, 

Henry  Norwood. 

1833  —  William  Barclay,  Edwin   IT.  AVebsler,  Samuel   McDavid,  Henry  Norwood, 

Philip  H.  Ambrister. 

1834  —  Will/am  Barclay,   Wyatt  Coffee,   Benjamin    Snodgrass,   James   M.    Young, 

John  Gilbreath. 

1835—  -William  Barclay,  John   Berry,  William  M.   King,  Robert  Jones,  Philip   H. 

Ambrister. 

1836—  William  Barclay,   Robert  T.   Scott,  Washington  T.   May,  Stephen   Carter, 
Joseph  P.  Frazier. 

1837—  Joseph  P  Frazier,  C.  M.  Cross,  T.  Wilson,  R.  T.  Scott, 

1838  -Joseph  P  Frazier,—  James  .Williams,  Thomas  Wilson,  William  Mason,  Field 

A.  Hancock. 

1839  -Joseph  7*  Frazier,  James  Williams,  Thomas  Wilson,  Robert  T.  Scott,  Field 

A.  Hancock. 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  7l>3 

1840  —  Thomas  Wilson,  E.  W.  Willliams,  Joshua  Warm,  George  R.  Griffin,  James 

Smith. 

1841  — TVioj/iff*  Wilson,  William  L.  Griffin,  James  Smith,  Philip  II.  Ambrister,  Wil 

liam  M.  King. 

1842  —  Thomas  Wilson,  Alva  Finley,  E.   W.  Williams,  James   Munday,  Robert  T. 

Scott. 
1843— 7%07/w*  Wdson,   Field  A.   Hancock,  Benjamin  Franks,  Joseph   P.   Frazier, 

James  Williams. 
1344 — Thomas  Wilson,  Robert  T.  Scott,  James  Williams,  Moses  Maples,  Williamson 

R,  W.  Cobb. 
1845 — Thomas  Wilson,   Charles  F.  Williams,  James  Williams,   Williamson    R.    W. 

Cobb. 

\^1— Joseph  P.  Frazicr,  R.  T.  Scott,  James  Williams,  Field  A.  Hancock. 
1849 — Joseph  P.  Frazicr,  James  C.  Austin,  Benjamin  Franks,  Thomas  Wilson. 
1851 — Joseph  P.  Frazitr,  Thomas  Wilson,  Joshua  Stephens,  James  C.  Austin. 
1853 — Joseph  P.  Frazir.r,  Robert  T.  Scott,  Hugh  C.  Cowan,  James  M.  Green. 
1855 — Thomas  Wihon,  William  R.  Larkin,  Field  A.  Hancock,  Moses  Maples. 
1857—  William  A.  Austin,  J.  B.  Talley,  J.  S.  Eutis,  J.  M.  Cloud. 
1859—  William  A.  Austin,?.  G.  Griffin,  Jonathan  Latham,  J.  M.  Hudgins. 
IBGl—Frani'.iNCo  Rice,  T.  T.  Colman,  J.  B.  Talley,  Jonathan  Latham. 
18(33 -—Fr<in<'.im:o  Pace,  P.  Brown,  J.  W.  Young,  W.  H.  Robinson. 
1865—  J  IT.  Norwood,  W.  J.  Padgett,  H.  J.  Smith,  J.  Williams. 
1808— C.    V.   Whit'uuj,  J.  W.  Daniels,  W.  F.  Hurt, 
1870—6'.  V.  Whiting,  W.  F.  Hurt,  J.  H.  Cowan. 

XXXV.  JEFFEEHON  COUNTY. 

1822— Isaac  Brown,  Thomas  W.  Farrar, 

1823 — John  Wood,  John  Brown,  Ishani  Harrison. 

1824 — John  Wood,  Thomas  W.  Farrar,  Benjamin  Worthington. 

1825 — John  Bron:n,  John  Brown,  Walker  K.  Baylor,  John  M.  Dupey. 

1826 — John  tiroirn,  J.  Brown.  J.  M.  Dupey,  John  Martin. 

lti'27--Juhn  Brown,  William  11.  Paul  ding,  J.  Brown,  John  F.  Forrest. 

1828 —Jo hn  Wood,  John  Brown,  John  M.  Dupey. 

1829—  John  Wood,  John  Brown,  John  F.  Forrest. 

1830 — John  J\L  Dnpnf,  John  Brown,  Peyton  King. 

1831 — John  M.  Dnpi'ij,  Emery  Loyd,  Harrison  W.  Goyne. 

1832— Jo/tn  M.  J)«pey,  H.  M.  Carithers,  Samuel  S.  Earle. 

1833—  John  Broicn,  John  Brown  (red),  H.  M.  Carithers. 

1834 — fnhn  liroim,  John  Cantley,  William  A.  Scott. 

1835—  John  Brou-n.  John  Caiitley,  Lemuel  G.  McMillon. 

1836-  Harrison  IT.  Go<jn<>,  L.  G.  McMillon,  Moses  Kelly,  Jr. 
1837 — Harrison  W.  (fiajne,  Octavius  Spencer,  Benjamin  Tarraut. 
1838— Samuel  S.  Earle',  Lemuel  G.  McMillon. 

1839— Samuel  S.  Earle,  Lemuel  G.  McMillon. 
1840 — Lemuel  G.  McMillon,  Jeremiah  Randolph. 
1841—  Walker  K.  li<u/lor,  L.  G.  McMillou,  J.  Randolph. 
1812  —  m//A-.r  K   Bm/lor,  S.  S.  Earle,  L.  G.  McMillon. 
1813— J/iw.s-  Kelly,  William  S.  Mudd,  L.  G.  McMillon. 
1814—  William  S.'  Mudd,  Octavms  Spencer. 
1845 — Jeremiah  Randolph,  Christopher  Deavees. 
1847— M»ses  Kelly,  William  S.  Mudd,  L.  G.  McMillon. 
IS 49—  Moses  Kelly,  John  Camp,  Hugh  Copeland. 
1S51— J/o.se.«  Kelly,  William  S.  Ernest,  S.  A.  Tarrant. 
1853 — Moses  Kelly,  John  Camp. 
1855— John  Camp.     1857— O.  S.  Smith. 
1859— Alberto  Martin.     1861— Alberto  Martin. 
1S63     .V.  T.  J'ort'-r,  John  C.  Morrow. 
]8r)5--(T.   T.  Denfion,  John  Oliver. 
1868— e/b/m  (Hii'er,  Thomas  Sanford. 
1870  -John  (Hirer,  G.  W.  Hewitt. 


754  Appendix  t6 


XXXVI.  LAUDEBDALE  COUNTY. 

1819 — Jiseph  Farmer,  Thomas  Gaxrand,  Jacob  Hyler. 

1820— Joseph  Farmer,  Hugh  McVay,  Jonathan  Bailey. 

1821 — Hugh  Me  Vay,  George  Masterson,  John  Craig. 

1822 — Hugh  Me,  Vay,  James  Jackson,  Francis  Durrett. 

1823 — Hugh  Me  Vay,  James  Jackson,  Caleb  S.  Manly. 

1824 — Hugh  Me  Vay,  Jacob  Byler,  John  P.  Cunningham. 

1825 — James  Jackson,  Jonathan  Bailey,  William  B.  Martin,  G.  Coalter. 

1826 — James  Jackson,  Hugh  Me  Vay,  Samuel  Craig,  Henry  Smith. 

1827— Jvmes  Jackson,  Francis  Durrett,  H.  Me  Vay,  S.  Craig. 

1828— Hugh  Me  Vay,  William  George,  F.  Durrett,  Joseph  L.  D.  Smith. 

1829— Hugh  Me  Vay,  F.  Durrett,  S.  Craig,  John  Pope. 

1830 — James  Jackson,  H.  McVay,  W.  George,  J.  P.  Cunningham. 

1831—  James  Jackson,  H.  McVay,  John  MoKinley,  S;  Craig. 

1832 — Hugh  Me  Vay,  Samuel  Young.  C.  Carmack,  Geo.  S.  Houston. 

1833— Hugh  McVay,  C.  Carmack,  James  Jackson,  Samuel  Harkius. 

1834 — Hugh  McVay,   John  B.   Womack,   Samuel   "Young,   Cornelius  Carmack) 

James  Jackson. 

1835— Hugh  Me  Vay,  Sidney  C.  Posey,  Lewis  Garner,  E.  Sheffield. 
1836— Hugh  Me  Vay,  f  Cornelius  Carmack,  Sidney  C.  Posey,  Bobert  M.  Patton. 
1837 — Sidney   C.  Posey,  Goorge  Simmons,  E.  Sheffield,  C.  Carmack,  James  M. 

Boston. 
1838 — Hugh  Me  Vay,  Jonathan  Douglass,  Samuel  B.  Garner,  C.  Carmack,  James 

M.  Boston. 

1839 — Hugh  Me  Vay,  Henry  D.  Smith,  J.  Douglass,  Andrew  0.  Horn. 
1840— Hugh  Me  Vay,  J.  Douglass,  H.  D.  Smith,  James  B.  Alexander. 
1841— Hugh  Me  Vay,  John  S.  Kennedy,  H.  D.  Smith,  J.  B.  Alexander. 
184%— Hugh  McVay,  Jonathan  Douglass,  John  S.  Kennedy,  H.  D.  Smith. 
1843— Hugh  Me  Vay,  J.  B.  Alexander,  B.  B.  Barker,  J.  Douglass. 
1844— Sidney  C.  Posey,  W.  Baugh,  J.  R.  Alexander,  H.  D.  Smith. 
1845— Sidney  C.  Posey,  John  C.  F.  Wilson,  Baylor  B.  Barker,  E.  G.  Young. 
1847— John  C.  F.  Wilson,  John  E.  Moore,  J.  S.  Kennedy,  Leroy  P.  Walker. 
1849— John  C.  F.  F.  Wilson,  James  Hough,  E.  M.  Patton,  L.  P.  Walker. 
1851—  Robert  M.  Patton,  Vincent  P.  Benham,  E.  D.  Walker,  O.  H.  Gates. 
1853— Robert  M.  Patton,  H.  D.  Smith,  L.  P.  Walker,  William  Ehodes. 
1855— Robert  M.  Patton,  Eichard  W.  Walker,  Henry  D.  Smith. 
1857— Robert  M.  Patton,  Henry  D.  Smith,  S.  A.  M.  Woo  I. 
1859— Robert  M.  Patton,  Henry  D.  Smith,  S.  D.  Hermon. 
1861— Robert  M.  Patton,  J.  H.  Witherspoon,  S.  C.  Posey. 
1863— Sames  W.  Stewart,  T.  L.  Chisolin,  E.  Me  Alexander. 
1865— James  .lickson,  E.  Me  Alexander,  B.  E    Borland. 
1868— W.  E.  Chisolm.     1870— B.  F.  Taylor. 

XXXVII.  LAWRENCE  COUNTY. 

1819— Fleming  Hodges,  Lewis  Dillahunty,  Samuel  Bigham. 

1820— Fleming  Hodges,  Samuel  Bigham.  Matthew  Clay. 

1821— Fleming  Hodges,  Matthew  Clay,  Hugh  A.  Anderson. 

1822—  Arthur  F.  Hopkins,  Matthew  Clay,  Joseph  Young,  Green  K.  Hubbard. 

1823 — Arthur  F.  Hopkins,  Benjamin  B.  Jones,  Joseph  Young,  Zadock  McVay. 

1824— Arthur  F.  Hopkins,  Joseph  McCord,  John  White,  Zadock  McVay. 

1825 — Matthew  Clay,  Thomas  Coopwood,  Joseph  Coe,  Zadock  McVay. 

1826— Matthew  Clay,  Thomas  Coopwood,  Joseph  Coe,  Zadock  McVay. 

1827— David  Hubbard,  Ellyson  A.  Daniel,  Zadock  McVay,  T.  Coopwood. 

1828— David  Hubbard,  William  Hodges,  David  Wallace,  Thomas  Coopwood 

1829 — David  Hubbard,  Thomas  Coopwood,  David  G.  Ligon,  William  Hodges. 

1830— David  Hubbard,  Harvey  Dillahunty,  Thomas  Coopwood. 

1831— Thomas  Coopwood,  A.  Campbell,  D.  Hubbard,  John  T.  Abernathy. 

1832 — T/iomas  Coopwood,  D.  Hubbard,  John  J.  Ormond,  John  Stewart 

tin  1837,  Mr.  McVay,  ae  President  of  the  Senate,  acted  aa  Governor,  ex-officio,  on  the  resigna 
tion  of  GOY.  Clay,  to  accept  a  seat  in  th«  Senate  of  the  United  States. 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men,  in  Alabama.  ?55 

1833— James  B.  Wallace,  John  H.  Lawson,  J.  J.  Ormond,  J.  Stewart. 

1834— James  B.  Wallace,  Isaac  N.  Owens,  James  Wallis,  James  McCord,  Hugh 

M.  Rodgers. 
1835— James  B.  Wallace,  Hugh  M.  Eodgers,  Hugh  M.  Stephenson,  J.  H.  Lawson, 

William  Reneau. 
1836— James  B.  Wallace,  William  Reneau,  M.  Priest,  John  T.  A',e  nathy^Rich- 

ard  Puckett. 
1837— James  B.    Wallace,  Hugh   M.   Rodgers,   Hugh  M.   Stephenson,  Richard 

Puckelt,  M.  Priest. 
1838— Hugh  M.  Eodgers,  Benjamin  Priest,  Samuel  Henderson,  Tandy  W.  Walker, 

Manoah  B.  Hampton. 
IWQ—Hagh  M.  Eodgers,  Hodge  L.  Stephenson,  Tandy  W.  Walker,  Oakley  P. 

By  num. 

1840— Hugh  M.  Eodgers,  Hartwell  King,  Tandy  W.  Walker,  James  E.  Saunders. 
1841— Hugh  M.  Eodgers,  Charles  Barker,  Tandy  W.  Walker,  Deuton  H.  Valiant. 
1843— Hugh  M.  Rodgers,  David  Hubbard,  Tandy  W.  Walker,  Denton  H.  Valiant. 
1843— Tandy  W.  Walker,  A.  Campbell,  Leroy  Pope  Walker,  David  Hubbard 

1844—  Tandy  W.   Walker,  G.  G.  Gewiu,  L.  P.  Walker,  F.  H.  Jones. 

1845—  Tandy  W.  Walker,  David  Hubbard,  Thomas  M.  Peters. 
1847 — Thomas  M.  Peters,  Joseph  G.  Evetts,  Hodge  L.  Stephenson. 
1849— Hodge  L.  Stephenson,  Oakley  H.  Bynum,  Richard  O.  Pickett. 
1851— Hodge  L.  Stephenson,  William  Graham,  James  Armstrong. 
1853-David  Hubbard,  Richard  O.  Pickett. 

1855— Frank  W.  Sykes,  N.  M.  Galloway. 

1857 — Oakley  H.  Bynum,  James  S.  Clarke,  Henry  A.  McGee. 

1859—  Oakley  H.  Bynum,  William  C.  Sherrod,  David  Hubbard. 

1861— Frank  W.  Sykes,  Richard  O.  Pickett. 

1863— James  S.  Clarke,  Frank  W.  Sykes. 

1865— Frank  W.  Sykes,  A.  E.  Ashford,  John  M.  Clarke. 

1868— E.  F.  Jennings,  Thomas  Masterson. 

1870— J.  B.  Speake,  P.  P.  Gilchrist. 

XXXVIII.     LEE    COUNTY. 

1868— J.  L.  Penninglon,  S.  B.  Blandon,  Coke  Tucker. 
1870— Sheldon  Too'mer.  J.  M.  Simms. 

XXXIX.     LIMESTONH    COUNTY. 

1819 — Thomas  Bibb,  Nicholas  Davis,  James  W.  Exum,  William  Whitaker. 

1820 — Nicholas  Davis,  Quiu  Morton,  John  S.  Doxey,  William  Rdmondson. 

1821 — Nicholas  Davis,  Quiii  Morton,  William  Edmoudson,  Benjamin  Murroll. 

1822 — Nicholas  Davis,  William  Edmondson,  Joshua  L.  Martin,  Woodson  Mont 
gomery,  Quin  Morton. 

1823— Nicholas  Davis,  William  Whitaker,  Joshua  L.  Martin,  John  W.  Smith, 
Joseph  Powell. 

1824—  Nicholas  Davis,  William  Edmondson,  James  W.  Exum,  Quin  Morton, 
Joshua  L.  Martin.  * 

1825 — Nicholas  Davis,  William  Edmondson,  Joshua  L.  Martin,  Waddy  Tate, 
Quin  Morton. 

1826 — Nicholas  Davis,  Joseph  Bell,  James  W.  Exum,  William  Edmondson,  Joseph 
Powell. 

18'27—lvicholas  Davis,  W.  A.  Robertson,  Joseph  Bell,  Joshua  L.  Martin,  William 
Edmondson. 

1828 — Nicholas  Davis,  Williom  Saunders,  William  Edmondson,  Thoma.«  Bibb. 

1829 — William  Edmondson,  Thomas  Bibb,  George  W.  Lane,  Daniel  Coleman. 

1830 — William  Edmondson,  William  Saunders,  George  W.  Lane,  William  Rich 
ardson. 

1831 — William  Edmondson,  William  Saunders,  Joseph  Johnston,  George  W.  Lane. 

183%—Wttliam  Edmondson,  Richard  B.  Brickell,  William  Richardson,  William 
Mason. 

1833—  George  W  Lane,  William  Saunders,  Richard  B.  Brickell,  Archibald  Harris. 

1834— George  W.  Lane,  William  Saunders,  Waddy  Tait,  John  H.  I.  Winn. 


756  Appendix  to 

1835— George  W.  Lane,  John  H.  I.  Winn,  Joshua  P.  Comah,  Joseph  Johnston. 
1836— Nathaniel  Terry,  F.  B.  Nelson,  John  H.  I.  Winn,  Asa  Allen. 
1837— Nathaniel  Terry,  Robert  High,  Joshua  P.  Couian,  F.  B.  Nelson. 
1838— Nathaniel  Terry,  Kobert  A.  High,  John  H.  I.  Winn,  Archibald  E.  Mills. 
1839— Nathaniel  Terry,  Elbert  H.  English,  Kobert  A.  High. 
1840— Nathaniel  Terry,  John  H.  I.  Wiun,  Nathaniel  Davis. 

1841 Nathaniel  Terry,  John  H.  I.  Winn,  Nathaniel  Davis. 

1842— Nathaniel  Terry,  Elbert  H.  English,  Waddy  Tate. 
1843—  Nathaniel  Terry,  Waddy  Tate,  Nathaniel  Davis. 

1844 Nathaniel  Terry,  Nathaniel  Davis,  Egbert  J.  Jones. 

1845_Egbert  J.  Jones,  Milton  Walker. 

1847— Nathaniel  Davis,  John  H.  I.  Winn,  Frederick  Tate. 

1849— Nothaniel  Dayis,  L.  K.  Davis. 

1851— John  N.  Malone,  Nathaniel  Davis,  Nicholas  Davis,  Jr.  ' 

1853  -John  N.  Malone,  W.  R.  Hanserd,  W.  B.  Allen. 

1855— John  N.  Malone,  Luke  Pryor,  Thomas  H.  Hobbs. 

1857 — Thomas  H.  Hobbs,  William  Keedus. 

1859— Thomas  H.  Hobbs,  L.  K,  Davis. 

1861—  Joshua  P.  Coman,  P.  J.  McClellan,  J.  Shelton. 

1863— Joshua  P.  Coman,  J.  B.  McClellan,  J.  W.  D.  Donnell. 

1865—  William  Kichardson,  Charles  W.  Raisler. 

1868—  Benjamin  Lentz,  P.  E.  Harris.     1870  -Charles  W.  Raisler. 

XL.     LOWNDES   COUNTY. 

1830— John  Kugely.     1831— John  Kugely.     1832  -John  Hugely. 

1834— Thomas  B.  Scott,  J.  L.  F.  Cottrell,  John  W.  Mundy,  John  M.  Salley. 

1835 — Lorenzo  James,  George  W.  Esselrnan,  Thomas  G.  Davenport,  W.  Drane. 

1836—  Lorenzo  James,  Alfred  Harrison,  J.  L.  F.  Cottrell,  K.  P.  McCord. 

1837— John  A.  Etmore,  J.  L.  F.  Cottrell.  R.  P.  McCord,  John  P.  Cook. 

1838— J".  L.  F.  Cottrell,  John  A.  Tarver,  George  W.  Esselman,  John  P.  Cook. 

1839— J.  L.  F.  Cottrell,  Nathaniel  Cook,  William  Swauson. 

1840— S.  L.  F.  Cottretl,  John  S.  Hunter,  Kobert  B.  Campbell. 

1841— Jb/m  8.  Ranter,  Peyton  S.  Alexander,  J.  W.  Mundy. 

1842— John  S.  Hunter,  Alfred  Harrison,  James  W.  Duiiklm. 

1843—  James  Bnrney,  Walter  Drane,  John  P.  Nail. 

ISte—Archilnld  Gilchrist,  Edward  H.  Cook,  Thomas  J.  Judge. 

1845— Archibald  Gilchrist,  Edward  H.  Cook,  Thomas  J.  Judge. 

1847 — Thomas  J.  Judge,  Alexander  B.  Forney,  James  G.  Gilchrist,  H.  C.  Swanson, 

1851— J.  M.  Gonder,  James  S.  Williamson. 

1853— F.  C.  Webb,  Walter  Cook. 

1855  -F.  C-  Webb,  William  Barry,  S.  D.  Moorer. 

1857— James  S.  Williamson,  Duncan  McCall. 

1859— Nathan  L.  Brooks,  James  G.  Gilchrist. 

1861— Edmund  Harrison,  Nathan  L.  Brooks,  H.  C.  McCall. 

1863-  -Edmund  Harrison,  Peyton  T.  Graves,  W.  S.  May. 

1865— George  S.  Cox,  Nathaniel  L.  Brooks. 

1868  —M.  M.  Buckley,  T.  W.  Armstrong,  N.  BreVingtou,  John  Ninningcr, 

1870—31  M.  Buckley,  J.  Ninninger,  William  Gaskin,*  Mansfield  Tyler.* 

XLI.     MACON  COUNTY. 

1837— Joseph  P.  Clough.     1838— Nathaniel  H.  Clanton, 

1839— Kene  Fitzpatrick.     1840— R.  Fitzpatrick. 

1841— Nathaniel  J.  Scott.     1842— Whiting  Oliver. 

1843— Robert  Dougherty,  Whiting  Oliver. 

1844— Robert  Dougherty,  Nathaniel  J.  Scott. 

1845— Nathaniel  J.  Scott,  Joseph  V.  Bates,  Milton  J.  Tarver. 

1847—  Nathaniel  J.  Siott,  Howell  Peebles,  Philip  H.  Raiford. 

1949— George  W.  Gunn,  Robert  F.  Ligon,  B.  W.  Walker. 

1851— George  W.  Gann,  John  Smith,  Seaborn  Williams. 

1853— Nathaniel  IT.  Clanto'n,   Charles  A.  Abercrc*mbie,  T  hacker  V.  Rutherford. 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  757 

1855—  George  W.  Gunn,  James  W.  Echols,  J.  H.  Cunningham,  Sidney  B.  Payne. 
1857—  George  W.  Carter,  James  W.  Echols,  B.  F.  Thompson,  Thomas  F.  Flournoy. 
1859—  William  P.  Chilton,  Thomas  S.  Tait,  Charles  J.  Bryan,   William  E.  Cun 
ningham. 

1861— Robert  F.  Ligon,  Wylie  W.  Mason,  J.  C.  Judkiiis,  B.  Thomson. 
1803 — Robert  F.  Ligon,  J.  C.  Heaxd,  Augustus  B.  Fannin,  Charles  J.  Bryan. 
1805 — Richard  11.  Powell,  James  W.  Echols,  Alexander  Frazier,  John  C.  Judkius. 
1808—  W.   W.  Glass,  William  Alley,  J.  H.  Alston. 
1870— IF".  W.  Glass,  William  Alley,  Henry  St.  Clair.* 

XLII.    MADISON  COUNTY. 

1819 — Gabriel  Moore,  Samuel  Walker,  Epps  Moody,  James  G.  Birney,  Griffin 
Lamkin,  Samuel  Chapman,  John  L.  Towns,  Frederick  Weedon,  Isaac 
Wellborn. 

1820 — Gabriel  Moore,  Frederick  Weedon,  Samuel  Chapman,  John  McKiuley, 
John  Viniiig,  John  M.  Leake,  David  Moore,  Samuel  Walker. 

1821—  fcaac  L<tnie.r,  David  Moore,  John  Viniug,  Frederick  Weedon,  John  Mar 
tin,  William  Fleming,  Henry  King,  John  M.  Leake. 

1822  -  David  Moore,  William  I.  Adair,  J.  M.  Leake,  John  Pope,  Thomas  Fearne, 

C.  Hunt,  William  Saunders,  James  W.  McClung. 

1823  David    Moore,    William  I.    Adair,   Thomas  Miller,   William  Moore,   John 
Viuing,  Henry  King,  Isaac  Laiiier,  William  Fleming. 

1821  -  David  Moore,   James  W.    Camp,   Samuel   Walker,    Anthony   H.    Mctcalf, 

Thomas  Miller,  John  Viniiig,  Isaac  Lauier,  William  Fleming. 
1825—  Thomas  Miller,  Harry  I.  Thornton,  William  Brandon,  William  Kelly,  John 

Viniug,  Henry  King. 
1820  -TJiomas  Miller,  William  Acklin,  Jr.,  David  Bradford,  David  Moore,  James 

W.  McClung. 
1827     Thomas  Miller,  Nathan  Smith,  William  Kelly,  William  Acklin,  Jr.,  John 

Viuing.  William  H.  Moore. 
1828—  Joint   Vining,  James  Penn,   Thomas  Fearne,    William  Brandon,   Samuel 

Walker,  Clement  C.  Clay. 
1829— James  Perm,   William  Acklin,  Jr.,  Henry  King,  Thomas  Fearne,  David 

Moore. 

1830 — John,  Vining,  Henry  King,  James  Penn,  David  Moore,  William  Acklin,  Jr. 
1831  —Joli a,  lining,  James  G.  Carroll,  W.  Acklin,  Jr.,  Samuel  Peete,  Henry  King, 

James  Penn. 

1832—  r/o/m  Vining,  John  P.  Graham,  William  Fleming,  Henry  King. 
1833  —  John    Vining,    Samuel^ Walker,    Arthur   F.    Hopkins,    William    Fleming, 

George.  T.  Jones. 
1834— John  Vining,  John  D.  Phelan,  William  Fleming,  S.  Walker,  William  H. 

Glascock. 
1835— John  Vinbuj,-  W.  Fleming,  John  D.  Phclau,  J.  W.  McClung,  George  T. 

Jones,  Jabez  Leftwich. 
1830—  William  Fleming,  Parham  N.  Booker,  Rodah  Horton,  William  Smith,  J. 

Leftwich,  David  Moore. 
1837 — William  Fleming,  Rodah  Horton,  James  W.  McClung,  William   Smith, 

John  Vining,  P.  N.  Booker. 
1838 —  William  Fleming,  J.  W.  McClung,  William  Smith,  David  Moore,  Joseph 

Taylor,  John  Vining. 
1839— Daniel   B.    lurner,  David  Moore,   J.   Vining,   William   Smith,   Jeremiah 

Clemens. 
1840— Daniel  B.    Turner,   Thomas   C.   Province,    S.  Walker,    David  Moore,  J. 

Clemens. 
1841 — Daniel  B.  Turner,  Thomas  Haughton,  J.  Clemens,  D.  Moore,  George  T. 

Jones. 
1842 — William  Fleming,  Clement  C.  Cley,  Jr.,  James  Robinson,  David  Moore, 

James  W.  McClung. 
1843 — William  Fleming,  Garrett  L.  Sandiidge,  D.  Moore,  J.  Clemens,  William  J 

Sykes. 
1844—  William  Fleming,  J.  Clemens,  William  Brandon,  J.  W.  McClung,  C.  C, 

Clay,  Jr. 


758  Appendix  to 

1845— James  W.  McClung,  William  G.  Miller,  Clement  C.  Clay,  Jr.,  G.  L.  Sand- 
ridge. 

1847— James  W.  McClung,  William  Fleming,  Thomas  H.  Hurtell,  Michael  A 
King. 

1849—  William  Fleming,  M.  A.  King,  William  Wright,  D.  C.  Humphreys. 

1851—  William  Fleming,  H.  C.  Bradford,  M.  A.  King,  C.  D.  Cavanaugh. 

1853 —  William  Acklin,  George  W.  Laughinghouse,  David  C.  Humphreys. 

1855—  Willliam  Acklin,  Reuben  Chapman,  J.  T.  Harben. 

1857—  William  Fleming,  Stephen  W.  Harris,  S.  S.  Scott. 

1859 —  William  Fleming,  Eobert  J.  Lowe,  S.  S.  Scott. 

1861— F.  L.  Hammond,  C.  Butler,  S.  D.  Cabaniss. 

1863  -F.  L.  Hammond,  Joseph  C.  Bradley,  J.  W.  Scruggs. 

1865— John  N.  Drake,  J.  W.  Ledbetter,  W.  D.  Humphrey. 

1868— D.  C.  Humphreys,  W.  D.  Humphrey,  Justice  Rornayne, 

1870— Francisco  Rice,  William  M.  Lowe,  J.  W.  Grayson. 

XLIII.     MARENGO   COUNTY. 

1820 -John  Coats.     1821 —Nathaniel  Norwood.     1822 — Nathaniel  Norwood. 

1823— John  Coals,  William  Fluker. 

1824— John  Coats,  William  Fluker. 

1826— William  Fluker.     1827— William  Anderson. 

1828— William  Anderson.     1830— Charles  D.  Conner. 

1831— John  Lockhart.     1832— John  Lockhart. 

1833 — Francis  S.  Lyon,  John  Rains. 

1834— Erancis  S.  Lyon,  Benjamin  G.  Shields. 

1835 — John  Rains,,  John  M.  Cooper. 

1836— John  Rains,  William  J.  Alston,  B.  G.  Shields. 

1837— John  Rains,  B.  G.  Shields,  William  J.  Alston. 

18s8— John  Rains,  B.  G.  Shields,  William  B.  Moores. 

1839—  Williaw  J.  Alston,  Robert  Clarke,  W.  B.  Moores. 

1840 —  William  J.  Alston,  James  M.  Davenport,  W.  B.  Moores. 

1841—  William  J.  Alston,  J.  M.  Davenport,  W.  B.  Moores. 

1842—  William  B.  Moores,  Joseph  Pickett.  John  W.  Henley. 
1843 — William  J5.  Moores,  Decatur  C.  Anderson,  W.  J.  Alston. 
1844—  William  B.  Moores,  Washington  M.  Smith,  S.  J.  Harris. 
1845— J.  B.  Williams,  Amos  R.  Manning. 

1847 — Amos  R.  Manning,  Elisha  Young,  John  J.  Walton. 

1849 — Amos  R.  Manning,  Memorable  W.  Creagh,  Caleb  Williams. 

1851— Benjamin  N.  Glover,  William  M.  Byrd. 

1853— Frederick  T.  Foscue,  M.  W.  Creagh. 

1855— William  J.  Alston,  Joel  S.  Jones. 

1857— N.  B.  Leseur.     1859— N.  B.  Leseur. 

1861—  William  E.  Clarke,  James  R.  Jones. 

1863—  William  E.  Clarke,  W.  B.  Modewell. 

1865 — William  E.  Clarke,  James  R.  Jones. 

1868^  W.  B.  Jones,  Pierce  Burton,  E.  R.  Rose,  John  W.  Dereen. 

1870— Lewis  C.  Carlin,  C.  W.  Dustan,  Levi  Wells.* 

XLIV.     MARION   COUNTY. 

1819— John  D.  Terrell,  Silas  McBee. 

18 JO— John  D.  Terrell,  James  Moore. 

1821— John  2>.  Terrell,  Lemuel  Beene. 

1822— John  D.  Terrell.     1823— James  Moore. 

1824— James  Moore.     1825— George  White. 

1826— William  H.  Duke.     1827— William  H.  Duke. 

1828— William  H.  Duke,  James  Metcalf. 

1829— James  Metcalf,  De  La  F.  Roysdon. 

1830— James  Metcalf,  Thaddeus  Walker. 

1831— D.  U.  Hollis,  Thaddeus  Walker. 

1832— Durrell  U.  Hollis,  George  Brown. 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  759 

1834— Henry  Borough,  Dnrrell  U.  Hollis. 

1835— Henry  Borough,  Hiram  C.  May. 

1836— Henry  Borough,  Joshua  Gann. 

1837— Joshua  Gann.     1838— D.  U.  Hollis. 

1839— Thomas  C.  Moore.     1840— Thomas  C.  Moore. 

1841 — Joshua  Burleson.     1842— Leroy  Kennedy. 

1843— John  L.  McCarty.     1844— Leroy  Kennedy. 

1845— Woodson  Northcut.     1847— Thaddeus  Walker. 

1849— James  A.  Cody.     1851— Kimbrough  T.  Brown. 

1853— William  A.  Musgrove.     1855— K.  T.  Brown. 

1857 — Kimbrough  T.  Brown,  Levi  Kennedy. 

1859— Kimbrough  T.  Brown,  W.  A.  Musgrove. 

1861— M.  L.  Davis,  J.  W.  Logan. 

1863— M.  L.  Davis,  D.  U.  Hollis. 

1865— John  H.  Bankhead,  Winston  Steadharn. 

1868— J.  P.  Haley.     1870— Albert  J.  Hamilton. 

XLV.     MARSHALL   COUNTY. 

1837     Middleton  T.  Johnson.     1838— Kichard  Goulding. 

1839     William  Barclay,  William  M.  Griffin. 

1840—  William  M.  Griffin,  James  M.  Adams. 

1841— William  M.  Griffin,  James  Fletcher. 

1842     William  M.  Griffin,  James  Fletcher. 

1843— William  M.  Griffin,  James  Fletcher. 

1844  -James  Fletcher,  Edmund  Hays. 

1845—  William  M.  Griffin,  S.  M.  McElroy,  J.  Fletcher. 

1847— Lewis  Wyeth,  James  Critcher. 

1849—  James  M.  Adams,  James  Critcher. 

1851— James  M.  Adams,  James  Critcher. 

1853  —  James  Fletcher,  Frank  Gllbreath. 

1855  -  James  L.  Sheffield,  James  Critcher. 

1857— &  K.  Eayburn,  James  L.  Sheffield,  W.  M.  Griffin. 

1859- B.  S.  Clapp,  William  M.  Griffin. 

1861-  B.  S.  Clapp,  William  M.  Griffin. 

1863—  James  Critcher,  A.  Beard,  John  Sibley. 

1865— James  L.  Sheffield,  P.  M.  Bush. 

1868  —  Isaac  D.  Sibley,  S.  F.  Kinnemer. 

1870  —  Isaac  JJ.  Sibley,  E.  K.  Boyd. 

XLVI.     MOBILE    COUNTY. 

1920 — Francis  W.  Armstrong. 

1821— John  Elliott,  Francis  W.  Armstrong. 

1822-  -John  Elliott,  Thomas  L.  Hallett 

1823 — Francis  W.  Armstrong,  Thomas  L.  Hallett. 

1824— -Francis  W.  Armstrong,  Willoughby  Barton. 

1825— Francis  W.  Armstrong,  T.  L.  Hallett,  W.  Barton. 

1826 —  Willoughby  Barton,  Elijah  Montgomery,  Jack  F.  Koss. 

1827—  Willoughby  Barton.  William  D.  Stone,  Jack  F.  Koss. 

1828—  Willoughby  Barton,  Thomas  H.  Lane,  William  Towns. 
1829 — John  B.  Hogan,  Joseph  Bates,  Jr.,  Thomas  Byrnes. 
1830— JohrfB.  Hogan,  T.  L.  Toulmin,  Isaac  H.  Erwin. 

1832 — John  B.  Hogan,  Benjamin  Brent  Brcedin,  Henry  Chamberlain. 
1833— John  B.  Hogan,  William  R.  Hallett,  H.  Chamberlain. 
1834— John  B.  Hogan,  John  F.  Everett,  Samuel  A.  Eoberts. 
1835— James  F.  Eoberts,  J.4F.  Boss,  George  J.  S.  Walker. 
1836 — James  F.  Roberts,  Joseph  Bates,  Jr. 
1837— James  K  Eoberts,  Joseph  Bates,  Jr.,  T.  L.  Toulmin. 
1838 — Theophilus  L.  Toulmin,  Abner  S.  Lipscomb,  Blanton  McAlpin. 
1839—  Theophilus  L.   Toulmin,  Isaac  H.  Erwin,  Charles  C.  Langdon,  William  F. 
Cleaveland,  Percy  Walker. 


760  Appendix  to 

1840—  Theophilus  L.  Toulmin,  Adam  C.  Hollinger,  Thomas  M.  C.  Prince,  Joseph 

Bates,  Jr.,  C.  C.  Laugdon. 
1841 — Theophilus  L.    Toulmin,  Isaac  H.  Erwin,   Robert  C.   McAlpin,  John  B. 

Hogan,  Blanton  McAlpin. 
1842  —  Theophilus  L.    Toulmin,  John  A.  Campbell,  William  D.  Dunn,  Isaac  H. 

Erwin,  Thomas  W.  McCoy. 
1843 --  The ophilus  L.  Tonlmin,  William  D.  Dunn,  Robert  C.  McAlpin,  John  B. 

Todd,  Jarnes  W.  Lang. 
1844— Edward  S.  Dargan,  Philip  Phillips,  William  D.  Dunn,  Daniel  Chandler, 

Joseph  Seawell. 

1845 — Joseph  Seawell,  Jeremiah  Austill,  William  P.  Browne,  Joseph  C.  Smith.. 
1847—  George  N.  Stewart,  E.  Lockwood,  Percy  Walker,  Peter  Hamilton. 
1849  —  Georqe  N.  Stewart,  William  G.  Jones,  E.  Lockwood,  C.  W.  Gazzan. 
1851—Thcophilus  L,  Toidmin,  Philip  Phillips,  Price  Williams,  C.  P.  Robinson. 
1853—  Tristram  B.  Belhea,  Alexander  B.  Meek,  Percy  Walker,  R.  B.  Owen,  Isaac 

Bell,  Jr. 
1855—  Tristram  B.  Bethea,  Charles  C.  Langdon,  Jones  M.  Withers,  W.  B.   H. 

Howard,  W.  M.  Smith. 
1857 — James  S.  Dc</,s,  William  G.  ,Jones,  H.  Chamberlain,  Henry  F.  Drummond, 

Thomas  H.  .Herndon. 
18Sd—Tkeophilus  L.  Toulmin,  John  Forsyth,  A.  B.  Meek,  Percy  Walker,  G.  G. 

Overall. 

1861—  Theophilus  L.  Toulmin,  C.  C.  Langdon,  T.  J.  Iviley,  W.  Boyles,  S.  Wolfte. 
1865—  Theophilus  L.  Toulmin,  Jacob  McGee,  F.  Moultoii,  John  T.  Taylor,  Samuel 

Woltfe. 
1865—  Charles  P.   Gage,  Francis  B.  Clarke,  Alexander  McKmstry,  John  Grant, 

John  R.  Tompkins. 
1868— George  T.  Harrington,  John  Caraway,  A.  McKmstry,  J.  E.  Quiii,  Adolph 

Proskauer. 
1870— Henry  T.  Toulmin,   Oliver  J.   Semmes,  Nat  Straus;;,  James  McDormott, 

George  II.  Ellison. 

XL VII.    MONROE  COUNTY. 

1819 — John  Watkins,  James  Delict,  William  Bates,  Paschal  Harrison,  George  W. 

Owen. 
1820 --John   Watkins,  John  Murphy,   George  W.  Owen,  James  H.   Draughon, 

Samuel  Dale. 

1821— William  Wingate,  James  Delict,  Thomas  Evans,  John  Carr,  Samuel  Dale. 
1822  -John  Murphy,  Arthur  P.  Bagby,  John  Gayle,  Henry  L.  Reviere. 
1823— John  Murphy  John  Gayle,  Samuel  Dale,  William  W.  McConnico. 
1^24 — John  Murphy,  Arthur  P.  Bagby,  Samuel  Dale,  John  W.  Moore. 
1825 — Arthur  P.  Bagby,  James  Dellet,  John  W.  Moore. 
1826— Arthur  P.  Bagby,  Samuel  Dale,  Pink  A.  Edwards. 
1827—  Thomas  Evans,  Thomas  Wiggins,  D.  E.  W.  McRae. 
1828  —  Thomas  Evans,  Enoch  Parsons,  Samuel  Dale,  Benjamin  C.  Foster. 
1829-    John  Watkins,  Enoch  Parsons,  Samuel  Dale,  John  Morrisette. 
1830— James  Dellet,  John  Faulk,  Nathan  Coker. 
1831— James  Dellet,  John  Faulk,  William  S.  Hayes. 
1832 — Benjamin  F.  Porter,  Nathan  Coker,  John  Morrisette. 
1833— Samuel  Wilkinson,  John  Morrisette,  Benjamin  F.  Porter,  Nathan  Coker. 
1834—  Samuel  Wilkinson,  Arthur  P.  Bagby,  Benjamin  F.  Porter. 
1835 — Samuel  Wilkinson,  Arthur  P.  Bagby,  Stephen  S.  Andress. 
1836— Neill  Smith,  -  -  . 

1837—Neill  Smith,  J.  O.  Rawls,  Stephen  S.  Andress. 
1838— NciU  Smith,  Lorman  Crawford,  Stephen  S.  Andreas. 
1839 — Stephen  S.  Andress,  Lorman  Crawford,  Leroy  A.  Kidd. 
1840—  Stephen  S.  Andress,  Leroy  A.  Kidd,  E.  P.  Broughton. 
1841— Stephen  S.  Andreas,  Leroy  A.  Kidd,  E.  P.  Broughton. 
1842 — John  Watkins,  John  Morrisette,  William  Cunningham. 
1843— John  Watkins,  John  Morrisette,  William  B.  H.  Howard. 
1844— John  Watkins,  John  Morrisette,  William  B.  H.  Howard. 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  761 

1845 — John  Morrisette,  Aaron  B.  Cooper. 

1847 — John  Morrisette,  Aaron  B.  Cooper. 

1849— John  Marrisette,  E.  L.  Smith 

1851— William  P.  Leslie,  Colin  McCasklll. 

1853—  William  P.  Leslie,  Noah  A.  Agee. 

1855— J.  S.  Jenkins,  S.  G.  Portis. 

1857 — Noah  A.  Agee,  F.  E.  Richardson. 

1859  -J.  E.  Cleat-eland,  H.  O.  Abney. 

1861—  P.  H.  Liddell.     1 863 -J.  Gumming.     1865 -W.  W.  McMillan. 

1868—12.  N.  Barr,  Jabez  J.  Parker. 

1870— E.  N.  Barr,  J.  M.  Lindsay. 

XLVIII.     MONTQOMEKT    COUNTY. 

1819— John  Gause,  John  Edmondson,  Joseph  Fitzpatrick,  Larkin  Cleveland. 

1820 — John  Gause,  Joseph  Fitzpatrick,  Larkin  Cleveland,  James  Abercrombie. 

1821 — John  Gause,  Joseph  Fitzpatrick,  George  Dabney,  Peter  Williamson. 

1822 — John  D.  Bibb,  John  Browning.  James  Abercrombie. 

1823— John  D.  Bibb,  William  McLemore,  John  G.  Ashley. 

1824— John  D.  Bibb,  James  Abercrombie,  Andrew  Baxter. 

1825 — James  Abercrombie,  Nimrod  E.  Benson,  William  M.  McLemore,  John  S. 

Bailey. 

1826—  James  Abercrombie,  Dixon  H.  Lewis,  N.  E.  Benson,  J.  S.  Bailey. 
1827 — James  Abercrombie,  Dixou  H.  Lewis,  Elias  Bonnell,  William  Y.  Higgins. 
1828 — James  Abercrombie,  D.  H.  Lewis,  James  E.  Belser,  E.  Bonnell. 
1829 — James  Abercrombie,  Henry  Goldthwaite,  Samuel  C.  Oliver,  Mosely  Baker. 
1830 — James  Abercrombie,  Samuel  C.  Oliver,  Mosely  Baker. 
1831 — James  Abercrombie,  Samuel  C.  Oliver,  Mosely  Baker. 
1832 — James  Abererombie,  Samuel  C.  Olirer,  Robert  J.  Ware. 
1833— James  Abercrombie,  Eobert  J.  Ware,  Alfred  V.  Scott. 

1834— Benajah  S.  Bibb,  William  B.  S.  Gilmer,  S.  C.  Oliver,  William  McLemore. 
1835— Benajah  S.  Bibb,  William  B.  S.  Gilmer,  Samuel  C.  Oliver,  John  Martin. 
183G— Thomas  S.  Mays,  Alfred  V.  Scott,  John  A.  Campbell,  Samuel  C.  Oliver, 
1837—  Thomas  S.  Mays,  Alfred  V.  Scott,  Samuel  C.  Oliver,  Merrill  Ashurst. 

1838  —  Thomas  S.  Mays,  Henry  W.  Hilliard,  George  D.  Shortridge. 

1839  —Samuel  C.  Oliver,  Joseph  J.  Hutchmsou,  William  O.  Baldwin, 
1840—  Samuel  C.  Oliver,  J.  J.  Hutchinson,  M.  Ashurst. 

1841— Samuel  C.  Oliver,  Robert  J.  Ware,  J.  J.  Hutchinson. 

1842- -Samuel  0.  Oliver,  Robert  J.  Ware,  John  Caffey. 

1843  —  Samuel  C.  Oliver,  Francis  Bugbee,  John  Caffey. 

1844— Samuel  C.  Oliver,  Thomas  Williams,  Jr.,  R.  C.  Bunting. 

1845— Samuel  C.  Oliver,  Benajah   S.    Bibb,  Michael  Ellsbury,  Clement  C.   Bil- 

lingslea. 

1847— Samuel  C.  Oliver,  Benajah  S.  Bibb,  Robert  J.  Ware,  Charles  G.  Gunter. 
1849— Robert  J.  Ware,  Thomas  H.  Watts,  William  H.  Reeves.  Charles  G.  Gunter. 
1851— Benajah  S.  Bibb,  William  B.  Moss,  Francis  S.  Jackson,  Thomas  Cafler, 
1853 -Thomas  H.  Watts,  James  E.  Belser,  Thomas  J.  Judge. 
1855—  Adam  C.  Felder,  James  E.  Belser,  James  H.  Clanton. 
1857— Adam  C.  Felder,  James  R.  Dillard,  Charles  H.  Molton. 
1859— Adam  C.  Felder,  Samuel  F.  Rice,  Mike  L.  Woods. 
1861— Samuel  F.  Eice,  Thomas  M.  Arrington,  William  H.  Reeves, 
1863— Samuel  F.  Rice,  Tristam  B.  Bethea,  William  H.  Ogbourne. 
1865—  Adam  C.  Felder,  Tristam  B.  Bethea,  H.  M.  Caffey. 
1868— J.  P.  Stowe,  W.  C.  Arthur,  G.  W.  Cox,  Paul  Stroback,  Holland  Thompson  * 

L.  J.  Williams.* 
1870— J.  P.  Stowe,  George  A.  Harmount,  Paul  Stroback,  Holland  Thompson  * 

H.  H.  Craig,*  L.  J.  Williams,* Knox. 

XLIX.     MORGAN  (OBIGINALLY  CATACO)  COTJNTY.     ' 

1819 — Jesse  W.  Garth,  Micajah  Vaughn,  John  McCorley. 
1820— Jesse  W.  Garth,  McKinney  Holderness,  John  T.  Bather, 

49 


762  Appendix  to 

1821 Jesse  W.  Garth,  McKinney  Holderness,  Horatio  Philpot. 

1822—  Thomas  D.  Crabb,  John  T.  Rather,  John  Adams. 

1823—  Thomas  D.  Crabb,  William  S.  Goodhue,  Horatio  Philpot. 

1824—  Tsomas  D.  Crabb,  John  T.  Rather,  Robert  Tapscott. 

1825—  Thomas  D.  Crabb,  Milkijah  Vaughn,  Stephen  Heard. 

1826—  Thomas  D.  Crabb,  Henry  W.  Rhodes,  S.  Heard. 

1827—  Tliomas  D.  Crabb,  John  T.  Rather,  M.  Vaughn. 

1828—  Jesse  W.  Garth,  Benajah  S.  Bibb,  James  T.  Sykes,  Thomas  McElderry. 
1829  -Jesse  W.  Garth,  Horatio  Philpot,  Ihoiuas  McElderry,  John  T.  Rather. 
1830— Jesse  W.  Gartk,  John  T.  Rather,  Horatio  Philpot,  Daniel  E.  Hickman. 

1831—  Thomas  McElderry,  John  T.  Rather,  Daniel  E.  Hickman,  Horatio  Philpot. 
1832  —  Reuben  Chapman,  John  T.  Rather,  Henry  W.  Rhodes,  Robert  F.  Houston. 
1833 — Reuben  Chapman,  Robert  F.  Houston. 

1834— Reuben  Chapman,  Robert  F.  Houston,  John  T.  Rather,  Isaac  Lane. 
1835— John  T.  Rather,  Henry  W.  Rhodes,  Matthew  W.  Lindsay. 
1836— John  T,  Rather,  M.  W.  Lindsay,  Riley  S.  Davis,  Milton  McClanahan. 
1837— Jo/in  T.  Rather,  Riley  S.  Davis,  M.  McClanahan,  William  A.  Slaughter. 
1838 — Green  P.  Rice,  M.  W.  Lindsay,  M.  McClananan,  Benjamin  A.  Philpot. 
1839— Green  P.  Rice,  M.  McClanahan,  Charles  E.  B.  Strode. 

1840—  Green  P.  Rice,  M.  NcClanahan,  Charles  E.  B.  Strode. 

1841—  Milton  McClanahan,  C.  E.  B.  Strode,  Matthew  W.  Troup.. 
1842   -Milton  McClanahan,  Green  P.  Rice,  Francis  M.  Roby. 
1843— Milton  McClanahan,  M.  W.  Troup,  David  C.  Humphreys. 
1844— Milton  MeClanahan,  William  W.  Roby,  Aaron  Perry,  Jr. 
1845— MUton  McClanahan,  Green  P.  Rice,  Aaron  Perry,  Jr. 
1847— Milton  McClanahan,  William  M.  Roby,  Thomas  A.  Strain. 
1849—  William  S.  Compton,  John  D.  Rather,  John  Ryan. 
1851— John  D.  Rather,  William  H.  Campbell. 

1853— J.  W.  Garth.     1855— Green  P.  Rice. 
1857— John  D.  Rather,  K.  N.  Walden. 
1859— John  D.  Rather,  R.  N.  "Walden. 
1861— J.  C.  Orr.     1863— G.  P.  Charlton. 
1865— James  M.  Jackson,  Z.  T.  Freeman. 
1868 -J.  J.  Ifines,  W.  G.  W.  Smith. 
1870— J.  J.  Hines,  Jackson  Gunn. 

L.     PEBBT   COUNTY. 

1822— George  Weisinger,  William  Ford. 

1823— Dunklin  Sullivan,  G.  Weisinger,  John  McLaughlin. 

1824— Dunklin  Sullivan,  G.  Weisinger,  C.  J.  Shackleford. 

IggS—Dunfc&i  SuUivan,  G.  Weisinger,  Richard  B.  Walthall. 

1826— Dunklin  Sullivan,  G.  Weisinger,  R.  B.  Walthall. 

1827— Dunklin  Sullivan,  G.  Weisinger,  R.  B.  Walthall. 

1828 — Dunklin  Svllivan,  G.  Weisinger,  David  Cole,  Martin  A.  Lea. 

1829— Richard  B.  Walthall,  G.  Weisinger,  David  Cole,  Elisha  Young. 

1830— Richard  B.  Walthall,  Elisha  Young,  Elisha  P.  King,  Martin  A.  Lea. 

1831— Richard  S.  Walthall,  Elisha  P.  King,  Martin  A.  Lea,  Charles  J.  Shackleford. 

1832-  Richard  B.  Walthall,  G.  Weisinger,  Columbus  W.  Lee,  William  S.  Miree. 
1833— Richard  B.  Walthall,  John  Barren,  W.  S.  Miree,  C.  W.  Lee. 

1834— Richard  B.  Walthall,  Columbus  W.  Lee,  W.  S.  Miree. 
1835— Richard  B.  Walthall,  C.  W.  Lee,  W.  S.  Miree,  Ovid  C.  Eiland. 
1836— Henry  C.  Lea,  Michael  Wright,  Jr.,  J.  Barron,  O.  C.  Eiland. 
1837— Henry  C.  Lea,  C.  W.  Lee,  D.  Sullivan,  Leonard  A.  Weisinger. 
1838— Henry  0,  Lea,  M.  Wright,  L.  A.  Weisinger,  William  E.  Blassingamo, 
1839—  Henry  C.  Lea,  M.  Wright,  J.  Barron,  Andrew  B.  Moore. 
1840— Henry  C.  Lea,  Alex.  Q.  Bradley,  J.  Barron,  William  Seawell. 
1841— Henry  C.  Lea,  A.  Q.  Bradley,  J.  Barron,  Benjamin  Ford. 
1842— Richard  B.  Walthall,  A.  B.  Moore,  J.  Barron,  W.  S.  Miree. 
1843— Richard  B.  Wallhall,  A.  B.  Moore,  J.  Barron,  W.  S.  Miree. 
1844— Richard  B.  Walthall,  A.  B.  Moore,  C.  W.  Lee,  W.  S.  Miree. 
1845— Jack  F.  Cocke,  A.  B.  Moore,  Isham  W.  Garrott,  Jesse  H.  Cole, 


Reminiscences  6j  IPwblic  Hen  in  Alabama.  763 

'1847— Jack  F.  Cocke,  Isham  W.  Garrott,  J.  K.  Johns,  J.  F.  Bailey. 
1849— Jack  R  Cocke,  George  W.  Goldsby,  H.  C.  Lea,  William  Heiidrix. 
1851— Jack  F.  Cocke,  Porter  King,  G.  \V.  Goldsby,  H.  C.  Lea. 
1853— Jack  F.  Cocke,  E.  J.  Talbert,  Jesse  G.  Coles. 
1855— Jack  F.  Cbcke,  W.  S.  Miree.  J.  C.  lleid. 
1857— Jack  F.  Cocke,  A.  Q.  Bradley,  George  D.  Johnson. 
1859— Jack  F.  Cocke,  A.  Q.  Bradley,  A.  K.  Shepard. 
1861— W.  S.  Miree,  J.  N.  Walthall. 
1863— J.  H.  Chapman,  James  L.  Price. 
1865— John  Moore,  Robert  D.  Sturdivant. 
1868— #  D.  Wyman,  M.  Avery,  G.  S.  W.  Lewis,  T.  C.  Stewart. 
1870— James  H.  Graham.  A,  H.  'Curtis,  *  John  Dozier.  * 

LI.    DICKENS  COUNTY. 

"1825— Boley  Cannon.     1826— Boley  Cannon. 

1827 — James  Moore,  Boley  Cannon. 

1828 — James  Moore,  — 

1829— Rufus  K  Anderson,  George  H.  Flournoy. 

1830— Rufus  K  Anderson,  George  H.  Flournoy. 

1831— Rufus  K  Anderson,  George  H.  Flournoy. 

1832 — Rufus  K.  Andereon,  George  H.  Flournoy. 

1833 — Rufus  K  Anderson,  Reuben  Gardner. 

1834— Samuel  B.  Moore,  Lincoln  Clark,  A.  B.  Wooldridge,  Henry  Sossom an. 

1835 — Samuel  B.  Moore,  Lincoln  Clark,  Charles  Coons,  Charles  Stewart. 

1836— Samuel  B.  Moore,  Jeptha  Spruill,  Thpmas  Williams,  Joseph  Martin. 

1837 — Samuel  B.  Moore,  Thomas  Williams,  Samuel  Cochran,  Joseph  Martin. 

1838— Peyton  King,  William  S.  Jones,  Frederick  C.  Ellis,  B.  H.  Neely. 

1839- -Peyton  King,  Joel  E.  Pearson,  Curtis  Williams,  Nathan  Smith. 

1840— Peyton  King,  William  McGill,  J.  Spruell,  J.  Peterson. 

1841— Peyton  King,  J.  Spruill,  Reuben  Gardner,  E.  C.  Wallis. 

1842— Peyton  King,  N.  Smith,  Thomas  J.  Clark,  William  R.  Gardner. 

1843— Peyton  King,  J.  Spruill,  R.  T.  Johnston,  J.  D.  Johnson. 

1844— Jeptha  Spruill,  T.  J.  Clark,  Henry  Stith,  J.  D.  Johnson. 

1845— Jeptha  Spruill,  Nathan  Smith,  R.  T.  Johnston. 

1847— James  M.  Beckett,  R.  T.  Johnston,  Joel  E.  Pearson. 

1849—  James  M.  Beckett,  Lewis  M.  Stone,  A.  L.  Neal. 

1851— Joel  E.  Pearson,  L.  M.  Stone,  James  B.  Gladney. 

1853 — J.  J.  Lee,  J.  D.  Johnson,  James  Henry. 

1855 — Benjamin  F.  Wilson,  Samuel  Williams,  Zach.  L.  Nabors. 

1857— Alexander  B.  Clitherall,  Z.  L.  Nabors,  A.  L.  Neal. 

1859— Lewis  M.  Stone,  A.  B.  Clitherall,  A.  L.  Neal. 

1861—  Lewis  M.  Stone,  Martin  L.  Stansel,  A.  L.  Neal. 

1863— John  J.  W.  Payne,  Benjamin  Atkinson,  J.  T.  Gardner. 

1865—  Martin  L.  Stansel,  Thomas  C.  Lanier,  R.  Henry. 

1868— Willliam  Murrah.     1870— W.  Murrah,  D.  C.  Hodo. 

LII.     PIKE  COUNTY. 

1825— Philip  Fitzpatrick.     1826— Charles  A.  Dennis. 

1827— Charles  A.  Dennis.     1828— Andrew  C.  Townsend. 

1829 — Charles  A.  Dennis,  Jacinth  Jackson. 

1830— Andrew  C.  Townsend,  Jacinth  Jackson. 

1831 — George  B.  Augustus,  Lawson  J.  Keener. 

1832 — Jesse  J.  Reaves,  Lawson  J.  Keener. 

1833— W.  Fitzpatrick  Evans.     1834— William  F.  Evans, 

1835— Charles  A.  Dennis. 

1836— John  W.  Devereux,  William  F.  Evans. 

1837 — John  W.  Devereux,  Luke  R.  Simmons, 

1838 — John  W.  Devereux,  Luke  R.  Simmons. 

1839— James  W.  Townsend,  A.  H.  Harris,  Jesse  Reaves, 

1840— Luke  R.  Simmons,  S.  Dixon. 


764  Appendix  to 

1841— Norman  McLeod,  J.  B.  Stinson. 

1842 — Jamts  W.  Crowder,  Burwell  W.  Hodges. 

1843 — Norman  McLeod,  John  A.  Stringer. 

1844— Harrell  Hobdy,  A.  Lansdale.  » 

1845— Harrell  Hobdy,  W.  B.  Stringer. 

1847— W.  Hubbard,  S.  S.  Hamilton. 

1849—  Norman  McLeod,  Richard  Beubow. 

1851 — Levi  Freeman,  Richard  Benbow. 

1853— Harrell  Hobdy,  W.  J.  McBryde,  Dabid  H.  Horn,  James  Farrior. 

1855— Harrell  Hobdy,  W.  J.  McBryde,  J.  F.  Rhodes,  D.  L.  Nicholson. 

1857 — Henry  B.  Thompson,  J.  Boatright,  J.  D.  Murphree,  J.  C.  Baskins. 

1859 — E.  L.  Mclntyre,  A.  W.  Starke,  O.  F.  Knox,  John  B.  Goldsmith. 

1861— J?.  Mclntyre,  A.  W.  Starke,  F.  Park,  II.  Rainer. 

1863— D,  A.  McCall,  J.  R.  Brooks,  W.  R.  Cox. 

1865— £  B.  Wilkinson,  A.  N.  Worthy,  W.  B.  Stringer,  J.  R.  Goldthwaite. 

1868— Alfred  N,  Worthy,  John  P.  Hubbard. 

1870— Alfred  N.  Worthy,  John  P.  Hubbard. 

LHI.      BANDOLPH  COUNTY. 

1837— Thomas  Blake.     1838— William  McKnight. 

1839— Fleming  F.  Adrian.     1840  -Fleming  F.  Adrian. 

1841— Wyatt  Hefflin.     1842— Jeremiah  Murphy. 

1843— Wyatt  Hefflin.     1844— James  W.  Allen. 

1845— Jefferson  Falkner,  Wyatt  Hefflin,  Samuel  T.  Owens. 

1847— William  Wood,  Calvin  J.  Ussnry. 

1849— Robert  S.  Hefflin,  Cicero  D.  Hodson. 

1851— John  T.  Hefflin,  John  Reaves,  Robert  C.  Pond. 

1853— Henry  M.  Gay,  W.  P.  Newell,  John  Goodwin. 

1855—Henry  M.  Gay,  Robert  J.  Wood,  William  H.  Smith. 

1857— Robert  S.  Hefflin,  W.  H.  Smith.  A.  W.  Denman,  Isaac  S.  Weaver. 

1859— Robert  S.  Hefflin,  F.  M.  Ferrell,  Joshua  Hightower,  F.  A.  McMurray. 

1861 — Robert  8.  Hefflin,  A.  W.  Denman,  C.  J.  Ussery,  James  Akin. 

1863. -W.  E.  Wood,  H.  W.  Armstrong,  M.  D.  Barron,  A.  A.  West. 

1865— Midaleton  R.  Bell,  James  L.  Williams,  W.  E.  Connelly,  W.  W.  Dobson. 

1868 -Jack  Wood.     1870- J.  H.  Davis,  Sr. 

LIV.     KUSSELL   COUNTY. 

1837 — Nimrod  W.  Long.     1838— James  Abercrombie. 
1839— James  Abercrombie.     1840— Bryan  S.  Mangum. 
1841—  Brittain  D.  Harris.     1842— Brittain  D.  Harris. 
1843—  Robert  8.  Hardaway,  John  Segar. 
1844— Robert  S.  Hardaway,  William  Barnett. 
1845— Robert  *S.  Hardaway,  William  Barnett,  Nimrod  W.  Long. 
1847 — James  Abercrombie,  Joel  Wilson,  Benjamin  H.  Baker. 
1849 — -James  Abercrombie,  Benjamin  H.  Baker,  James  D.  Reese. 
1851— Benjamin  IT.  Baker,  O.  B.  Walton,  Sterling  Bass,  Jr. 
1853— Benjamin  If.  Baker,  A.  T.  Calhoun,  Hiram  Nelmfc 
1855— Benjamin  II.  Balcer,  William  C.  Dawson,  Edgar  Garlick. 
1857— A  B.  Griffin,  Clark  Aldridge,  John  S.  Colbert. 
1859— A  B.  Griffin,  Eluha  Calhouu,  F.  G.  Jones. 
1861—  John  A.  Lewis,  W.  P.  Williams,  J.  Wilkerson. 
1863— John  A.  Lewis,  D.  B.  Mitchell,  F.  A.  Nisbett. 
1865— J.   W.  Castens,  Leroy  F.  McCoy,  B.  G.  Owens. 
1868—  W.  B.  Martin,  J.  Tyner,  Horace  King. 
1870—  W.  B.  Martin,  B.  M.  Henry,  Horace  King.* 

LV.    SANKOKD  COUNTY. 

1868— E.  W.  Lawrence.     1870 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 

LVI.    SHELBY  COUNTY. 

1819— Bennett  Ware,  Jesse  Wilson,  Arthur  Taylor. 

1820— Bennett  Ware,  Bepjamiu  Davis,  Jack  Shackleford. 

1821— Bennett  Ware,  Benjamin  Davis,  Thomas  McKinney. 

1822 — Jack  Shackleford,  Benjamin  Davis. 

1823-Jacfc  Shackleford,  Samuel  W.  Mardis. 

1824— Jack  Shackleford,  Samuel  W.  Mardis. 

1825— Samuel  W.  Mardis.     1826— Joab  Lawler. 

1827- Joab  Lawler.     1828 -Joab  Lawler,  S.  W.  Mardis. 

1829— Joab  Lawler.     1830— S.  W.  Mardis,  J.  Lawler. 

1831 — Joab  Lawler,  James  M.  Nabors,  Leonard  Tarrant. 

1832— Joab  Lawler,  Leonard  Tarrant,  George  Hill. 

1833 — Joab  Lawler,  James  M.  Nabors,  George  Hill. 

1834— James  M.  Nabors,  Alphonso  A.  Sterrett,  M.  H.  Me  Henry. 

1835— James  M.  Nabors,  A.  A.  Sterret,  Martin  H.  McHenry. 

1836— James  M.  Nabors,  John  M.  McClanahan,  M.  H.  McHenry. 

1837— Daniel  E.  Watrous,  J.  M.  McClanahan,  John  F.  Primer. 

1838— DanieJ  E.  Watrous,  J.  M.  MoClanahan,  W.  J.  Peters. 

1839— Daniel  E.  Watrous,  J.  M.  Nabors,  Wade  H.  Griffin. 

1840— Daniel  E.  Watrous,  W.  H.  Griffin,  William  J.  Peters. 

1841— Daniel  R  Watrous,  W.  H.  Griffin,  John  S.  Storrs. 

1842— Daniel  E.  Watrous,  John  S.  Storrs,  Wilson  M.  Kidd. 

1843 — Daniel  E.  Watrous,  John  S.  Storrs,  David  Owen. 

1844— Daniel  E.  Watrous,  John  S.  Storrs,  W.  M.  Kidd. 

1845 — Daniel  E.  Watrous,  John  S.  Storrs,  John  Koper. 

1847 — James  M.  Nabors,  John  S.  Storrs,  Thomas  H.  Brasier. 

1949— Daniel  E.  Watrous,  John  S.  Storrs,  Thomas  H.  Brasier. 

1851— Daniel  E.  Walrous,  W.  L.  Prentice,  Joseph  Kober. 

1853— A.  A.  Sterrett,  Thomas  P.  Lawrence. 

1855— H.  W  Nelson,  Nathaniel  K.  King,  D.  N.  McClanahan. 

1857— John  S.  Storrs,  N.  B.  Mardis,  J.  P.  Morgan. 

1859— H.   W.  Nelson,  William  G.  Bowdou,  D.  T.  Scale. 

1861— j:  P.  Morgan,  S.  Brasher,  J.  P.  West. 

1863— J.  Kenan,  Samuel  Leeper. 

18G5— Samuel  Leeper,  J.  C.  Hand. 

1868— E.  W.  Attaway.     1870— Burwell  B.  Lewis. 

LVII.      ST.  CLAIB   COUNTY. 

1819— David  Conner,  James  Hardwick. 

1820— David  Conner,  Philip  Coleman. 

1821 — David  Conner,  James  Hardwick. 

1822— David  Conner,  James  Hardwick,  Philip  Coleman. 

1823 — David  Conner,  James  Hardwick,  George  Shotwell. 

1824 — David  Conner,  George  Shotwell,  Philip  Coleman. 

1825— John  Ashe,  George  Shotwell,  Philip  Coleman. 

1826 — John  Ashe,  Philip  Coleman,  John  Massey. 

1827 — John  Ashe,  John  Massey,  Henry  Bradford. 

1828 — Dav'd  Canby,  John  Massey,  Thomas  M.  Barker. 

1829— David  Canby,  John  Massey,  Henry  Bradford. 

1830 — David  Conner,  John  Massey,  Champ  Langford. 

1831— David  Conner,  C.  C.  P.  Farrar,  Green  T.  McAfee. 

1832— John  Ashe,  John  Massey,  Green  T.  McAfee. 

1833— John  Ashe,  John  Massey,  C.  C.  P.  Farrar. 

1834— John  Ashe,  John  Massey,  C.  C.  P.  Farrar. 

1835 — John  Massey,  Eichmond  Hammond. 

1836— Richmond  Hammond,  John  W.  Cobb. 

1837 — Eichmond  Hammond,  John  W.  Cobb. 

1838 — C.  C.  P.  Farrar,  Hichmond  Hammond.  James  Eogan. 

1839—6'.  C.  P.  Farrar,  John  Marsey,  James  Eogan. 

1840— C1.  C.  P.  Farrar,  Orrau  M.  Eoberts. 


766  Appendix  to 

1841— B.  Hammoiid.     1842— James  P.  Bothwell.     1843— J.  W.  Cobbi 

-1844— Jb/m  Ashe,  James  M.  Edwards. 

1845— -John  Ashe,  James  M.  Edwrrds. 

1847— K.  Hammond.     1849— J.  M.  Edwards.     1851— Albert  G.  Bennett. 

1853  —James  Foreman.     1855— Graham  Beavers. 

1857 — William  lhaxton,  Richmond  Hammond,  Jr. 

1859— S.  Loyd.     1861— James  Foreman. 

1863—  Curtis  E.  Beeson,  George  W.  Ashe. 

1865— George  W.  Ashe.     1868— H.  G.  Springfield.     1870— Leroy  F.  Box. 

LVIII.     SUMTER  COUNTY. 

1834— Elijah  Price.     1835— William  S.  Chapman. 

1836  -William  W.  Payne.     1837— W.  W.  Payne.     1838— W.  W.  Payne. 

1839— Patrick  S.  Cromwell,  Blake  Little,  Kobert  F.  Houston,  John  A.  Winston. 

1840— John  Edmund  Jones,  William  M.  Inge,  John  A.  Winston,  Blake  Little. 

1841— Jb/w  Edmund  Jones,  William  Woodward,  Harrison  W.  Covington,  James 

M.  Bushing. 
1842— John  Edmund  Jones,  John  A.  Winston,  William  Woodward,  Blake  Little, 

Isaac  F.  Dortch. 
1843— John  Anthony   Winston,  Joseph  G.  Baldwin,  Henry  F.  Scruggs,  John  C. 

Whitsett. 
1844— John  Anthony  Winston,  William  Woodward,  Samuel  W.  Inge,  William  S. 

Patton. 
1845 — John  Anthony  Winston,  William  Woodward,  Samuel  W.  Inge,  Sidney  S. 

Perry. 
1847 — John  Anthony   Winston,  William   Woodward,  Philip  S.   Glover,   George 

Amason. 

1849— John  Anthony  Winston,  Bobert  H.  Smith,  James  T.  Hill,  Thomas  B.  Crews. 
1851 — John  Anthony  Winston,  John  C.  Whitsett,  John  B.   Larkins,  Devereaux 

Hopkins. 

1853—  Wildam  Woodward,  John  C.  Whitsett,  Benjamin  F.  Portis. 
1855— J.  Clanton,  W.  J.  Gilmer. 
1857—  William  Woodward,  Bobert  F.  Houston. 
1859—  William  Woodward,  B.  Y.  Bamsey. 
1861—  Tamer  Reavis,  B.  B.  Little. 

1863— lurner  Reavis,  John  Mclnnis.     1865— W.  V.  Hare. 
1868— J.  A.  Yordy,  Bichard  Burke,  George  Houston,  W.  Taylor. 
1870— E.  W.  Smith,  J.  H.  Holmes,  J.  A.  Mooring. 

LIX.    TALLADEGA  COUNTY. 

1834— Lewis  C.  Sims.     1835— Lewis  C.  Sims. 

1836— Francis  Mitchell.     1837— William  B.  McClellan. 

1838—  William  B.  McClellan,  Felix  G.  McConnell. 

1839— Felix  0.  McConnell,  William  P.  Chilton,  William  M.  McPherson. 

1840— Felix  0.  McConnell,  George  Hill,  Samuel  F.  Bice. 

1841— Felix  G.  McConneil,  Samuel- F.  Bice,  John  W.  Bishop. 

1842— Felix  0.  McConnell,  John  W.  Bishop,  Archibald  Barclay. 

1843  —John  W.  Bishop,  John  Hill,  Thomas  D.  Clarke. 

1844—  John  W.  Bishop,  Franklin  W.  Bowdon,  David  A.  Griffin. 

1845— James  G.  L.  Haey,  Franklin  W.  Bowdon,  John  Hill,  Henry  B.  Turner,  Jr. 

1847 — John  II.  Townsend,  John  J.  Woodward,  Allen  Gibson,  Jabez  Li  M.  Curry. 

1849— .Leonard  Tarrant,  Walker  Beynolds,  B.  W.  Grace,  J.  H.  King. 

1851—  Leonard  Tarrant,  A.  J.  Liddell,  Alvis  Q.  Nix,  N.  George  -Shelley. 

1853— Jacob  T.  Bradford,  J.  L.  M.  Curry,  N.  G.  Shelley,  John  W.  Bishop. 

1855—  Jacob  T.  Bradford,  J.  L.  M.  Curry,  David  H.  Rernson,  John  W.  Bishop. 

1857— George  Hill,  J.  B.  Martin,  D.  H.  Bemson,  J.  T.  Bell. 

1859  — £eon-/e  Hill,  Lewis  E.  Parsons,  Charles  Carter,  J.  T.  Bell. 

1861— Bennett  W.  Groce,  Levi  W.  Lawler,  George  S.  Waldeu,  C.  Carter. 

1863— Bennett  W.  Groce,  Lewis  E.  Parsons,  L.  W.  Lawler,  Henry  Sims. 

1865— James  Montgomery,  Joseph  D.  McCann,  George  Plowman,  J.  W.  Hardie. 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  767 

1868—  Green  T.  McAfee,  H.  W.  W.  Kice,  E.  T.  Childress. 
1870—  Green  T.  McAfee,  A.  C.  Wood,  George  W.  Braxdall. 

LX.    TALLAPOOSA  COUNTY. 

1834 — Joseph  T.  Clough.     1835 — James  Larkins. 

1836— Joseph  T.  Clough.     1837— Hair  M.  Young.     1838— J.  J.  Holley. 

1839 — Salmon  Washburn,  John  J.  Holley. 

1840 — Samuel  C.  Dailey,  Charles  Stone. 

1841 — Samuel  C.  J)ailcy,  Leroy  Gresham. 

1842 — Samuel  C.  Dailey,  Leroy  Gresham. 

1843— Goode  Bryan.     1844— Allen  Kimball. 

1845— John  J.  Holley,  Allen  Kimball. 

1849 — Seaborn  Gray,  John  J.  HoHey,  James  L.  Simmons. 

1851 — Michael  J.  Bulger,  John  Rowe. 

1853 — Allen  Kimball,  Henry  Gillam,  Benjamin  Gibson,  R.  H.  J.  Holley. 

1855— Allen  Kimball,  Hugh  Lockett,  A.  G.  Peddy,  J.  T.  Shackleford. 

1857 — John  Rowe,  Michael  J.  Bulger,  Joseph  Johnson,  H.  M.  Simpson. 

1859— John  Rowe,  John  J.  Holley,  Oliver  P.  Dark,  A.  S.  C.  Herrin. 

1861— HW*  D.  Mathews,  John  J.  Holley,  J.  G.  Bass,  W.  R.  Berry. 

18G3 — Willis  D.  Muthcws,  Robert  Ashurst,  A.  A.  Dark,  Early  Greathouse. 

1864— Michael  J.  Bulger, . 

1865— A Ifred  II.  Slaughter,  David  Thrasher,  Joseph  Lindsay,  H.  R.  McCoy. 
1866— Michael  J.  Bulger. 
18H8— C.  Corprew,  C.  T.  Thweatt. 
1870— J.  F.  Ashurst,  W.  D.  Bulger. 

LXI.    TUSKALOOSA  COUNTY. 

1819 — Thomas  Hogg,  James  Hill,  Ilardin  Perkins,  Julius  Sims. 

1820 — Thomas  Hogg,  James  Hill,  Hardin  Perkins,  Jeptha  V.  Isbell. 

1821 — Thomas  Hog;/,  Levin  Powell,  Marmaduke  Williams,  Sion  L.  Perry. 

1822 — Levin  Powell,  Marmaduke  Williams,  James  Hill,  Thomas  C.  Hunter. 

1823— Levin  Powell,  James  Hill,  Ilardin  Perkins,  John  L.  Tindall. 

1824— Levin  Powell,  H.  Perkins,  J.  Hill,  Robert  E.  B.  Baylor. 

1825— Levin  Powell,  Richard  Inge,  J.  L.  Tindall,  M.  D.  Williams,  Seth  Barton. 

1826— Levin  Powell,  Harvey  W.  Ellis,   Benjamin  Whitfield,    M.  D.  Williams,   H. 

Perkins. 

1827— Levin  Powell,  Henry  W.  Collier,  H.  W.  Ellis,  H.  Perkins,  William  H.  Jack. 
1828— Levin  Powell,  Seth  Barton,  H.  Perkins,  Willis  Banks,  B.  Whitfield. 
1829— Levin  Powell,  M.  D.  Williams,  H.  W.  Ellis,  H.  Perkins,  W.  Banks. 
1830— Levin  Powell,  Eli  Shortridge,  Thomas  Hogg,  M.  D.  Williams,  Moses  Collins. 
1831— Levin  Powell,  Benjamin  B.  Fontaine,  William  H.  Terrell,  John  R.  Drish, 

James  Foster. 
1832 — Levin  Powell,  Pleasant  N.  Wilson, ^Constantino  Perkins,  John  R.  Drish,  M. 

D.  Williams. 

1833— James  Guild,  H.  W.  Ellis,  M.  D.  Williams,  Thomas  Williams,  Jolly  Jones. 
1834 — Comtantine  Perkins,  Dennis  Dent,  Eli  Shortridge,  Samuel  G.  Frierson,  Jolly 

Jones. 
1835 — Comtantine  Perkins,  Dennis  Dent,  S.  G.  Frierson,  Abel  H.  White,  Jacob 

Wyzer. 

1836— Samuel  Johnson,  George  W.  Crabb,  D.  Dent,  H.  W.  Ellis,  S.  G.  Frierson. 
\^1— George  W.  Orabb,  Benjamin  F.  Porter,  Pleasant  H.  May,  M.  D.  Williams, 

William  Simonton. 
1838 — Dennis  Dent,  Benjamin  F.  Porter,  Reuben  Searcy,  Jabez  Mitchell,  M.  D. 

Williams. 

1839— Dennis  Dent,  John  D.  Phelan,  J.  Mitchell,  M.  D.  Williams,  B.  F.  Porter.  ' 
1840 — Dennis  Dent,  Robert  Jemison,  Jr.,  H.  Perkins,  J.  Mitchell,  James  G.  Blount. 
1841— Dennis  Dent,  Robert  Jemison,  Jr.,  William  R.  Smith,  J.  Mitchell,  H.  Perkins. 
1842— Dennis  Dent,  W.  R.  Smith,  William  P.  Merriwether,  Marion  Banks,  B.  F, 

Porter. 


768  Appendix  to 

1843— Dennis  Dent,  Bakus  W.  Huntington,   M.  Banks,  W.  P.  Merriwether,  J. 

Mitchell. 

1844— Dennis  Dent,  Peter  Martin,  R.  Jemison,  Jr.,  J.  Mitchell,  W.  P.  Merriwether. 
1845 — Dennis  Dent,  James  Guild,  B.  F.  Porter,  Abner  Wynn. 
1847 — Dennis  Dent,  R.  Jemison,  Jr.,  B.  F.  Porter,  H.  Perkins. 
1849 — Dennis  Dent,  R.  Jemison,  Jr.,  H.  Perkins,  Moses  McGuire. 
1851 — Robert  Jemison,  Jr.,  James  B.  Wallace,  M.  Banks,  Rufus  H.  Clements. 
1853 — Robert  Jemison,  Jr.,  Joshua  L.  Martin,  Newbern  H.  Brown. 
1855 — Robert  Jemison,  Jr.,  N.  H.  Brown,  Ezekiel  A.  Powell. 
1857— Robert  Jemison,  Jr.,  N.  H.  Brown,  E.  A.  Powell. 
1859— Robert  Jemison,  Jr.,  Newton  L.  Whitfield,  N.  H.  Brown. 
1861 — Robert  Jemison,  Jr.,  William  H.  Jemison,  J.  C.  Spencer. 
1863 — Robert  Jemison,  Jr.,  W.  A.  Bishop,  T.  P.  Lewis. 
1865— Ezekiel  A.  Powell,  N.  L.  Whitfield,  J.  A.  M.  Lester. 
1868— Ryland  Randolph,  S.  W.  Jones. 
1870— W.  S.  Wyman,  N.  N.  Clements. 

LXII.     WALKER  COUNTY. 

1834— Solomon  B.  Patton.     1835— S.  B.  Patton. 

1836— Eldridge  Mallard.     1837— James  Cain. 

1838— Joseph  Rutherford.     1839— Eldridge  Mallard. 

1841 — James  Cain.     1842 — James  Cain. 

1843— John  E.  Clancey.     1844— L.  W.  Baker. 

1845 — John  Menasco.     1847 — John  Menasco. 

1849 — James  Cain.     1851 — John  Menasco. 

1853 — William  A.  Hewlett,  John  Irwin. 

1855 — William  A.  Hewlett,  John  Menasco. 

1857— William  Reid.     1859— J.  M.  Easley. 

18GI— James  A.  Hill,  W.  Gravely. 

1863 — James  A.  Hill,  John  Menasco. 

1865— John  Menasco.     1868— W.  T.  Stubblefield.     1870— L.  C.  Miller. 

LXIII.    WASHINGTON  COUNTY. 

1819—  William  Trotter,  John  F.  Everett,  James  Thompson. 
1820 — William  Trotter,  James  Taggart,  Benjamin  S.  Smoot. 
1821 — William  Trotter,  James  Taggart,  James  Thompson. 
1822 — James  Thompson. 

1825—  William  Crawford,  Ptolemy  Harris. 

1826—  William  Crawford,  Ptolemy  Harris. 

1827—  William  Crawford,  Ptolemy  Harris. 
1828— Ptolemy  Harris.     1829— John  Fitts. 
1830— Ptolemy  Harris.     1831— Ptolemy  Harris. 
1832— Alexander  Trotter.     1833— Erasmus  G.  Collier. 
1834 — Joseph  McCarty,  Jr.     1835 — William  B.  Trotter. 
1836— John  H.  Owen.     1837— John  H.  Owen. 
1838— James  G.  Slater.     1839— William  Smith. 

1840 — Samuel  S.  Houston.     1841 — Samuel  S.  Houston. 

1845— Beloved  L.  Turner.     1843— Beloved  L.  Turner. 

1844— Thomas  McCarroll  Prince. 

1845— Beloved  L.  Turner,  Thomas  M.  C.  Prince. 

1847— John  S.  Malone.     1849— B.  L.  Turner. 

1851— B.  L.  Turner.     1853— E.  H.  Gordy. 

1855— James  White.     1857— J.  B.  Slade. 

1857— James  White.     1861— J.  B.  Slade. 

1863— T.  P.  Ashe.     1865— George  P.  Younge. 

1868— J.  R.  Waldrup.     1870— W.  W.  Coleman. 

LXIV.    WILCOX  COUNTY. 

1822— Edwin  L.  Harris.     1823— John  Beck. 
1824— John  Beck.     1825— John  W.  Bridges. 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  769 

1826— John  W.  Bridges.     1827— John  W.  Bridges. 

1829 — Walter  R.  Ross,  Allen  Robinson. 

1830 — Walter  R.  Ross,  Allen  Moore. 

1831—  John  W.  Bridges,  Walter  R.  Ross,  Allen  Moore. 

1832— John  W.  Bridges,  Walter  R.  Ross. 

1833— Jo hn  W.  Bridges,  S.  S.  Bonham,  C.  M.  Pegues. 

1834 — John  M.  Burke,  John  W.  Bridges,  Henry  E.  Curtis. 

1835— John  M.  Burke,  John  W.  Bridges,  Henry  E.  Curtis. 

1836— John  M.  Burke,  William  H.  Pledger,  D.  C,  Smith. 

1837— John  M.  Burke,  Walter  R.  Ross,  John  W.  Daniel. 

1838—  Walter  1L  Ross,  Allen  Moore,  Malcolm  M.  Burke. 

1839—  Walter  R.  Ross,  Allen  Moore,  C.  M.  Pegues. 

1840—  Walter  R.  Ross,  Allen  Moore,  C.  M.  Pegues. 

1841 — Walter  R.  Ross,  Thomas  Jefferson,  Littlebui-y  W.  Mason. 
1842—  Walter  R.  Ross,  John  W.  Bridges,  Charles  Dear.  . 
1843— Walter  R.  Ross,  John  W.  Bridges,  Charles  Dear. 

1844—  Walter  R.  Ross,  Thomas  K.  Deck,  L.  W.  Mason. 

1845—  Calrin  C.  Sellers,  Thomas  K.  Beck,  L.  W.  Mason. 
1847 — Joseph  D.  Jenkins,  James  T.  Johnson. 
1849— John  W.  Bridges,  Thomas  E.  Irby. 

1851—  James  T.  Johnson,  Franklin  K.  Beck,  David  Sterrett. 

1853 — Daniel  J.  Fox,  Robert  H.  Erwin. 

1855 — Franklin  K.  Beck,  George  Lynch. 

1857— Felix  Tait.     1859— Felix  Tait.     1861— G.  S.  Gullett. 

1863— Robert  II.  Krwin,  John  Moore. 

1865 — Aarrjn  B.  Cooper,  J.  R.  Hawthorn. 

1868— William  Henderson,  A.  G.  Richardson. 

1870 — J.  8.  Pen-in,  William  Henderson,  Thomas  McCusky. 

LXV.  WINSTON  (formerly  Hancock)  COUNTY. 

1853— -James  Vest.     1855— Abner  Little. 

1857— Abner  Little.     1859— J.  M.  Bibb. 

1861— C.  C.  Sheets.     1863— Zachariah  White. 

1865— J.  W   Wilhite.     1868— John  Taylor.     1870— John  Taylor. 

[NOTE. — For  some  of  the  now  counties  no  Representatives  appear  on  the  Journal  of  the 
House.  Names  marked  thus  (*)  signify  colored  members.  No  distinction  of  this  kind  occurs 
in  the  roll  of  1868-'6!),  as  the  author  failed  to  obtain  the  proper  information  in  time.] 

PRESIDING  OFFICERS,  SECRETARIES  AND  CLERKS. 

1  residents  of  the  Senate.  Secretaries  of  the  Senate. 

1819 — Thomas  Bibb,  Thomas  A.  Rogers, 

1820 — Gabriel  Moore,  Marmaduke  Williams, 

1821 — John  D.  Terrell,  Francis  S.  Lyon, "I 

1822— John  D.  Terrell,  Francis  S.  Lyon,J 

1823 — Nicholas  Davis,  Francis  S.  Lyon, 

1824 — Nicholas  Davis,  Francis  S.  Lyon, 

1325— Nicholas  Davis,  Francis  S.  Lyon, 

1826 — Nicholas  Davis,  Francis  S.  Lyon, 

1827 — Nicholas  Davis,  Francis  S.  Lyon, 

1828 — Levin  Powell,  Francis  S.  Lyon, 

Ig29 — Levin  Powell,  Francis  S.  Lyon, 

1830 — Samuel  B.  Moore,  Francis  S.  Lyon, 

1831 — James  Jackson,  Charles  D.  Conner, 

Ig32 — Levin  Powell,  Charles  D.  Conner, 

1833 — John  Erwin,  Charles  D.  Conner, 

1834 — Francis  S.  Lyon,  David  S.  Morton, 

1835 — Samuel  B.  Moore,  Charles  D.  Conner, 

1836 — Hugh  McVay,  Charles  D.  Conner, 

1837— Jesse  Beene,  Charles  D.  Conner, 

50 


770 


Appendix  to 


Presidents  of  the  Senate. 
1838 — James  M.  Calhoun, 
1839 — Green  P.  Rice, 
1840— J.  L.  F.  Cotfcrell, 
1841 — Nathaniel  Terry, 
1842 — Nathaniel  Terry, 
1843— Nathaniel  Terry, 
1844— Nathaniel  Terry, 
1845— John  A.  Winston, 
1847— John  A.  Winston, 
1849— Dennis  Dent, 
1851 — Charles  McLemore, 
1853— William  B.  Martin,      • 
1855 — Benjamin  C.  Yancey, 
1857 — James  M.  Calhoun, 
1859— John  D.  Rather, 
1861— Robert  M.  Patton, 
1862— James  M.  Calhoun, 
1863— Robert  Jemison,  Jr.,* 
1864— Thomas  A.  Walker, 
1865— Walter  H.  Crenshaw, 
1866— Walter  H.  Crenshaw. 
1868— A.  J.  Applegate,  Lt.  Gov., 
1869— R.  N.  Barr, 
1870— E.  H.  Moren,  Lt.  Governor. 

Speakers  of  the  House  of  Representatives. 
1819— James  Dellet, 
1820 — George  W.  Owen, 
1821— James  Dellet, 
1822— Arthur  P.  Bagby, 
1823— William  I.  Adair, 
1824— Samuel  Walker, 
1825— William  Kelly, 
1826— Samuel  W.  Oliver, 
1827— Samuel  W.  Oliver, 
1828— Clement  C.  Clay, 
1829 — John  Gayle, 
1830 — James  Penn, 
1831 — James  Penn, 
1832— Samuel  W.  Oliver, 
1833— Samuel  W.  Oliver, 
1834— Samuel  W.  Oliver, 
1835— James  W.  McClung, 
1836— Arthur  P.  Bagby, 
1837— James  W.  McClung, 
1838— James  W.  McClung, 
1 839-— John  D.  Phelan, 
1840— Samuel  Walker,} 
1841 — David  Moore, 
1842— John  Erwin, 
1843 — Andrew  B.  Moore, 
1844— Andrew  B.  Moore, 


Secretaries  of  the  Senate. 
Jones  M.  Withers, 
Pleasant  Hill, 
Pleasant  Hill, 
B.  A.  Philpot, 
George  B.  Clitherall, 
William  J.  Couch, 
Pleasant  Hill, 
Pleasant  Hill, 
Jennings  F.  Marrast, 
Jennings  F.  Marrast, 
William  L.  Cain, 
Joseph  Phelan, 
Joseph  Phelan, 
Joseph  Phelan, 
Micah  Taul, 
Micah  Taul, 
Micah  Taul, 
Micah  Taul, 
Micah  Taul, 
Micah  Taul, 
Micah  Taul,  f 
Matthew  P.  Blue, 
Matthew  P.  Blue, 
Matthew  P.  Blue. 

Clerks  of  the  House. 
Jonas  J.  Bell, 
James  J.  Pleasants, 
Nathaniel  Dodson, 
Nathaniel  Dodson, 
Nathaniel  Dodaon, 
Nathaniel  Dodson, 
Thomas  B.  Tuntstall, 
Thomas  B.  Tuntstall, 
Thomas  B.  Tuntstall, 
Thomas  B.  Tuntstall, 
Thomas  B.  Tuntstall, 
Thomas  B.  Tuntstall, 
Thomas  B.  Tuntstall, 
Thomas  B,  Tuntstall, 
Thomas  B.  Tuntstall, 
Thomas  B.  Tuntstall, 
Thomas  B.  Tuntstall, 
Thomas  B.  Tuntstall, 
Gideon  B.  Frierson, 
William  Garrett, 
William  Garrett, 
William  Garrett,  || 
Thomas  B.  Tuntstall, 
Joseph  Phelan, 
Joseph  Phelan, 
Joseph  Phelan, 


*Mr.  Jemison  resigned  during  the  session,  on  being  elected  to  the  Senate  of  the  Confed 
erate  States,  when  the  Hon.  Thomas  A.  Walker  was  elected  President  of  the  Senate  to  fill  the 

tin  the  course  of  the  session,  Mr.  Taul  resigned,  and  William  H.  Garrett,  of  Coosa,  was 
elected  Secretary  of  the  Senate. 

JMr.  Walker  resigned  from  indisposition,  and  Robert  A.  Baker,  Esq.,  was  elected  in  his 

flOn  being  elected  Secretary  of  State,  Col.  Garrett  resigned  as  Clerk  of  the  House,  whe^ 
Thomas  R.  Tuntstall  wa&  elected  to  fill  the  vacancy. 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  771 

'Speakers  of  the  House  of  Representatives.         Clerks  of  the  House. 

1845 — Andrew  B.  Moore,  Joseph  Phelan, 

1847— Leroy  Pope  Walker,  Alexander  B.  Clitherall, 

1849— Leroy  Pope  Walker,  Alexander  B.  Clitherall, 

1851— John  D.  Rather,  Alexander  B.  Clitherall, 

1853— William  Garrett,  Malcolm  D.  Graham, 

1855— Richard  W.  Walker,  Albert  Elmore, 

1857 — Crawford*  M.  Jackson,  Albert  Elmore, 

1859— Alexander  B.  Meek,  Albert  Elmore, 

i]  861— Walter  H.  Crenshaw,  Alexander  B.  Clitherall, 

1862— Walter  H.  Crenshaw,  Alexander  B.  Clitherall, 

,1863— Walter  H.  Crenshaw,  Albert  Elmore, 

1864— Walter  H.  Crenshaw,  Albert  Elmore, 

1865 — Thomas  B.  Cooper,  Turner  Clanton, 

1866— Thomas  B.  Cooper,  Turner  Clanton, 

1868— George  F.  Harrington,  William  B.  Cloud, 

•1S70— John  P.  Hubbard.  Ellis  Phelan. 


II.     MEMBERS  OF  CONGRESS. 

Names  of  Senators  and  Representatives  in  the  Congress  of  the  United  States 
tfrom  Alabama  since  1819  : 

SENATORS. 

Service.  Service. 

1819  to  1844— William  R.  King,  1825  to  1826— Henry  Chambers, 

1844  to  1848-,Dixon  H.  Lewis,  1826  to  1831— John  McKinley, 
'1848  to  1849— ^Benjamin  Fitzpatrick,        1831  to  1837— Gabriel  Moore, 

•1849  to  1853 — Jeremiah  Clemens,  1837  to  1842 — Clement  C.  Clay, 

i!853  to  1861— C,  C.  Clay,  Jr.,  1842  to  1848— Arthur  P.  Bagby, 

11819  to  1822— John  W.  Walker,  1848  to  1853— William  R.  King, 

31822  .tc  1825— William  Kelly,  1853  to  1861— Benjamin  Fitzpatrick. 

REPRESENTATIVES. 

\6th  Congress,  1819-'21,  nth  Congress,  1821-'23, 

John  Crowell.  William  Kelly. 

18th  Congress,  1823-'25,  \Wi  Congress,  1825-27, 

John  McKee,  John  McKee, 

Gabriel  Moore,  Gabriel  Moore, 

George  W.  Owen.  George  W.  Owen. 

20th  Congress,  1827-29,  21st  Congress,  1829-'31, 

John  McKee,  Robert  E.  B.  Baylor, 

Gabriel  Moore,  Clement  C.  Clay, 

George  W,  Owen.  Dixon  H.  Lewis. 

2"2d  Congress,  1831-' 33, 
Clement  C.  Clay,  Dixon  H.  Lewis,  Samuel  W.  Mardis. 

23d  Congress,  1833-' 35,  24th  Congress,  1835-' 37, 

Clement  C.  Clay,  Reuben  Chapman, 

Dixon  H.  Lewis,  Joab  Lawler, 

Samuel  W.  Mardis,  Dixon  H.  Lewis, 

John  McKinley,  Joshua  L.  Martin, 

John  Murphy.  Francis  S.  Lyon. 

25<A  Congress,  1837-39,  26^  Congress,  18S9-'41, 

Reuben  Chapman,  Reuben  Chapman, 

Joab  Lawler,*  George  W.  Crabb, 

Dixon  H.  Lewis,  James  Dellet, 

Joshua  L.  Martin,  David  Hubbard, 

Francis  S.  Lyon.  Dixon  H.  Lewis, 

*  Mr.  LaWler  died  at  Washington  City  in  1838,  and  Gen.  George  W.  Crabb  was  elected  to 
serve  out  the  nnexpired  term. 


772 


Appendix  to 


21th  Congress,  1841-' 43, 
Reuben  Chapman, 
George  S.  Houston, 
Dixon  H.  Lewis, 
William  W.  Payne, 
Benjamin  G.  Shields. 


29th  Congress,  1845-'47, 
Reuben  Chapman, 
Edward  S.  Dargan, 
Henry  W.  Hilliard, 
George  S.  Houston, 
Felix  G.  McConnell, 
William  W.  Payne, 
William  L.  Yancey.* 

31  at  Congress,  1849-' 51, 
William,  J.  Alston, 
Franklin  W.  Bowdon, 
W.  R.  W.  Cobb, 
Sampson  W.  Harris, 
Henry  W.  Hilliard, 
David  Hubbard, 
Samuel  W.  Inge. 

33rf  Congress,  1863-' 55, 
James  Abercrombie, 
W.  R.  W.  Cobb, 
James  F.  Dowdell, 
Sampson  H.  Harris, 
George  S.  Houston, 
Philip  Phillips, 
William  R,  Smith. 

35*/t  Congress,  1857-59. 
W.  R.  W.  Cobb, 
Jabez  L.  M.  Curry, 
James  F.  Dowdell, 
George  S.  Houston, 
Sydenham  Moore, 
Eli  S.  Shorter, 
James  A.  Stallworth. 


2&th  Congress,  1843-' 45, 
James  E.  Belser, 
Reuben  Chapman, 
James  Dellet, 
George  S.  Houston, 
Felix  G.  McConnell, 
William  W.  Payne, 
William^.  Yancey. 

30th  Congress,  1847-' 49, 
Franklin  W.  Bowdon, 
W.  R.  W.  Cobb, 
John  Gayle, 
Sampson  W.  Harris. 
Henry  W.  Hilliard, 
George  S.  Houston, 
Samuel  W.  Inge. 

32rf  Congress,  1851-' 53, 
James  Abercrombie, 
John  Bragg, 
W.  R.  W.  Cobb, 
Sampson  W.  Harris, 
George  S.  Houston, 
William  R.  Smith, 
Alexander  White. 

34f/,i"  Congress,  1855-' 57, 
W.  R.  W.  Cobb, 
James  F.  Dowdell, 
Sampson  W.  Harris, 
George  S.  Houston, 
Eli  S.  Shorter, 
William  R.  Smith, 
Percy  Walker. 

36*A  Congress,  1859-' 61, 
David  Clopton, 
W.  R.  W.  Cobb,    . 
Jabez  L.  M.  Curry, 
George  S.  Houston, 
Sydenham  Moore, 
James  L.  Pugh, 
James  A.  Stallworth. 


[NOTE. — On  the  passage  of  the  Ordinance  of  Secession,  in  January,  1861,  the  Senators  and 
Representatives  of  Alabama  withdrew  from  Congress,  and  the  State  was  not  again  represented 
in  that  body  until  1868.  In  the  meantime,  undor  the  Reconstruction  policy  oi  President 
Johnson,  Representatives  were  elected  in  November,  1865,  to  serve  until  March  4, 1867,  viz  : 
From  the  1st  District.  Charles  C.  Langdon ;  2.  George  C.  Freeman;  3.  Cullen  A.  Battle;  4. 
Joseph  W.  Taylor ;  5.  Burwell  T.  Pope  ;  G  Thomas  J.  Foster.  At  the  session  of  the  Legislature 
in  1865.  the  lion.  Lewis  Parsons  was  elected  a  Senator  in  Congress  for  the  term  expiring 
March  8.  1871;  Gen.  George  S.  Houston  for  the  term  expiring  March  3,  1867,  and  the  Hon. 
John  Anthony  Winston  for  a  term  of  six  years,  commencing  on  the  4th  March,  1867.  None 
of  thes^-  gentlemen  were  admitted  to  seats  in  Congress. 

In  April,  1867.  the  Military  Commander  oJ  the  Fourth  District— consisting  of  Georgia, 
Florida  and  Alabama — took  control  of  the  State  Government,  under  the  Reconstruction  Acts 
of  Congress,  and  the  Convention  elected  pursuant  to  his  orders  formed  a  Constitution,  which 
provided  for  the  election  of  Representatives  in  February.  1868,  when  the  following  were  de 
clared  duly  elected  to  the  40th  Congress :  From  the  1st  District,  F.  M.  Kellogg;  2.  Charles  W. 

Backley;  3.  Benjamin  W.  Norris;  4.  Charles  W.  Pierce;  5.  John  B.  Cullis;'  6. Jlaughey— 

the  term  of  service  to  expire  March  3,  1869. 

At  the  session  of  the  Legislature  in  July,  1868.  George  E.  Spencer  and  Willard  Warner, 
Esqrs..  were  elected  Senators  in  Congress,  who,  being  free  from  objections  as  to  loyalty,  were 
allowed  to  take  their  seats. 

*  Mr.  Yancey  resigned  in  1816,  and  the  Hon.  Janies  LaFayette  Cottrell  was  elected  to  serve 
out  the  unexpired  term. 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  773 

-^ 

In  August,  1809,  an  election  was  held  for  Representatives  to  the  41st  Congress,  and  in  No 
vember,  1870,  for  the  42d  Congress,  with  the  following  results: 

41st  Congress,  18fi9-'71,  42tf  Congress,  1871-'73, 

1.  Allied  E.  Buck,  1.  Benjamin  P.  Turner,* 

2.  Charles  W.  Buckley,  2.  Cnarles  W.  Buckley, 

3.  Robert  S.  Hellin,  3.  William  A.  Hundley, 

4.  Charles  Hays,  4.  Charles  Hays, 

5.  Peter  M.  Dox,  5.  Peter  M.  Dox, 

6.  William  C.  Sherrod.  6.  Joseph  H.  Sloss. 

At  the  session  of  the  Legislature  in  1870-'71,  the  Hon.  George  Goldthwaite  was  elected  a 
Senator  in  Congress,  to  succeed  the  Hon.  Willard  W-irner,  whose  term  expired  on  the  3d  of 
March,  1871.  Mr.  Spencer  has  occupied  a  stat  in  the  Senate  from  Alabama  since  the  war.j 

III.  GOVERNORS  AND  EXECUTIVE  OFFICERS— 1819  TO  1872. 

As  preliminary  to  the  list  proper,  it  may  be  observed  that,  in  1802,  Georgia 
ceded  the  whole  district  of  country  now  forming  Alabama  and  Mississippi,  in  con 
sideration  of  $1,250,090,  and  the  guaranty,  by  the  United  States,  of  the  extin 
guishment  of  the  Indian  title  to  all  the  lands  within  her  remaining  limits. 

The  Territorial  Government  of  Mississippi,  organi/.ed  in  1798,  was  formed  on 
the  basis  of  the  Ordinance  of  1787,  for  the  government  of  the  North- Western  Ter 
ritory,  except  the  clause  forbidding  slavery,  or  involuntary  servitude.  In  1803, 
President  Jefferson  appointed  Robert  Williams,  Esq.,  (brother  of  Judge  M.  D. 
Williams,  of  Tuskaloosa,)  Governor  of  the  Territory,  in  which  office  he  remained 
six  years.  It  was  subsequently  filled  by  the  Hon.  George  Poindexter,  and  others, 
up  to  the  division  of  the  Territory  in  1818,  when  the  name  of  Alabama  was  given 
to  the  eastern  half.  The  Hon.  William  Wyatt  Bibb  was  appointed  by  President 
Monroe  the  first  Governor  of  the  Alabama  Territory,  and  Henry  Hitchcock,  Esq., 
Secretary. 

On  the  2d  of  March,  1819,  Congress  passed  "An  act  to  enable  the  people  of 
Alabama  Territory  to  form  a  Constitution  and  State  Government,  and  for  the  ad 
mission  of  such  State  into  the  Union,  on  an  »qual  footing  with  the  original  States;" 
in  pursuance  of  which  act  a  Convention  wras  held  at  Huntsville,  and  the  first  Con 
stitution  of  Alabama  was  formed  on  the  2d  of  August,  1819.  There  were  then 
twenty-two  counties,  and,  of  course,  the  other  forty-three  counties  have  been  or 
ganized  since  that  time. 

As  the  part  of  signing  the  Constitution  of  a  State  (and  such  a  State  as  Ala 
bama)  is  an  honor  of  which  any  man,  or  his  descendants,  may  be  proud,  I  have 
copied,  as  an  act  of  justice  to  gentlemen  who  have  passed  away,  their  names  in 
the  order  in  which  they  were  affixed  to  the  Constitution,  enrolled  on  parchment, 
with  the  original  signatures,  as  filed  in  the  office  of  the  Secretary  of  State.  They 
are  as  follows:  « 

John  W.  Walker,  President  of  the  Convention. 

MADISON  COUNTY. — Clement  C.  Clay,  John  Leigh  Towns,  Henry  Chambers, 
Lemuel  Mead,  Henry  Minor,  Gabriel  Moore,  John  M.  Taylor. 

MONROE. — John  Murphy,  John  Watkins,  James  Pickens,  Thomas  Wiggins. 

BLOUNT. — Isaac  Browne,  John  Brown,  Gabriel  Hanby. 

LIMESTONE. — Thomas  Bibb,  Beverly  Hughes,  Nicholas  Davis. 

SHELBY. — George  Phillips,  Thomas  Amis  Rodgers. 

MONTGOMERY. — John  Dandridge  Bibb,  James  W.  Armstrong. 

WASHINGTON. — Israel  Pickens,  Henry  Hitchcock. 

TUSKALOOSA. — Marmaduke  Williams,  John  L.  Tindall. 

LAWRENCE. — Arthur  F.  Hopkins,  Daniel  Wright. 

FRANKLIN. — William  Metcalf,  Richard  Ellis. 

COTACO. — (now  Morgan)  Thomes  D.  Crabb,  Milkijah  Vaughn. 

CLARKE. — Reuben  Saffold,  James  Magoffin. 

CAHABA. — (now  Bibb)  Littlepage  Sims. 

CONECUH. — Samuel  Cook. 

DALLAS. — William  R.  King. 

MARENGO. — Washington  Thomson. 

MARION. — John  D.  Terrell. 

LAUDERDALE. — Hugh  McVay. 


774  Appendix 


ST.  CLAIR. — David  Conner. 
AUTAUOA. — James  Jackson. 
BALDWIN. — Henry  Toulmin. 
MOBILE. — Samuel  H.  Garrow; 

It  is  due  to  John  Campbell,  Secretary  of  the  Convention,  to  Say  that  the  parch 
ment  roll,  in  his  writing,  is  remarkable  for  neatness  and  regularity. 

A  partial  list  of  Attorneys  under  the  Territorial  Government  shows,  among  a 
number  of  gentlemen  commissioned  in  1818  to  practice  law,  the  names  of  John 
Gayle,  Jr.,  Jesse  Beene,  Peter  Martin,  Samuel  Chapman  and  Thomas  Owen ;  and, 
in  1819,  James  White  McClung,  Hopson  Owen,  John  McKinley,  Joshua  L.  Martin 
and  Hardin  Perkins. 

The  first  Governor  of  Alabama,  under  the  State  Constitution,  was  his  Excel 
lency  William  W.  Bibb,  who  was  installed  into  office  November  9,  1819,  and  died 
July  10,  1820.  The  unexpired  term  was  filled  by  his  brother,  Hon.  Thomas  Bibbr 
of  Limestone,  President  of  the  Senate. 

The  succeeding  Governors  have  been — 

1.  Israel  Pickens,  1821  to  1825. 

2.  John  Murphy,  1825  to  1829. 

3.  Gabriel  Moore,*  1820  to  1835. 

4.  John  Gayle,  1831  to  1835. 

5.  Clement  C.  Clay,f  1835  to  1837. 

6.  Arthur  P.  Bagby,  1837  to  1841. 

7.  Benjamin  Fitzpatrick,  1841  to  1845. 

8.  Joshua  L.  Martin,  1845  to  1847. 

9.  Reuben  Chapman,  1847  to  1849. 

10.  Henry  W.  Collier,  1849  to  1853. 

11.  John  A.  Winston,  1853  to  1857. 

12.  Andrew  B.  Moore,  1857  to  1861. 
•13.  John  Gill  Shorter,  1861  to  1863. 
"14.  Thomas  H.  Watts,  1863  to  1865. 

Lewis  E.  Parsons,  Provisional  Governor  from  July  to  December,  1865".. 

Robert  M.  Patton,  Governor  from  December,  1865,  to  July,  1868. 

William  H.  Smith,  Governor,  under  the  Reconstruction  Acts  of  Congress,  from 
July,  1868,  to  November,  1870. 

Robert  B.  Lindsay,  elected  Governor  by  the  people,  under  the  new  Constitu 
tion,  in  November,  1870. 

SECRETARIES  OF  STATE. 

1.  Thomas  A.  Rodgers,  1819  to  1821.  8.  James  H.  Weaver,  1856  to  1860. 

2.  James  J.  Pleasants,  1821  to  1824.  9.  Patrick  H.  Brittan,  1860  to  1865. 

3.  James  I.  Thornton,  1824  to  1834.  10.  Albert  Elmore,  1865  to  1866. 

4.  Edmund  A.  Webster,  1834  to  1836.  11.  David  L.  Dalton,  1866  to  1867. 

5.  Thomas  B.  Tunstall,  1836  to  1840.  12.  Micah  Taul,  1867  to  1869. 

6.  William  Garrett,  1840  to  1852.  13.  Charles  A.  Miller,  1869  to  1870. 

7.  Vincent  M.  Benham,  1852  to  1856.  14.  Jabez  Jackson  Parker,  1870 . 

COMPTROLLERS  OF  PUBLIC  ACCOUNTS. 

1.  Samuel  Pickens,  1819  to  1828.  5.  William  J.  Green,  1855  to  1865. 

2.  George  W.  Crabb,  1828  to  1835.  6.  M.  A.  Chisolm,  1865  to  1868. 

3.  Jefferson  C.  Van  Dyke,  1835  to  1847.  7.  E.  M.  Reynolds,  Auditor,  1868  . 

4.  Joel  Riggs,  1847  to  1855. 


*Governor  Moore  resigned  in  1830,  on  being  elected  to  the  Senate  of  the  United  States,  and 
the  balance  of  his  term  was  filled  by  the  Hon.  Samuel  B.  Moore,  of  Pickens,  as  President  of 
the  Senate. 

tGovernor  Clay  resigned  in  June,  1837,  on  being  elected  a  Senator  in  Congresst  and  the 
unexpired  term  was  served  by  the  Hon.  Hugh  Mcvay,  of  Lauderdale,  as  President  of  the 
Senate. 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  775 

STATE  TREASURERS. 

1.  Jack  F.  Ross,  1819  to  1821.  6.  William  Graham,  1847  to  1857. 

2.  John  C.  Perry,  1821  to  1829.  7.  Duncan  B.  Graham,  1857  to  1865. 

3.  Hardin  Perkins,  1829  to  1835.  8.  Lydal  B.  Saxton,  1865  to  1868. 

4.  William  Hawn,*  1835  to  1840.  9.  Arthur  Bingham,  1868  to  1870. 

5.  Samuel  G.  Frierson,  1840  to  1847.  10.  James  F.  Grant,  1870 . 

IV.    COURT  ROLL. 

Names  of  Judges  of  the  Supreme  Court,  Judges  of  the  Circuit  Court,  Attorney 
Generals  and  Solicitors  from  1819  : 

SUPREME  COURT. 

Judges.  Judges. 

1832 — Abner  S.  Lipscomb,  1850 — Silas  Parsons, 

1832— John  M.  Taylor,  1851— Daniel  Coleman, 

1832— Reuben  Saffold,  1852— David  G.  Ligon, 

1834— Harry  I.  Thornton,  1852— George  Goldthwaite, 

1834— Henry  Hitchcock,  1852— John  D.  Phelan, 

1834 — Arthur  F.  Hopkins,  1852 — Lyman  Gibbons, 

1836— Henry  W.  Collier,  1854— Samuel  F.  Rice, 

1837— John  J.  Ormond,  1856— A.  J.  Walker, 

1838— Henry  Goldthwaite,  1856— George  W.  Stone, 

1842— Henry  W.  Collier,  1858— Richard  W.  Walker, 

1842— Henry  Goldthwaite,  1860— Richard  W.  Walker, 

1842— John  J.  Ormond,  1863— John  D.  Phelan, 

1843— Clement  C.  Clay,  1865— A.  J.  Walker, 

1844— Henry  Goldthwaite,  1865— William  M.  Byrd, 

1847 — Edward  S.  Dargan,  1865 — Thomas  J.  Judge, 

1847— Henry  W.  Collier,  1868— E.  Woolsey  Peck, 

1848— William  P.  Chilton,  1868— Thomas  M.  Peters, 

1849— Silas  Parsons,  1868— B.  F.  Saffold. 

REPORTERS  OF  DECISIONS. 

1.  Henry  Minor,  1820  to  1826.  6.  J.  J.  Ormond,  1847  to  1849. 

2.  George  F.  Stewart,  1827  to  1831.          7.  N.  W.  Cocke,  1849  to  1851. 

3.  Stewart  &  Porter,  1832  to  1834.  8.  John  W.  Sheperd.  1852  to  1868. 

4.  Benjamin  F.  Porter,  1834  to  1839.        9.  John  L.  C.  Danner,  1868. 

5.  By  the  Judges,  1840  to  1847.  10.  Thomas  G.  Jones,  1869  . 

LIBRARIANS — SUPREME  COURT  LIBRARY. 

1.  James  S.  Albright,  1856  to  1860.          4.  Henry  L.  Taylor,  1866  to  1868. 

2.  Warren  D.  Brown,  1860  to  1865.  5.  Patrick  Ragland,  1868 . 

3.  Matthew  W.  Allen,  1865.  Junius  Moore  Riggs,  Assistant. 

FIRST  CIRCUIT. 

Judges.  »  Judges. 

1819— Abner  S.  Lipscomb,  1852— Andrew  B.  Moore, 

1825— Abner  S.  Lipscomb,  1857— William  M.  Brooks, 

1832— Ptolemy  Harris,  1858— Porter  King, 

1836— Ptolemy  Harris,  1861— Porter  King, 

1837— Ptolemy  Harris,  1865— B.  F.  Saffold, 

1841 — John  D.  Phelan,  1866 — John  Moore, 

1847— John  D.  Phelan,  1868— B.  L.  Wheelan, 

1850— John  D.  Phelan,f  1869— Milton  J.  Saffold. 


*Mr.  Hawn  resigned  April,  1840,  on  being  appointed  Cashier  *of  the  State  Bank,  and  the 
Executive  appointed  E.  F.  Comegye,  Esq..  Treasurer  until  December,  1840. 

tThe  Constitution  was  amended  in  1849  so  as  to  make  the  Judges  of  the  Circuit  Court,  and 
Judges  of  the  Courts  of  Probate,  elective  by  the  people.  The  first  election  for  this  purpose 
was lield  in  May,  1850. 


776 


Appendix  to 


Solicitors. 

1810— John  Gayle,  Jr., 
1821 — Eldridge  S.  Greening, 
1822 — John  Elliott, 
1822 — Thomas  Murray, 
1829— David  Crawford, 
1833 — Isaac  H.  Erwin, 
1837 — Benjamin  B.  Breedin, 
1840— William  M.  Brooks, 


Solicitors. 

1846— William  E.  Clarke, 
1852— Henry  C.  Lea, 
1854 — Young  L.  Royston, 
1855— R.  Gaillard, 
1856 — Young  L.  Royston, 
1859 — Young  L.  Royston, 
1865 — Young  L.  Royston, 
1865— Rufus  J.  Reid. 


SECOND    CIRCUIT. 


Judges. 

1819— Reuben  Saffold, 
1825— Reuben  Saffold, 
1833— John  S.  Hunter, 
183*5— Ezekiel  Pickens, 
1837— Ezekiel  Pickens, 
1843— Ezekiel  Pickens, 
1847— Nathaniel  Cook. 

Solicitors. 

1825— Henry  Guldthwaite. 
1828— Eli  Terry, 
1832— Jesse  Beene,' 
1832— James  B.  Clarke, 
1832— Henry  C.  Lea, 
1837— John  P.  Graham, 
1842— Thomas  J.  Judge, 
1843— Franklin  K.  Beck. 


Judges. 

1850— Ezekiel  Pickens. 
1852— Nathaniel  Cook, 
1859 — Nathaniel  Cook, 
1865 — Francis  Bugbee, 
1866— George  Goldthwaite, 
1868— J.  Q.  Smith. 

Solicitors. 

1848 — Alexander  B.  Forney, 
1848— Milton  J.  Saffold, 
1850 — James  A.  Stallworth, 
1855— C.  C.  Pegues, 
1859— R.  Gaillard, 
1865— Elmore  J.  Fitzpatrick, 
1866— Elmore  J.  Fitzpatrick 


THIRD    CIRCUIT. 


Judges. 

1819— Henry  Y.  Webb, 
1823— John  Gayle,  Jr., 
1825— John  Gayle,  Jr., 
1827 — Eli  Shortridge, 
1830— Henry  W.  Collier, 
1836 — Peter  Martin, 
1837 — Peter  Martin, 
1843 — Peter  Martin, 
1843— Walker  K.  Baylor, 
1844— Walker  K.  Baylor, 

Solicitors. 

1819 — Constantine  Perkins, 
1823 — Constantine  Perkins,* 
1848— William  S.  Mudd, 
1852— William  S.  Mudd, 
1856— Lucian  V.  B.  Martin, 
1856— Joseph  C.  Guild, 


Judges. 

1845—  Lincoln  Clark, 
1845 — George  D.  Shortridge, 
1850 — George  D.  Shortridge, 
1855 — Sydenham  Moore, 
1856— William  S.  Mudd, 
1862— William  S.  Mudd, 
1865— William  S.  Mudd, 
1866— William  S.  Mudd, 
1868—  William  S.  Mudd. 

Solicitors. 

1859— Benjamin  Wheelan, 
I860 — Newbern  H.  Brown, 
1864— Alberto  Martin, 
1865 — James  T.  Leeper, 
1865— Alberto  Martin. 


FOURTH    CIRCUIT. 


Judges. 

1819— Richard  Ellis, 
1825— John  White, 
1831— Joshua  L.  Martin, 
1835— George  Coafter, 
1837— Daniel  Coleman, 


Judges. 

1852— John  E.  Moore, 
1858— John  E.  Moore, 
1863— David  P.  Lewis, 
1864— John  D.  Martin, 
1864— William  B.  Wood, 


*During  the  interval  between  1825  rnd  1848,  the  duties  of  Solicitor  devolved  on  the  Attor 
ney-General. 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 


Ill 


Judges. 

1843— Daniel  Colcman, 
1847— Sidney  C.  Posey, 
1850 — Leroy  Pope  Walker, 

Solicitors. 

1819— Peter  Martin, 
1823— David  Hubbard, 
1827 — James  Davis, 
1827— Joshua  L.  Martin, 
1883 — William  Richardson, 
1885- — George  S.  Houston, 
1841— Edward  A.  O'Neal, 
1844— Richard  W.  Walker, 
1818— John  S.  Kennedy, 


Judges. 

1865— Sidney  C.  Posey, 
I860— William  B.  Wood, 
1868— James  S.  Clarke. 

Solicitors. 

1852 — Jon  S.  Kennedy, 
1856 — Nicholas  Davis,  Jr., 
1859— S.  A.  M.  Wood, 
I860— S.  A.  M.  Wood, 
1868— Edward  W.  Parker, 
1864 — Samuel  M.  Morrow, 
1865 — Samuel  M.  Morrow, 
1866 — Asa  Me  Alexander. 


FIFTH  CIRCUIT. 


1819- 
1823- 
1825- 
1882- 
1835- 
1841- 

1819- 
1823- 
1823- 
1827- 
1 828- 
1832- 
1837- 


Judges. 

-Clement  C.  Clay, 
-Henry  Minor, 
-John  M.  Taylor, 
-William  I.  Adair, 
-George  W.  Lane, 
-George  W.  Lane, 

Solicitors. 
-Joseph  Kastland, 
-A.  Hutchinson, 
-James  G.  Birney,* 
-James  M.  White, 
-Charles  Lewis, 
-William  Acklin, 
-William  Acklin,  Jr. 


Judges. 

1847— Thomas  A.  Walker, 
1850— Thomas  A.  Walker, 
1859— Smith  D.  Hale, 
1862 — William  J.  Haralson, 
1865 — William  J.  Haralson, 
1866 — W.  J.  Haralsoii. 

Solicitors. 

1845 — William  0.  Winston. 
1852 — James  M.  Adams, 
I860— W.  J.  Haralson, 
1862— John  B.  Walderi, 
1865— John  B.  Walden, 
1865— John  B.  Walden, 
1806 — William  M.  Lowe. 

C1KCU1T. 

Judges. 

1851 — Lyman  Gibbons, 
1852 — Lyman  Gibbons, 
1852— John  A.  Cuthbert, 
1858— Charles  W.  Rapier, 
1865— Charles  W.  Rapier, 
1868— John  Elliot. 

Solicitors. 

1S47— William  H.  Platt, 
1851 — Decatur  C.  Anderson, 
1855 — Robert  B.  Armstead, 
1859— Alpheus  Hurtel, 
I860— Leonard  T.  Summers, 
1802 — James  Bond, 
1866— George  W.  Bond. 


Jn<lg?s. 

1 82 1 — Anderson  Crenshaw, 
1 825 — Anderson  Creushaw, 
1833 — Anderson  Crenshaw, 
1836 — Anderson  Crenshaw, 
1889— John  P.  Booth, 
1843 — John  Bragg, 
1850— John  Bragg, 

Solicitors. 

1821 — Benjamin  Fitzpatrick, 
1825 — Benjamin  Fitzpatrick, 
1829— William  D.  Pickett, 
1832— Charles  Lewis, 
1837— John  P.  Booth, 
1839 — Francis  S.  Jackson, 
1842— John  Gill  Shorter, 
1844 — John  Edmund  Jones, 

SEVENTH    CIRCUIT. 

Judges.  Judges. 

1828— Sion  L.  Perry,  1853— Turner  Reavis, 

1833 — Samuel  Chapman,  1854 — Alex.  B.  Clitherall, 

1836 — Samuel  Chapman,  1854 — E.  W.  Pet  t  us, 

*Mr.  Birney  afterward  removed  to  the  State  of  New  York,  and  was  the  first  candidate 
brought  forward  by  the  Abolitionists,  as  a  party,  for  President  of  the  United  States  in  1844, 
when  he  received  about  52<000  votes,  including  enough  Whigs  to  lose  t,he  State  to  Mr.  Clay, 
.and  defeat  his  election. 

51 


778  A>>endix  to 


Judges.  Judges. 

1H37—  Samuel  Chapman,  1858—  A.  A.  Coleman, 

1843—  Samuel  Chapman,  1864—  A.  A.  Coleman, 

1840—  Samuel  Chapman,  1865—  James  Cobbs, 

1850—  William  R.  Smith,  1866—  James  Cobbs, 

1851—  Turner  Reavis,  1868—  Luther  R.  Smith. 

1852—  Bakus  W.  Huntington, 

Solicitors.  Solicitors. 

1828—  James  Davis,  1852—  Edmund  W.  Pettus, 

1833—  John  Rains,  1854—  Alfred  E.  Vanhoose, 

1833—  B.  N.  Glover,  1858—  Alfred  E.  Vanhoose, 

1837—  Gideon  B.  Frierson,  1860—  B.  G.  Ramsey, 

1841—  Charles  E.  B.  Strode,  1864—  Samuel  P.  Jones, 

1844—  Edmund  W.  Pettus,  1865—  Francis  P.  Snedicor, 

1840—  Henry  L.  Ward,  1866  Thomas  W.  Coleman. 
1850—  Daniel  Coggin, 

EIGHTH    CIRCUIT. 

Judges.  Judges. 

1833  -  John  W.  Paul,  1858—  John  Gill  Shorter, 

1836—  William  D.  Pickettr  1861—  John  Cochran, 

1837—  William  D.  Pickett,  1862—  John  Cochran, 

1838—  Abram  Martin,  1865—  J.  McCaleb  Wiley, 
1843—  George  Goldthwaite,  1866—  Henry  D.  Clayton, 
1850—  Goorge  Goldthwaite,  1868—  J.  McCaleb  Wiley, 
1852—  John  Gill  Shorter, 

Solicitors.  Solicitors. 

1838—  Jaines  B.  Belser,  1864—  James  M.  Arrington, 

1841—  Sampson  W.  Harris,  1865—  J.  H.  Gardner, 
1843—  Marion  A.  Baldwin,  1866—  James  M.  Arrington. 

1860—  James  M.  ATrington, 

NINTH   CIRCUIT. 

Judges.  Judges. 

1836—  Eli  Shortridge.  1862  -Robert  Dougherty, 

1843—  George  W.  Stone,  1865—  Robert  Dougherty, 

1849  -John  J.  Woodward,  1866—  Robert  Dougherty, 

1850  -Robert  Dougherty,  1868—  Littlebury  Strange. 
1856—  Robert  Dougherty, 

Solicitors.  Solicitors. 

1836—  Thomas  A.  Walker,  1857-John  J.  Woodward, 

1839—  William  B.  Martin,  1860—  John  G.  Stokes, 
1841—  Thomas  Gray  Garrett,  1863—  Joseph  R.  McDonald, 

1845—  Thomas  Gray  Garrett,              *    1865—  Joseph  R.  McDonald, 
1849—  Johnson  J.  Hooper,  1866—  Joseph  R.  McDonald. 
1853  -  John  J.  Woodward, 

TENTH   CIBCUIT. 

Judges.  Judges. 

1840—  Benjamin  F.  Porter,  1862—  John  T.  Heflin, 

1840—  William  Hale,  1865—  William  H.  Smith, 

1841—  Edward  S.  Dargan,  1866—  John  Henderson, 

1842—  John  Bragg,  1868—  Charles  Pelham. 

Solicitors.  Solicitors. 

1840—  Percy  Walker,  1865—  John  W.  Bishop, 

1861—  John  H.  Caldwell,  1866—  John  H.  Caldwell, 
1365—  John  H,  Caldwell,' 


Reminisdeiices  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  779 

ELEVENTH   CIRCUIT. 

Jadtjes.  Judges. 

I860— John  K.  Henry,  1868— Benjamin  F.  Porter, 

1865— J,  K.  Henry,  1868— Philomen  O.  Harper. 
18G6— John  K.  Henry, 

tioticitors.  Solicitors. 

1860— Reginald  H.  Dawson,  1865— M.  C.  Lane, 

1864— Reginald  H.  Dawson,  1866  -W.  B.  H.  Howard. 

TWELFTH   CIRCUIT. 

Judges. 

1867— Burwell  T.  Pope, 
1868— W.  L.  Whitlock. 

NOTE.— The  date  annexed  to  each  name  of  the  Judges  and  Solicitors  indicates 
'the  year  the  commission  was  issued.  The  Circuits  weie  often  changed  by  ad 
ding  or  detaching  counties,  and  for  many  years  the  Tenth  Circuit  was  absorbed 
altogether,  until  it  was  revived  in  1862.  After  1866  the  office  of  Solicitor  in  the 
Circuits  was  discontinued,  leaving  prosecutions  in  behalf  of  the  State  to  be  con 
ducted  by  the  County  Solicitors. 

NORTHERN    DIVISION. 

Chancellors.  Chancellors. 

1839— E.  Woolsey  Peck,  1853— A.  J.  Walker, 

1839— Alexander  Bowie,  1855— John  Foster, 

1845— David  G.  Ligon,  1865— John  Foster, 

1851— Eggleston  D.  Towns,  1866— S.  K.  McSpaddeu, 

1852— Eggleston  D.  Towns,  1868— William  Skinner. 

MIDDLE   DIVISION. 

Cuancdlors.  Chancellors. 

1841— Joshua  L.  Martin,  1863— John  E.  John, 

1845— James  B,  Clarke,  1865— W.  H.  Fellows, 

1845— Wylie  W.  Mason,  1865  -  J.  D.  Loornis, 

1852  -  James  B.  Clarke,  1868  -William  B.  Woods. 
1863 --William  M.  Byrd, 

SOUTHERN    DIVISION. 

Chancellors.  Chancellors. 

1839— Anderson  Crenshaw,  1853— Wade  Keyes, 

1845— Anderson  Crenshaw.  1856— N.  W.  Cocke, 

1847—  Joseph  Lesene,  1861— N.  W.  Cocke, 

1849—  Joseph  Leseue,  1865— N.  W.  Cocke, 

1853— Joseph  P.  Saffold,  1868— Adam  C.  Felder. 

1868 — B.  B.  McCraw,  Chancellor  Eastern  Division. 
1868— A.  W.  Dillard,  Chancellor  Western  Division. 

ATTORNEY-GENERALS. 

1819— Henry  Hitchcock,  1843— Thomas  D.  Clarke, 

1823— Thomas  White,  1847— William  H.  Martin, 

1827— Constantine  Perkins,  1847— Marion  A.  Baldwin, 

1831— Peter  Martin,  1851 —Marion  A.  Baldwin, 

1835  -Peter  Martin,  1855— Marion  A.  Baldwin, 

1836—  Alexander  B.  Meek,  1859  -Marion  A.  Baldwin, 

1836— John  D.  Phelan,  1865— John  W.  A.  Sanford, 

1839— Lincoln  Clark,  1868— Joshua  Morse, 

1839— Matthew  W.  Lindsay,  1870— John  W.  A.  Sanford. 

NOTE.  — For  many  years,  the  law  required  the  Attorney-General  to  act  as  So 
licitor  for  the  Circuit  in  which  the  Seat  of  Government  was  located. 


7SO  Appendix  i6 


V.   ROLL  OF  ATTORNEYS,  IN  1845. 

[X:\ines  in  italics  signify  Judges  of  the  County  Court,  ami  those  in  SMALL  CAPI 
TALS,  that  the  gentlemen  hail  been,  or  were  subsequently,  Judges  of  the  Supreme 
Court.] 

As  a  portion  of  the  chronicle  of  the  times,  it  is  believed  that  the  names  of 
members  of  the  Bar  in  Alabama,  as  shown  by  the  first  roll  ever  published  in  the 
State,  will  be  acceptable  to  readers  generally.  In  Congress,  and  in  State  legisla 
tion,  besides  the  judicial  department,  lawyers  have  always  been  prominent  actors, 
as  peculiarly  qualified  by  their  professional  training  and  experience,  for  such  em 
ployments. 

It  is  proper  to  say  that  the  roll  here  given  is  arranged  from  that  published  in 
the  "Supplement  to  the  Monitor,"  of  November  1,  1845,  containing  about  six 
hundred  names.  The  Judiciary  then  consisted — 

SUPREME    COURT. 

Hon.  Henry  W.  Collier,  of  Tuskaloosa,  Chief-Justice; 
Hon.  John  J.  Orinond,  of  Tuskaloosa,  Associate-Justice; 
Hon.  Henry  Goldthwaite,  of  Mobile,  Associate-Justice; 
James  B.  Wallace,  of  Tuskaloosa,  Clerk ; 
Thomas  D.  Clarke,  of  Tuskaloosa,  Attorney-General. 

CHANCELLORS. 

Anderson  Crenshaw,  of  Butler,  Southern  Division; 
James  B.  Clarke,  of  Greene,  Middle  Division; 
Alexander  Bowie,  of  Talladega,  Northern  Division. 

CIRCUIT   COURTS. 

Judges.  Solicitors. 

1.  JOHN  D.  PHELAN,  William  M.  Brooks, 

2.  E/ekiel  Pickens,  Franklin  K.  Beck, 

3.  Lincoln  Clark,  Thomas  D.  Clarke,  A.  G. 

4.  DANIHL  COLEMAN,  RICHARD  W.  WALKER, 

5.  George  W.  Lane,  William  0.  Winston, 
(5.  John  Bragg,  John  E.  Jones, 

7.  Samuel  Chapman,  Edmund  W.  Pet t us, 

8.  GEOUOE  GOLDTHWAITE,  Marion  A.  Baldwin, 

9.  GEORGE  W.  STONE.  Thomas  G.  Garret  t. 

UNITED   STATES    COURTS. 

Hon.  John  Mclyinley,  of  Florence,  Judge  of  the  Circuit  Court,  sitting  at  Mobile. 

Hon.  William  Crawford,  of  St.  Stephens,  Judge  of  the  District  Court,  sitting  at 
Hun^ville,  for  the  Northern  District,  B.  F.  Moore,  Clerk;  at,  TuskaJoosa, 
for  the  Middle  District,  Albert  G.  Gooch,  Clerk;  and  at  Mobile,  for  the 
Koutliorn  District,  John  Fitts,  Clerk. 

Willjiim  Arrnistead,  of  Greene,  Marshal  of  the  State. 

ATTORNEYS-AT-LAW,    1845. 

JTaxMS.  Towns.  Cfncnttca. 

Adams,  .James  M.  Warren  ton,  Marshall. 

Adams,  John  T.  Mobile,  Mobile. 

Adams,  Spencer  (Country),  Marem';o. 

AiUin,  Joliii  G.  Mobile,  Mobile. 

AltorJ,  Julius  C.  Tuskegce,  MJVCOM. 

Allison,  1'aschal  A.  Liifayette,  Chambers. 

Anderson,  D.  C.  Di-mopolis,  Marengo. 

Anderson,  J.  S.  C.  H.,  Clarke. 

Armstrong,  Robert  TUBOUinhiaj  Franklin. 


Ifaministiences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 


781 


Armstrong,  

Ashurst,  Merrill 
Askew,  John  II. 
Bagley,  Nathan  C. 
Bailey,  W. 
Bailey,  James  F. 
Baker,  Lambert  J. 
Baker,  James  N 
Baldwin,  Frederick 
Baldwin,  Marion  A. 
Baldwin,  Joseph  G. 
Baldwin,  Drury 
Ball,  George  C. 
Barclay,  Thomas  M. 
Barkley,  James  S. 
Barnes,  William  II. 
Barry,  George  L. 
Baugh,  Robert 
Beecher,  J.  T. 
Beck,  Franklin  K. 
Hell,  Davis  R. 
Bell,  William  A. 
Belser,  James  E. 
Beman,  Samuel 
Benners,  Augustus 
Benners,  Edward  G. 
Benton,  Joseph 
Bethea,  Tristram  B. 
Betts,  Thomas  H. 
Belts,  E.  G. 
Bierne,  George  P. 
Blanton,  Sanford  P. 
Bliss,  Jonathan 
Blount,  Fredericks. 
Blocker,  James  Y. 
Bowles,  Charles  E. 
Bowie,  Alexander 
Bowdon,  Franklin  Wr. 
Breedin,  B.  B. 
Brickell,  R. 
Bridges,  John  W. 
Bvevard,  T.  W. 
Broccus,  Perry  E. 
Brock,  James  T. 
Brown,  Jfenln/ 
Brown,  Edward 
Brooks,  William  M. 
Moiling.  James  M. 
Booth,  Jerome  A. 
Bryan,  William  J. 
Bryson,  E.  E. 
Bugbee,  Francis 
Buford,  Jefferson 
Buckalew,  W.  C. 
Bullock.  E. 
Burr,  WilHe  S. 
Byrd,  William 
BYRO,  WILLIAM  M. 
/iyi-n<:  Peter  E. 
Cain,  William  L. 


Lebanon, 

DeKalb. 

Montgomery, 

Montgomery. 

Salem, 

Russell. 

Ely  ton, 

Jefferson. 

Tompkinsville, 

Sumter. 

Marion, 

Perry. 

Jasper, 

Walker. 

Florence, 

Lauderdale. 

Mobile, 

Mobile. 

Montgomery, 

Montgomery. 

Gainesville, 

Sumter. 

Camel  en, 

Wilcox. 

Montgomery, 

Montgomery. 

Warrenton, 

Marshall. 

Claiborne, 

Monroe. 

Dadeville, 

Tallapoosa. 

Eufaula, 

Barbour. 

Lafayette, 

Chambers. 

Gainer's  P.  ()., 

Pike. 

Caimlen, 

Wilcox. 

Hayneville, 

Lowndes. 

Eutaw, 

Greene. 

Montgomery, 

Montgomery. 

Weturnpka, 

Coosa. 

Greensboro, 

Greene. 

Mobile, 

Mobile. 

Wedowee, 

Randolph. 

Camden, 

Wilcox. 

Sparta, 

Conecuh. 

Burnt  Corn, 

Monroe. 

Huntsville, 

Madison. 

Somerville, 

Morgan. 

Gainesville, 

Sumler. 

Gosport, 

Clarke. 

Mobile, 

Mobile. 

Mobile, 

Mobile. 

Talladega, 

Talladega. 

Talladega, 

Talladega. 

Mobile, 

Mobile. 

Athens, 

Limestone. 

Camden, 

Wilcox. 

Tuskegee, 

Macon. 

Florence, 

Lauderdale. 

Lafayette, 

Chambers. 

Kingston, 

Autauga. 

Carrollton, 

Pickens. 

Linden, 

Mar  en  go. 

Hayneville, 

Lowndes. 

Eufaula, 

Barbour. 

Jasper, 

Walker. 

Talladega, 

Talladega. 

Montgomery, 

Montgomery. 

Eufaula, 

Barbour. 

Dudleyville, 

Tallapoosa. 

Mobile, 

Mobile. 

Selma, 

Dallas. 

Tompkinsville, 

Sumler. 

Cahawba, 

Dallas. 

Blakely, 

Baldwin. 

Cedar  Bluff, 

Cherokee. 

782 


Appendix  fo 


Calhoun,  John  A. 
Cabiness,  S.  D. 
Campbell,  John  A. 
Campbell,  James  A. 
Carlton,  Montgomery 
Carson,  J.  W.  B. 
Cattalin,  S.  E. 
Chambers,  John 
Chamberlayne,  Henry 
Chamberlayne,  R.  R. 
Chandler,  Daniel 
Chapman,  Simeon  J. 
Cherry,  Robert  M. 
Chilton,  Thomas 
CHILTON,  WILLIAM  P. 
Childress,  J.  W.  L. 
Chisolm,  George 
Clancey,  John  E. 
Clarke,  Thomas  D. 
Clarke,  William  E. 
Clarke,  Philip  T. 

Clarke, 

CLAY,  CLEMENT  C. 
Clay,  Clement  C.,  Jr. 
Clay,  J.  Withers 
Clay,  H.  L. 

Clitherall,  Alexander  B. 
Clyde,  Robert  T. 
Crabb,  George  W. 
Crawford,  Hugh  N. 
Crawford,  Lorman 
Crawford,  Thomas  P. 
Craig,  James  D. 
Crenshaw,  Walter  H. 
Crommelin,  Charles 
Cochran,  John 
Cochran,  S.  George 
Cochran,  William 
Coggin,  Daniel 
Cocke,  N.  W. 
Colclough,  Richard  A. 
Colclough,  Bagenal 
Coleman,  Perez 
Coleman,  Walter  L. 
Coleman,  Wiley 
Cone,  Horace 
Con  way,  George 
Con  way,  T.  Howard 
Cook,  Lemuel 
Cook,  Nathaniel 
Cook,  Philip  H. 
Cook,  Jesse  H. 
Cook,  William  B. 
Cooper,  Aaron  B. 
Cooper,  Thomas  B. 
Cooper,  Lydan  B. 
Cooper,  William 
Cox,  George  S. 
Cox,  W.  H. 
Crocker,  E.  Alphonso 


Eufaula, 

Barbour. 

Huntsville, 

Madison. 

Mobile, 

Mobile. 

Jacksonville* 

Benton. 

Livingston, 

Sumter. 

Hayneville, 

Lowndes. 

Mt.  Sterling, 

Washington. 

Mobile, 

Mobile. 

Mobile, 

Mobile. 

Cahawba, 

Dallas. 

Mobile, 

Mobile. 

Eutaw, 

Greene. 

Montgomery, 

Montgomery. 

Marion, 

Perry. 

Talladega, 

Talladega. 

Mobile, 

Mobile. 

Montgomery, 

Montgomery. 

Jasper, 

Walker. 

Tuskaloosa, 

Tuskaloosa. 

Linden, 

Mar  en  go. 

Warrenton, 

Marshall. 

Carrollton, 

Pickens. 

Huntsville, 

Madison. 

Huntsville, 

Madison. 

Huntsville, 

Madison. 

Tuscumbia, 

Franklin. 

Pickensville, 

Pickens. 

Tuskaloosa, 

Tuskaloosa. 

Mobile, 

Mobile. 

Eufaula, 

Barbour. 

Mt.  Pleasant, 

Monroe. 

Pickensville, 

Pickens. 

Cahawba, 

Dallas. 

Manningham, 

Butler. 

Montgomery, 

Montgomery. 

Jacksonville, 

Benton.      ,  , 

Camden, 

Wilcox. 

Tuka%osa, 

Tuskaloosa. 

Cahawba, 

Dallas. 

Tuskegee, 

Macon. 

Montgomery, 

Montgomery. 

Montgomery, 

Montgomery. 

Montgomery, 

Montgomery. 

Montgomery, 

Montgomery. 

Eutaw, 

Greene. 

Cahawba, 

Dallas. 

Mobile, 

Mobile. 

Mobile, 

Mobile. 

Russellville, 

Franklin. 

Hayneville, 

Lowndes. 

Hayneville, 

Lowndes. 

Camden, 

Wilcox. 

Tuscumbia, 

Franklin. 

Claiborne, 

Monroe. 

Cedar  Bluff, 

Cherokee. 

Tuscumbia, 

Fra»klin. 

Tuscumbia, 

Franklin. 

Montgomery, 

Montgomery. 

Rockford, 

Coosa. 

Russellvflle, 

Franklin. 

Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 


783 


Crook,  James 
Camming,  J.  S. 
Cushman,  Ira 
Cuthbcrt,  John  A. 
Cuihbert,  John  C. 
Dansby,  Isaac 
Dansby,  Isham 
DAIIGAN,  EDWARD  S. 
Davis,  David  E. 
Davis,  Hugh 
Dawson,  L.  E. 
Dear,  Charles 
Deas,  James 
Defreese,  Bagnell  L. 
Dellet,  James 
Denmard,  Benjamin  Ft 
Dill,  Josiah 
Dillahunty,  Harvey 
Dougherty,  Robert 
Douthctt,  Ifcrbert  P. 
Downman,  Robert  L. 
Duncan,  Bryan 
Dunn,  William  D. 
Eastburn,  J.  E. 
Easton,  William  C. 
Karnest,  William  S. 
I-M wards,  Charles  G. 
Eiland,  Allen 
Kldridge,  G.  M. 
Elmore,  John  A. 
Klmore,  P.  R. 
Erwin,  John 
Estill,  William  II . 
Kviins,  Geoi-ge  R. 
Everett.  Horace,  Jr. 
Fair,  Elisha  Y. 
Fambro,  William  W. 
Felder,  Adam  C. 
Fellows,  William  H. 
Fields,  D.  Wallace, 
Fisher,  S.  Griffith 
Fitzpatrick,  B. 
Forbes,  Clement  C. 
Forney,  Alexander  B. 
Forney,  Daniel  P. 
Fleming,  J.  A. 
Forrest,  John  F. 
Foster,  G.  E.  W. 
Fox,  Addison 
Frairy,  W.  R. 
Frazer,  Micajah, 
Freeman,  0.  K. 
Frierson,  Gideon  B. 
Gaillard,  R. 
Garrett,  Thomas  Gray, 
Garrott,  Isham  W. 
Garrow,  William  M. 
Garvin,  Robert  M. 
Gayle,  John 
Gayle,  George  W, 


Marion, 

Monroeville, 

Geneva, 

Mobile, 

Mobile, 

Dayton, 

Tompkinsville, 

Mobile, 

Maplesville, 

Marion, 

Warrenton, 

Camden, 

Mobile, 

Centreville, 

Claiborne, 

Crawford, 

Huntsville, 

Florence, 

Tuskegee, 

Tnskaloosa, 

Selma, 

Crawford, 

Mobile, 

Mobile, 

Mobile, 

Ely ton, 

Cahawba, 

Midway, 

Church-Hill, 

Montgomery, 

Montgomery, 

Greensboro, 

Jacksonville, 

Cahawba, 

Gainesville, 

Montgomery, 

Cahawba, 

Montgomery, 

Selma, 

Livingston, 

Mobile, 

Troy, 

LaFayette, 

Hayneville, 

Jacksonville, 

Ashville, 

Elyton, 

(Country), 

Mobile, 

Mobile, 

Sumterville, 

Tuskegee. 

Livingston, 

Claiborne, 

Talladega, 

Marion, 

Mobile, 

(Country), 

Mobile, 

Selma, 


Perry. 

Monroe. 

Coffee. 

Mobile. 

Mobile. 

Marengo. 

Sumter. 

Mobile. 

Bibb. 

Perry. 

Dallas. 

Wilcox. 

Mobile. 

Bibb. 

Monroe. 

Russell. 

Madison. 

Lauderdale. 

Macon. 

Tuskaloosa. 

Dallas. 

Russell. 

Mobile. 

Mobile. 

Mobile. 

Jefferson. 

Dallas. 

Barbour. 

Lowndes. 

Montgomery. 

Montgomery. 

Greene. 

Butler. 

Dallas. 

Sumter. 

Montgomery. 

Dallas. 

Montgomery. 

Dallas. 

Sumter. 

Mobile. 

Pike. 

Chambers. 

Lowndes. 

Benton. 

St.Clair. 

Jefferson. 

Tuskaloosa. 

Mobile. 

Mobile. 

Sumter. 

Macon. 

Sumter. 

Monroe. 

Talladega. 

Perry. 

Mobile. 

Tuskaloosa, 

Mobile. 

Dallas, 


784 


Appendix  to 


Gayle,  William  W. 

Gates,  Alexander  R. 

Gibbs,  C.  R. 

GIBBONS,  LYMAN 

Gilchrist,  Archibald 

Gilchrist,  James  G. 

Gilkey,  L.  A. 

Gillies,  Calvin 

Gillespie,  Jacob 

Graham,  James  W. 

Graham,  N.  Smith 

Graham,  John  A. 

Graham,  Alexander 

Graham,  John  P. 

Graham,  Alexander 

Grasty,  George  S. 

Gray,  Joshua 

Green,  William  Harrison 

Greene,  Thomas 

Green,  James  M. 

Gresham,  Leroi/ 

Glover,  Philip  S. 
Goldthwaite,  John  R. 
Goodloe,  Benjamin  F. 
Goodwin,  George  J. 
Goodman,  Benjamin  L. 
Goree,  John  R. 
Guinn,  James  W. 
Gunn,  G.  W. 
Hair,  James 
Hale,  Samuel  A. 
Hale,  Stephen  P. 
Hall,  Daniel  E. 
Hamilton,  W.  R. 
Hamilton,  Samuel 
Hamilton,  Alexander  J. 
Hamilton,  Peter 
Hamilton,  Thomas  A. 
Hancock,  John  A. 
Harbin,  D.  S. 
Hardy,  James  M. 
Harris,  Sampson  W. 
Harris,  Stephen  W. 
Harris,  Nathan 
Harris,  Walter  B. 
Harvey,  John  G. 
Harvey,  William  P. 
Hayne,  Isaac  W. 
Hefflin,  John  T. 
Hefflin,  Robert  S. 
Hemphill,  Hiram 
Henley,  John  W. 
Henry,  John  K. 
Henri/,  William  C. 
Heydenfeldt,  Solomon 
Heydenfeldt,  Elcan 
Hill,  James  T. 
Hill,  Pleasant 
Billiard,  Henry  W. 
Hines,  William  A. 


Cahawba, 

Livingston, 

Columbiana, 

Mobile, 

Hayneville, 

Hayneville, 

Or  roll  ton, 

Sparta, 

Lebanon, 

Wetumpka, 

Wetumpka, 

Rockford, 

Eutaw, 

Marion, 

Marion, 

Columbiana^ 

Monroeville, 

Livingston, 

Sparta, 

Belletbrte, 

Dadeville, 

Livingston, 

Troy, 

Sparta, 

Tompkinsville, 

Lafayette, 

Marion, 

Wedowee, 

Tuskegoe, 

Livingston, 

Tuskaloosa, 

Eutaw, 

Mobile, 

Suggsville, 

Troy, 

Wedowee, 

Mobile, 

Mobile, 

Belleforte, 

Hayneville, 

Collerene, 

Wetumpka, 

Courtland, 

Montgomery, 

Girard, 

Greensboro, 

C.  H., 

Montgomery, 

Wedowee, 

Wedowee, 

Eufaula, 

Demopolis, 

Greenville, 

Centreville, 

Crawford, 

Dadeville, 

Livingston, 

Centreville, 

Montgomery, 

Marion, 


Dallas. 

Sumter. 

Shelby. 

Mobile. 

Lowndes. 

Lo  wndes. 
Pickens. 

Conecuh. 

DeKalb. 

Coosa. 

Coosa. 

Coosa. 

Greene. 

Perry. 

Perry. 

Shelby. 

Monroe. 

Sumter. 

Conecuh. 

Jackson. 

Tallapoosa. 

Sumter. 

Pike. 

Conecuh. 

Sumter. 

Chambers. 

Perry. 

Randolph. 

Macon. 

Sumter. 

Tuskaloosa. 

Greene. 

Mobile. 

Clarke. 

Pike. 

Randolph. 

Mobile. 

Mobile. 

Jackson. 

Lowndes. 

Lowndes. 
.  Coosa. 

Lawrence. 

Montgomery. 

Russell. 

Greene. 

Fayette. 

Montgomery. 

Randolph. 

Randolph. 

Barbour. 

Marengo. 

Butler. 

Bibb. 

Russell. 

Tallapoosa. 

Sumter. 

Bibb. 

Montgomery. 

Perry. 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama,. 


785 


Hinton,  Samuel  S. 
Hitchcock,  John  A. 
Hodge,  Eobert  C. 
Hoit,  Isaiah  D. 
Hoit,  Moses  F. 
Holman,  J.  T. 
Holcombe,  H.  L. 
HOPKINS,  AETHUB  F. 
Home,  Alexander  G. 
Hood,  John  R. 
Hooper,  George  D. 
Hoskins,  James  W. 
Houghton,  Frederick  B. 
Houston,  Samuel  S. 
Howard,  W.  B.  H. 
Hudson,  C.  D. 
Hudson,  Isaac 
Huckabee,  Robert  D. 
Humphreys,  D.  C. 
Hunter,  Erwin 
Hunter,  William 
Huntington,  Backus  W. 
Hutchinson,  Joseph  J. 
Inge,  Robert  S. 
Inge,  Samuel  W. 
Irwin,  James 
Irwin,  James 
Jackson,  Francis  S. 
Jenkins,  Joseph  D. 
Jewett,  O.  S. 
John,  Joseph  R. 
Johnson,  John  F. 
Johuson,  Robert  T. 
Johnson,  Richard  T. 
Johnson,  James  J. 
Johnson,  Francis 
Jones,  Augustus  W. 
Jones,  Elliott  P. 
Jones,  Egbert  B. 
Jones,  Jesse  R. 
Jones,  Josiah 
Jones,  Henry  C. 
Jones,  L.  M. 
Jones,  S. 
Jones,  E.  B. 
Jones,  John  Edmund 
Jones,  William  G. 
Jones,  Charles  L.  S. 
Jones,  Tignal  W. 
Jones,  Francis  H. 
Judge,  Hilliard  M. 
JUDGE,  THOMAS  J. 
Keller,  Thomas 
Kemp,  Thomas  M. 
Kenan,  Daniel  L. 
Kendall,  Thaddeus  E. 
Kendrick,  J.  J. 
Kennedy,  Lewis 
Kennedy,  John  S. 
Keyes,  W. 
King,  Alfred  B. 
King,  Edwin  P. 

52 


Cedar  Bluff, 

Cherokee. 

Mobile, 

Mobile. 

Marion, 

Perry. 

Livingston, 

Sumter. 

Livingston, 

Sumter. 

Prairie  Bluff, 

Wilcox. 

Selma, 

Dallas. 

Tuskaloosa, 

Tuskaloosa. 

Livingston, 

Sumter. 

Cahawba, 

Dallas. 

Lafayette, 

Chambers. 

Marion, 

Perry. 

Troy, 

Pike. 

Bairytown, 

Washington. 

Claiborne, 

Monroe. 

Bacon  Level, 

Eandolph. 

Greensboro, 

Greene. 

Greensboro, 

Greene. 

Decatur, 

Morgan. 

Sparta, 

Conecuh. 

Cahawba, 

Dallas. 

Tuskaloosa, 

Tuskaloosa. 

Montgomery, 

Montgomery. 

Livingston, 

Sumter. 

Livingston, 

Sumter. 

Florence, 

Lauderdale. 

Warrenton, 

Marshall. 

Montgomery, 

Montgomery. 

Camden, 

Wilcox. 

Mobile, 

Mobile. 

Union  Town, 

Perry. 

Greenville, 

Butler. 

Pickensville, 

Pickens. 

Troy, 

Pike. 

Camden, 

Wilcox. 

Camden, 

Wilcox. 

Sparta, 

Conecuh. 

C.  H., 

Fayette. 

Athens, 

Limestone. 

Kingston, 
Andalusia, 

Autauga. 
Covington. 

Eussellville, 

Franklin. 

Tuskegee, 

Macon. 

Union  Springs, 

Macon. 

Claiborne, 

Monroe. 

Mobile, 

Mobile. 

Mobile, 

Mobile. 

Tompkinsville, 

Sumter. 

Talladega, 

Talladega. 

Courtland, 

Lawrence. 

Eutaw, 

Greene. 

Hayneville. 

Lowndes. 

Tuscumbia, 

Franklin, 

Girard, 

Russell, 

Selma, 

Dallas, 

Sumterville, 

Sumter, 

Geneva, 

Coffee. 

Wetumpka, 

Coosa. 

Florence, 

Lauderdale, 

Athens, 

Limestone, 

Marion, 

Perry. 

Marion,  ? 

Perry, 

Appendix  to 


King,  John 
Kirksey,  Cicero  L, 
Kuox,  W.  W. 
Kyle,  W.  S. 

Lubuzan,  Bartholomew 
Lacy,  Robert 
Landsdell,  B.  C. 
Lapsley,  John  W. 
Lapsley,  William 
Lavison,  A. 
Lawr.  nee,  Oliver  J. 
Lawson,  Pinckney  B. 
Leachuian,  Robert 
Lea,  Henry  C. 
Lee,  Columbus  W. 
Leftwich,  John  T. 
Lenoir,  Isaac  W. 
Lesene,  Joseph  W. 
Leslie,  W.  P. 
Lewis,  James, 
Lewis,  Charles 
Lewis,  Robert  S. 
Lewis,  David  P. 
Lewis,  Ulysses 
LIGON,  DAVID  G. 
Ligon,  Wilson  G. 
Likens,  Thomas  M. 
Lindsay,  George  F. 
Lockett,  Napoleon 
Lockhart,  John 
Lockwood,  E. 
Loftin,  Albert  G. 
Lomax,  John  T. 
Lomax,  Tenant 
Lowrie,  J.  T. 
Lyle,  Matthew  A. 
Lynch,  William  E. 
Lyon,  Francis  S. 
Lyon,  Francis  H. 
Lyon,  George  G. 
Lyon,  John 
Maclin,  W.  J. 
Malone,  J.  W. 
Marrast,  Jennings  F. 
Marks,  Edward  W. 
Martin,  Abram 
Martin,  J.  H. 
Martin,  William  B. 
Martin,  Peter 
Martin,  Edward  W. 
Manning,  Amos  R. 
Manning,  WUliam  H. 
Massey,  George  P. 
May,  William  R. 
May,  Washington  T. 
Mays,  Thomas  S. 
McAfee,  G.  T. 
McClanahan,  J.  M. 
McClung,  James  W. 
McCrahan,  Charles  P> 
McDonald,  W.  E. 
McElvaine, — 


Linden, 

Marengo. 

Linden, 

Marengo. 

Talladega, 

Talladega. 

Wetumpka, 

Coosa. 

Mobile, 

Mobile. 

Ely  ton, 

Jefferson. 

Abbeville, 

Henry. 

Selma, 

Dallas. 

Selma, 

Dallas. 

Mobile, 

Mobile. 

Gainesville, 

Sumter. 

Marion, 

Perry. 

Eutaw, 

Greene. 

Marion, 

Perry. 

Union-Town, 

Perry. 

Dadeville, 

Tallapoosa. 

Cahawba, 

Dallas. 

Mobile, 

Mobile. 

Claiborne, 

Monroe. 

Jacksonville, 

Benton. 

Jacksonville, 

Benton. 

Marion, 

Perry. 

Moulton, 

Lawrence. 

Crawford, 

Russell. 

Moulton, 

Lawrence. 

Abbeville, 

Henry. 

Wedowee, 

Randolph. 

Mobile, 

Mobile. 

Marion, 

Perry. 

Marion, 

Perry. 

Mobile, 

Mobile. 

Livingston, 

Sumter. 

Demopolis, 

Marengo. 

Eufaula, 

Barb  our. 

Cedar  Bluff, 

Cherokee. 

Dadeville, 

Tallapoosa. 

Kingston, 

Autauga. 

Demopolis, 

Marengo. 

Demopolis, 

Marengo. 

Demopolis, 

Marengo. 

Turnbull, 

Monroe. 

Talladega, 

Talladega. 

Athens, 

Limestone. 

C.  H. 

Fayette. 

Selma, 

Dallas. 

Montgomery, 

Montgomery. 

Jacksonville, 

Benton. 

Jacksonville, 

Benton. 

Tuskaloosa, 

Tuskaloosa. 

Hayneville, 

Lowndes. 

Demopolis, 

Marengo. 

Troy, 

Pike. 

Marion, 

Perry. 

Missouri  P.  O. 

Pike. 

Warrenton, 

Marshall. 

Montgomery, 

Montgomery. 

Talladega, 

Talladega. 

Columbiana, 

Shelby. 

Huntsville, 

Madison. 

Tuskaloosa, 

Tuskaloosa. 

Cedar  Bluff, 

Cherokee. 

Tuskaloosa, 

Tuskaloosa 

Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 


787 


McGehee,  John  W. 
McGregor,  Henry  L. 
McConnico,  C.  R. 
McConnico,  C. 
McKeller,  J.  D.  W. 
McKinstry,  Alexander 
McLester,  W.  W. 
McMahon,  William  P. 
McMillan,  Neill  A. 
McReynolds,  John 
Merrill,  Allen  E. 
Meredith,  Reuben  A. 
Metcalf,  Jacob  R. 
Millener,  William  H. 
Minniece,  John  A. 
Mitchell,  Robert 
Mitchell,  P.  H. 
Moody,  Washington 
Montgomery,  H. 
Morris,  W.  W. 
Morrisette,  John 
Moore,  Andrew  B. 
Moore,  B.  F. 
Moore,  James  A. 
Moore,  John 
Moore,  Samuel  B. 
Moore,  George  F. 
Moore,  8.  D.  J. 
Moore,  Sydenham 
Morgan,  John  T. 
Morton,  James  B. 
Mudd,  William  S. 
Mundy,  Reuben 
Murphy,  Duncan  W. 
Murphy,  William  M. 
Nabors,  Zachariah 
Nash,  Preston  G. 
Nave,  Jesse  B. 
Neal,  David  C. 
Nesbitt,  Edward  D. 
Nicks,  B.  L. 
Nicholson,  Andrew  S. 
Nooe,  John  A. 
Norman,  Felix  G. 
Ntmnerly,  William 
Ogbourne,  William  H. 
Ogden,  Samuel  M. 
O'Neal,  Edward  A. 
Outlaw,  Joseph  W. 
Owens,  H.  F. 
PABSONS,  SILAS 
Parsons,  Lewis  E. 
Palmer,  David  B. 
Parke,  James  D. 
Pearson,  P.  E. 
Pearson,  Jacob 
Pearson,  James  M. 
PECK,  E.  WOOESET 
Pegues,  Christopher  C. 
Perkins,  Claudius  H. 
Perryman,  Alexander 
Perryman,  F.  M. 


Union  Town, 

Perry. 

LaFayette, 

Chambers. 

Greensboro, 

Greene. 

Livingston, 

Sumter. 

Warrenton, 

Dallas. 

Mobile, 

Mobile. 

Tuskegee, 

Macon. 

Courtland, 

Lawrence. 

Prarie  Bluff, 

Wilcox. 

Camden, 

Wilcox. 

Eufaula, 

Barbour. 

Gainesville, 

Sumter. 

Gainesville, 

Sumter. 

Summerville, 

Morgan. 

Gainesville, 

Sumter. 

LaFayette, 

Chambers. 

Glennville, 

Barbour. 

Tuskaloosa, 

Tuskaloosa. 

Arbecoochee, 

Randolph. 

Rockford, 

Coosa. 

Bell's  Landing, 

Monroe. 

Marion, 

Perry. 

Huntsville, 

Madison. 

Greensboro, 

Greene. 

Florence, 

Landerdale. 

Carrollton, 

Pickens. 

Talladega. 

Talladega. 

Tuskaloosa, 

Tuskaloosa. 

Eutaw, 

Greene. 

Talladega, 

Talladega. 

C.  H., 

Fayette. 

Elyton, 

Jefferson. 

Benton, 

Lowndes. 

Claiborne, 

Monroe. 

Greensboro, 

Greene. 

Carrollton, 

Pickens. 

Livingston, 

Sumter. 

Marion, 

Perry. 

Wetumpka, 

Coosa. 

Montgomery, 
Wedowee, 

Montgomery. 
Randolph. 

Union  Town, 

Perry. 

Tuscumbia, 

Franklin. 

Tuscumbia, 

Franklin. 

Auburn, 

Macon. 

Montgomery, 
Mobile, 

Montgomery. 
Mobile. 

Florence, 

Lauderdale. 

Cahawba, 

Dallas. 

Abbeville, 

Henry. 

Huntsville, 

Madison. 

Talladega, 
Greenville, 

Talladega. 
Butler. 

Troy, 

Pike. 

Talladega, 
Claiborne, 

Talladega. 
Monroe. 

Dadeville, 
Tuskaloosa, 

Tallapoosa. 
Tuskaloosa. 

Cahawba, 

Dallas. 

Tuskaloosa, 

Tuskaloosa. 

Sparta, 

Conecuh. 

Lamar, 

Randolph, 

788 


Appendix  id 


PETEES,  THOMAS  M. 
Pettus,  Edmund  W. 
Phelan,  James 
Phelan,  Joseph 
Phillips.  Matthew 
Phillips,  Philip 
Phillips,  William  S. 
Phillips,  Lawrence  D. 
Phillpot,  If. 
Rhillpot,  Benjamin  A. 
Pickett,  - 

Pickett,  Alexander  C. 
Pickett,  Bichard 
Pierce,  William  F. 
Pinson,  W. 
Platt,  William  H. 
Pope,  B.  F. 
Pope,  S.  L. 
Porter,  Benjamin  F. 
Portis,  John  W. 
Posey,  Sidney  C. 
Priest,  M. 
Presly,  A.  M. 
Probasco,  Samuel  W. 
Prince,  Oliver  H. 
Powers,  Joseph  D. 
Powers,  Terrell 
Price,  James  L. 
Primrose,  William  D. 
Pritchett,  Thomas  P. 
Pryor,  J.  W. 
Pryor,  Luke 
Pryor,  Luke 
Pugh,  James  L. 
Rapier,  Charles  W. 
Bather,  John  D. 
Reavis,  Turner 
Read,  Alfred  B. 
Rector,  Thompson  M. 
Reid,  John  C. 
Reese,  James  E. 
Reese,  Charles  S. 
Reeves,  John 
Reeves,  Stephen 
Reynolds,  Bernard  E. 
Rice,  Green  P. 
RICE,  SAMUEL  F. 
Rice,  H.  W.  W. 
Rice,  Jemison  W. 
Richards,  Evan  G. 
Richardson,  William 
Ringgold,  Thomas 
Rist,  Calvin 
Roach,  J.  J. 
Robertson,  John  C. 
Robertson,  Lemuel  B. 
Robinson,  Nelson 
Rolston,  John 
Rushing,  James  M. 
SAFFOLD,  REUBEN 
Sa/old,  A.  J. 
Saifold,  Joseph  B. 


Moulton, 

Lawrence1, 

Gainesville, 

Sumter. 

Marion, 

Perry. 

Tuskaloosa, 

Tuskaloosa. 

Lafayette, 

Chambers. 

Mobile, 

Mobile. 

Cahawba, 

Dallas. 

Livingston, 

Sumter. 

Somerville, 

Morgan. 

Somerville, 

Morgan. 

Suggsville, 

Clarke. 

Somerville, 

Morgan. 

Moulton, 

Lawrence. 

Eutaw, 

Greene. 

Tuskegee, 

Macon. 

Mobile, 

Mobile. 

Ashville, 

St.  Clair. 

Tuskegee, 

Macon. 

Tuskaloosa, 

Tuskaloosa. 

Suggsville, 

Clarke. 

Florence, 

Lauderdale. 

Moulton, 

Lawrence. 

Dadeville, 

Tallapoosa. 

Florence. 

Lauderdale. 

Demopolis, 

Marengo. 

Barrytown, 

Washington. 

CTT 
.    M. 

Clarke. 

Union  Town, 

Perry. 

Mobile, 

Mobile. 

Mobile, 

Mobile. 

Montgomery, 

Montgomery. 

Athens, 

Limestone. 

Decatur, 

Morgan. 

Eufaula, 

Barbour. 

Mobile, 

Mobile. 

Somerville, 

Morgan. 

Gainesville, 

Sumter. 

Girard, 

Russell. 

Bellefonte, 

Jackson. 

Kingston, 

Autauga. 

LaFayette, 

Chambers. 

Crawford, 

Russell. 

Wedowee, 

Randolph. 

Wedowee, 

Randolph. 

Warrenton, 

Dallas. 

Somerville, 

Morgan. 

Talladega, 

Talladega. 

Talladega, 

Tailadega. 

Clinton, 

Greene. 

LaFayette, 

Chambers. 

Athens, 

Limestone. 

Linden, 

Marengo. 

Clayton, 

Barbour. 

Turnbull, 

Monroe. 

LaFayette, 

Chambers. 

LaFayette, 

Chambers. 

Belleforte, 

Jackson. 

Mobile, 

Mobile. 

Bellmont, 

Sumter. 

Pleasant  Hill, 

Dallas. 

Cahawtta, 

Dallas. 

Montgomery, 

Montgomery. 

Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 


789 


Sale,  John  B. 
Bailee,  George  F. 
Sanders,  John  T, 
Sanders,  Francis  A. 
Saunders,  George  B. 
Sayre,  P.  T. 
Sayre,  E.  Sanford 
Sayre,  Daniel 
Saxon,  Lydell  B. 
Seawell,  Joseph 
Seawell,  Kiah  B. 
Seawell,  William 
Seibels,  John  J. 
Scott,  Louis  M. 
Scott,  Robert  T. 
Scruggs,  Henry  F. 
Sellers,  Calvin  C. 
Shearer,  Thomas 
Shearer,  W.  Waldo 
Simmons,  J.  A. 
Ship,  Willis  C. 
Shorter,  John  Gill 
Shorter,  Eli  S. 
Shortridge,  George  D. 
Sho waiter,  John  M. 
Skinner,  Cordy  N. 
Skinner,  William 
Smith,  E.  T. 
Smith,  William  R. 
Smith,  Washington  M. 
Smith,  Doiiglass 
Smith,  Nelson 
Smith,  Robert  H. 
Smith,  Stephen  U. 
Smith,  George  F. 
Smoot,  Joseph 
Smoot,  Joseph  II. 
Snedicor,  George  C. 
Spaight,  Ashley  W. 
Spear,  Charles  A. 
Spyker,  B.  H. 
Stanly,  Wright  C. 
Steiner,  John  G. 
Steele,  William  J. 
Sternes,  Henry  F. 
Sterrett,  Alphonso  A. 
Stewart,  George  N. 
Stith,  Henry 
Storrs,  Seth  P. 
Storrs,  John  S. 
Stone,  Charles 
Stone,  Louis  M. 
Strickland,  Barnebas 
Strickland,  B. 
Strambler,  S.  C. 
Strode,  Charles  E.  B. 
Strother,  Philip  S.  C. 
Tackett,  - 

Tannehill,  Pleasant  F. 
Taylor,  George 


Moulton, 

Lawrence. 

St.  Stephen's, 

Washington. 

Pikeville, 

Marion. 

Cahawba, 

Dallas. 

Livingston, 

Sumter. 

Clayton, 

Barbour. 

Montgomery, 
Talladega, 

Montgomery. 
Talladega. 

Wetumpka, 

Coosa. 

Mobile, 

Mobile. 

Mobile, 

Mobile. 

Selma, 

Dallas. 

Montgomery, 

Montgomery. 

Gainesville, 

Sumter. 

Bellefonte, 

Jackson. 

Livingston, 

Sumter. 

Camden, 

Wilcox. 

Blountsville, 

Blount. 

Livingston, 

Sumter. 

Newton, 

Dale. 

Bacon  Level, 

Randolph. 

Eufaula, 

Barbour. 

Eufaula, 

Barbour. 

Montevallo, 

Shelby. 

Dayton, 

Marengo. 

Russellville, 

Franklin. 

Russellville, 

Franklin. 

Jacksonville, 

Benton. 

C.  H., 

Fayette. 

Linden, 

Marengo. 

Mobile, 

Mobile. 

Carroll  ton, 

Pickens. 

Livingston, 

Sumter. 

Livingston, 

Sumter. 

Mt.  Sterling, 

Washington. 

Blakely, 

Baldwin. 

Mobile, 

Mobile. 

Eutaw, 

Greene. 

Cahawba, 

Dallas. 

Gaston, 

Sumter. 

Talladega, 

Talladega. 

Mobile, 

Mobile. 

Lafayette, 

Chambers. 

Gainesville, 

Sumter. 

Sparta, 

Conecuh. 

Kingston,  ' 

Autauga. 

Mobile, 

Mobile. 

Carrollton, 

Pickens. 

Wetumpka, 

Coosa. 

Montevallo, 

Shelby. 

Talladega, 

Talladega. 

Fairfield, 

Pickens. 

Wetumpka, 

Coosa. 

Burnsville, 

Dallas. 

Claiborne, 

Monroe. 

Livingston, 

Sumter. 

Livingston, 

Sumter. 

Warsaw, 

Sumter. 

Eutaw, 

Greene. 

Wetumpka, 

Coosa, 

790 


Appendix  to 


Taylor,  Joseph  W. 
Taylor,  Thomas  E. 
Taylor,  Wade  B. 
Test,  John 
Thompson,  J.  C. 
Thomas,  Bennett  B. 
Thomason,  Matthew  D. 
Thorington,  Jack 
THORNTON,  HARRY  I. 
Thustin,  Luther  T. 
Tompkins,  Henry  M. 
Torry,  Rufus  C. 
Trice,  Tazcwell  W. 
Townes,  Eggleston  D. 
Townes,  Samuel  A. 
Turnley,  M.  J. 
Turner,  Warren  H. 
Upson,  Lawrence 
Van  Epps,  Amos  C. 
Van  DeVort,  Joseph 
Vanhoose,  James  M. 
Vary,  Elbert  M. 
Vary,  John  F. 
Walker,  Leroy  Pope 
WALKER,  A.  J. 
Walker,  Thomas  A. 
Walker,  Milton 
Walker,  Percy 
WALKER,  RICHARD  W. 
Walker,  Thomas 
Waller,  Robert  B. 
Waller,  R.  L. 
Walthall,  L.  N. 
Walthall,  John  N. 
Walden,  George  S. 
Walton,  R.  Watkins 
Wallace,  James  B. 

Wade, 

Watts,  Thomas  H. 
Watson,  Henry 
Watson,  H.  P. 
Watkins,  R.  S. 
Watrous,  Daniel  E. 
Webb,  James  D. 
Webb,  William  P. 
Webster,  E.  A. 
Wetmore,  Thomas  B. 
Wilcox,  James 
Wiley,  J.  McCaleb 
Williams,  T.  M. 
Williams,  J.  S. 
Williams,  George  W. 
Williams,  Seaborn 
Williams,  Thomas,  Jr. 
Williams,  John  D.  F. 
Williams,  Johnson  C. 
Williams,  C.  Louis 
Williamson,  Benjamin 

Willis, 

Wilson,  B.  W. 


Eutaw, 

Greene. 

Marion, 

Perry. 

Jasper, 

Walker. 

Mobile, 

Mobile. 

Huntsville, 

Madison. 

Livingston, 

Sumter. 

Union  Town, 

Perry. 

Montgomery, 

Montgomery. 

Eutaw, 

Greene. 

Florence, 

Lauderdale. 

Clayton, 

Barbour. 

Claiborne, 

Monroe. 

Pikeville, 

Marion. 

Tuscumbia, 

Franklin. 

Marion, 

Perry. 

Cedar  Bluff, 

Cherokee. 

Union  Town, 

Perry. 

Marion, 

Perry. 

Eufaula, 

Barbour. 

Camden, 

Wilcox. 

Tuskaloosa, 

Tuskaloosa. 

Livingston, 

Sumter. 

Linden, 

Marengo. 

Moulton, 

Lawrence. 

Jacksonville, 

Benton. 

Jacksonville, 

Benton. 

Athens, 

Limestone. 

Mobile, 

Mobile. 

Athens, 

Dallas. 

Greensboro, 

Greene. 

Hayneville, 

Lowndes. 

Mobile, 

Mobile. 

Marion, 

Perry. 

Talladega, 

Talladega. 

Mobile, 

Mobile. 

Tuskaloosa, 

Tuskaloosa. 

Dayton, 

Marengo. 

Greenville, 

Butler. 

Greensboro, 

Greene. 

Talladega, 

Talladega. 

Russellville, 

Franklin. 

Montevallo, 

Shelby. 

Greensboro, 

Greene. 

Eutaw, 

Greene. 

Huntsville, 

Madison. 

Livingston, 

Sumter. 

Elyton, 

Jefferson. 

Eufaula, 

Barbour. 

Lowndesboro, 

Lowndes. 

Suggsville, 

Clarke. 

Abbeville, 

Henry. 

Tuskegee, 

Macon. 

Montgomery, 
Montgomery, 

Montgomery. 
Montgomery. 

Livingston, 

Sumter. 

Tuskaloosa,       ^ 

Tuskaloosa. 

Camden, 

Wilcox. 

Tuskegee, 

Macon. 

C.  H.,         ' 

Fayette. 

'jReminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 


791 


Wilson,  J. 

Winston,  William  0. 
White,  Alexander 
White,  Seymour  B. 
White,  John 
Whitehead,  Lemuel 
Whitfield,  Newton  L. 
Womack,  John  W. 
Womack,  John  H.  D. 
Wood,  William  B. 
Wood,  Sterling  A. 
Woodson,  Philip 
Woodward,  J.  J. 
Woodward,  T.  B. 
Woolsey,  B.  M. 
Wyche,  H.  H. 
Yancey,  W.  Lowndes 
Yelvcrton,  Gappa  T. 
Youny,  James  A. 
Young,  John  C. 


Geneva, 

Lebanon, 

Talladega, 

Abbeville, 

Bogue  Chitto, 

Gaston, 

Tuskaloosa, 

Eutaw, 

Warrenton, 

Florence, 

Florence, 

Warrenton, 

Talladega, 

Talladega, 

Mobile, 

Talladega, 

Wetumpka, 

Newton, 

Linden, 

Camden, 


Coffee. 

DeKalb. 

Talladega. 

Henry. 

Dallas. 

Sumter. 

Tuskaloosa. 

Greene. 

Dallas. 

Lauderdale. 

Lauderdale. 

Marshall. 

Talladega. 

Talladega. 

Mobile. 

Talladega. 

Coosa. 

Dale. 

Marengo. 

Wilcox. 


VI. 


TRUSTEES,  FACULTY,  AND  GRADUATES  OF  THE  UNIVERSITY 
OF  ALABAMA. 


TRUSTEES. 


Presidents  of  the  Board  (Governors  of  the  State}. 


Entrance.  Exit. 

1821  -Israel  Pickens,  1825 

1826— John  Murphy,  1829 

1829— Gabriel  Moore,  1831 

1831— John  Gayle,  1835 

1835— Clement  C.  Clay,  1837 

1837  -Arthur  P.  Bagby,  1841 
1841— Benjamin  Fitzpatrick,          1845 

1845— Joshua  L.  Martin,  1847 


Entrance. 

1847 — Reuben  Chapman, 
1849— Henry  W.  Collier, 
1853— John  A.  Winston, 
1858— Andrew  B.  Moore, 
1862— John  Gill  Shorter, 
1864— Thomas  H.  Watts, 
1866— Robert  M.  Patton, 


Members  of  the  Board  of  Trustees. 


1821— George  W.  Owen,  1825 

1821— Henry  Hitchcock,  1823 

1821— George  Philips,  1833 

1821— Jack  Shackleford,  1829 

1821— Hume  R.  Field,  1828 

1821— Nicholas  Davis,  1831 

1821— John  McKinley,  1823 

1821 — Thomas  Fearn,  1831 

1821— Henry  Minor,  1823 

1821— C.  C.  Billingslea,  1828 

1821— Robert  W.  Carter,  1823 

1823 — George  Buchanan,  1824 

1823— Boiling  Hall,  1826 

1823— Arthur  F.  Hopkins,  1824 

1823— David  Moore,  1828 

1823— Samuel  W.  Oliver,  1831 

1824— William  Crawford,  1828 

1824— James  Dellet,  1826 

1824— Thomas  Wooldridge,  1828 

1826— John  G.  Creagh,  1828 

1826— Nimrod  E.  Benson,  1831 

1828— John  Elliott,  1835 

1828— David  Hubbard,  1835 

J833— Thomas  Crawford,  1840 


1828— Henry  W.  Rhodes, 
1828— Dixon  H.  Lewis, 
1828— Quin  Morton, 
1828 — Jesse  Van  Hoose, 
1828— Thomas  Crawford, 
1829— Samuel  W.  Mardis, 
1830— Ptolemy  T.  Harris, 
1830— Jesse  W.  Garth, 
1830— J.  C.  Kirkpatrick, 
1831— John  B.  Hogan, 
1831— R.  B.  Walthall. 
1831— George  Starr, 
1831 — William  Richardson, 
1831— William  Acklin, 
1831— William  Hemphill, 
1831— John  Gindrat, 
1832— Benjamin  B.  Breedin, 
1832— Joab  Lawler, 
1832— William  H.  Musgrove, 
1833— Henry  C.  Lea, 
1833— James  Dellet, 
1833— Thomas  Riddle, 
1833— Jefferson  Buford, 
184§-Jolm  W,  Portis, 


Exit. 
1849 
1853 
1858 
1862 
1864 
1866 
1868 


1830 
1831 
1833 
1830 
1831 
1832 
1832 
1836 
1832 
1833 
1833 
1833 
1833 
1843 
1833 
1833 
1833 
1835 
1833 
1836 
1836 
1836 
1840 
185Q 


792 


Appendix  to 


Entrance. 

1833— J.  S.  Devereux, 
1833— Thomas  Kinggold, 
1833— Samuel  S.  Earle, 
1833- -Thomas  S.  Mays, 
1833— J.  W.  Womack, 
1835— Thomas  Gaillard, 
1836— William  D.  Stone, 
1836 — James  E.  Sanders, 
1836— Lewis  Womack, 
1836— Francis  Bugbee, 
1836 — L.  B.  Robertson, 
1836— J.  H.  Draughan, 
1836— Edwin  D.  King, 
1836— Daniel  P.  Bestor, 
1836— John  B.  Evans, 
1836— T.  M.  Rector, 
1836— John  L.  Hunter, 
1836— Charles  D.  Conner, 
1836— Aaron  Shannon, 
1836— George  Hill, 
1837— Robert  M.  Patton, 
1837— James  Meredith, 
1837 — John  Cochran, 
1840— D.  M.  Murphy, 
1840— Lorman  Crawford, 
1840— D.  H.  Norwood, 
1840 — James  Somerville, 
1840— John  A.  Nooe, 
1840— W.  H.  Crenshaw, 
1840— Edward  Baptist, 
1840— James  M.  Beckett, 
1840— L.  E.  Pearson, 
1840— Thomas  A.  Walker, 
1840— Isaac  H.  Erwin. 
1840 — Egbert  J.  Jones, 
1840— Francis  M.  Roby, 
1843— John  J.  Ormond, 
1843— H.  Goldthwaite, 
1843— Walker  K.  Baylor, 
1843— James  A.  Tait, 
1843— Robert  T.  Scott, 
1844— Benjamin  F.  Porter, 
1845— Felix  G.  Norman, 


Exit.  Entrance.  Exit. 

1836  1846— John  W.  Bridges,  1847 

1836  1846— James  Guild,  1855 

1836  1846— Daniel  E.  Watrous,  1859 

1835  1848— William  P.  Chilton,  1858 

1835  1848  -Edward  S.  Dargan,  1852 

1836  1848— Alexander  Bowie,  1852 
1840  1849— Charles  S.  Jones,  1851 
1840  1850— Joseph  D.  Jenkins,  1853 

1836  1850— Leroy  P.  Walker,  1852 
1859  1852— George  Goldthwaite,  1856 
1847  1852— David  G.  Ligon,  1855 

1840  1852 -John  D.  Phelan,  1858 

1852  1852— John  N.  Malone,  1861 
1843  1852— William  H.  Forney,  1857 

1837  1852— George  R.  Hendree,  1853 

1841  1853— Lyman  Gibbons,  1857 
1843  1853— Basil  Manly,  1858 
1837  1853— Edward  B.  King,  1858 
1840  1853— Turner  Reavis,  1860 
1840  1855— Samuel  F.  Rice,  1863 
1843  1856— A.  J.  Walker,  1868 
1840  1856— Edward  Baptist,  1868 
1840  1856— Richard  W.  Walker,  1861 
1843  1856— George  W.  Stone,  1865 
1943  1856— Felix  Tait,  1861 
1843  1855— John  J.  Ormond,  1859 

1842  18sl— John  W.  Portis,  1857 

1843  1854— M.  L.  Stansel,  1857 
1843  1854— M.  C.  Blanchard,  1859 
1843  1857— N.  H.  Browne,  1863 

1853  1858— James  D.  Webb,  1863 
1843  1858— J.  S.  Storrs,  1859 
1843  1865— Porter  King,  1868 
1843  1865— W.  S.  Mudd,  1868 

1843  1865— James  H.  Fitts,  1868 

1844  1865— Robert  Jemison,  1868 
1847  1865— William  M.  Byrd,  1868 
1847  1865— William  G.  Clarke,  1868 

1845  1865— Thomas  J.  Judge,  1867 
1845  1865— Z.  F.  Freeman,  1867 
1850  1865— A.  M.  Gibson,  1867 
1845  1865— John  T.  Foster,  1868 
1849 


PRESIDENTS   OF  THE   FACULTY. 

1831  Rev.  Alva  Woods,  D.  D.  1837 

1837  Rev.  Basil  Manly,  D.  D. 

Landon  C.  Garland,  LL.  T>'. 
1868  W.  S.  Wyman,  M.  A.  1868 

PBOFESSOBS. 

Of  Mathematics,  Natural  Philosophy,  and  Astronomy. 

1831  Gurdon  Sajtonstall,  M.  A,  1833 

1831  William  W.  Hudson,  M.  A.  1837 

1837  Frederick  A.  P.  Barnard,*  M.  A.  1849 

1849  Landon  C.  Garland,  LL.  D. 

William  J.  Vaughan,  A.  M. 

George  Benaugh,  A.  M. 

Robert  K.  Hargrove,  A.  M. 

Rev.  J.  DeF.  Richards,  (acting  President,  1869-70). 

N.,  ft,  Chambliss,  (resigned  July  30,  1870), 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  793 

Entrance.  Exit. 

Of  Moral  and  Mental  Philosophy. 

1831  Eev.  Alva  Woods,  D.D.  1837 

1837  'Kev.  Basil  Manly,  D.D. 

1849  L.  C.  Garland,  LL.D. 

Of  Chemistry,  Mineralogy,  and  Geology. 

1831  John  F.  Wallis.  1834 

1834  Richard  T.  Brumby,  M.A.  1847 

1840  Frederick  A.  P.  Barnard,  M.A. 
Michael  Tourney. 

John  W.  Mallet. 

Of  Ancient  Languages  and  Literature. 

1831  Henry  Tutwiler,  M.A.  *  1836 

1837  Samuel  M.  Stafford,  M.A. 

1849  W.  G.  Eichardson.JVI.A.,  adjunct.  1850 

William  S.  Wyman,  M.A. 

Archibald  J.  Battle. 
1869  J.  C.  Loomis.  1870 

Of  English  Literature. 

1831  Bev.  Henry  W.  Hilliard,  M.A.  1833 
1837                                      Eev.  Horace  Southworth  Pratt,  M.A.                        1840 

1841  Kev.  Edward  D.  Sims,  M.A.  1845 

1847  Frederick  W.  Thomas.  1848 

1848  Landon  C.  Garland,  LL.D.  1849 

1849  Wilson  G.  Kichardson,  M.  A.,  adjunct.  1850 
1856  Eev.  John  Wood  Pratt,  M.A. 

1869  Eev.  W.  J.  Callans.  1870 

1869  V.  H.  Vaughan.  1870 

Of  Modern  Languages. 

1832  Sauveur  F.  Bonfils,  M.A.  1836 

1842  James  C.  Dockery,  M.A.  1850 
1853                                      Emanuel  V.  Scherb,  M.A.  1853 

Andre  Deloffre.  1865 

1865  J.  W.  Mallet. 

Commandants. 
Caleb  House. 
J.  T.  Murfee. 
1869  W.  K.  McConnell.  1870 

TTJTOBS. 

1831  Calvin  Jones,  B.  A.  1833 

1837  John  McLouglin  Smith,  B.A.  1838 

1837  Calvin  Pearson,  1838 

1837  ArnoldusV.  Brumby,  M.A.  1840 

1830  Sterling  S.  Sherman,  M.A.  1841 

1840  William  J.  Whiting,  B.A.  1841 

1841  George  S.  Walden,  M.A,  1844 
1841  Joshua  H.  Foster,  M.A.  1844 
1844  John  G.  Barr,  M.A.  1846 
1844  James  Somerville,  M.A.  1846 
1846  Eobert  S.  Gould,  M.  A.  1849 
1846  Wilson  G.  Eichardson,  M.A.  1849 
1840  Joshua  H.  Foster,  M.A.  1850 

1850  William  E.  Fleming,  B.A.  1850 

*Upon  the  reorganization  of  the  Faculty  of  the  University,  in  1868,  this  fine  scholar  and  em 
inent  citizen  was  elected  President;  but,  to  the  regret  of  the  friends  pj  the  UniYemty,  he 
declined  to  accept. 

53 


794 


Appendix  to 


Entrance. 

1850 

1850 

1850 

1851 

1855 

1853 

1860 

1862 

1863 


George  Benaugh,  M.A. 
Archibald  J.  Battle,  M.A. 
Charles  F.  Henry,  M.A. 
MilfordF.  Woodruff,  M.A. 
William  S.  Wyman,  M.A. 
Andre  Doloffre. 
W.  C.  L.  Kichardson,  M.A. 
H.  M.  Sommerville,  M.A. 
B.  F.  Meek,  M.A. 

GRADUATES. 


Exit. 
1852 
1851 
1852 
1852 


1865 
1865 
1865 


1832. 


1837. 


Johii  A.  Nooe,  M.A.,          Franklin  Co.     Joseph  D.  Jenkins,  M.A.,        Cam  den. 
1833.  1838. 


Marion  Banks,  M.A.,  Tuskaloosa. 

Francis  C.  D.  Bouchelle,  M.A.,        Ga. 
John  G.  Davenport,  M.A.,  Texas. 

William  Woolsey  King,  M.A.,  La. 

Kev.  Robert  B.  McMullen,  M.  A. .  Tenn. 
Alexander  B.  Meek,  M.A.,  Mobile. 

Geo.  D.  Shortridge,  M.A.,    Montevallo. 

1834. 

James  F.  Failey,  M.  A. ,  Perry  Co. 

Clement  C.  Clay,  M.A. ,  Huntsville. 

Wm.  A.  Cochran,  M.A.,  Tuskaloosa. 
Walter  H.  Crenshaw,  M.  A. ,    Butler  Co. 

Isham  H.  Kelly,  M.A.  Pickens  Co. 

James  H.  Mastin,  Huntsville. 

Wm.  S.  Parham,  M.A.,  Lawrence  Co. 

Thos.  M.  Peters,  M.A.,  Lawrence  Co. 

J.  B.  Bead,  M.A.  M.D.,  Tuskaloosa. 

John  McL.  Smith,  Lawrence  Co. 


Chas.  W.  Tait,  M.A.  M.D., 
1835. 


Texas. 


M.  A.  Baldwin,  M.A.,  Montgomery. 
George  W.  Gaines,  Tuskahoma. 

William  B.  Inge,  M.A.,  Greene  Co. 
Geo.M.  Merriwether,  Montgomery  Co. 
John  E.  Moore,  Lauderdale  Co. 

Reuben  E.  Powe,  Miss. 

Eggleston  D.  Townes,       Franklin  Co. 

1836. 

Franklin  W.  Bowdon,  M.A. ,  Texas. 
Walter  L.  Coleman,  Montgomery. 
John  H.  Marr,  Tuskaloosa. 

Washington  D.  Miller,  M.A.,  Texas. 
Andrew  L.  Pickens,  M.A.,  Greene  Co. 


Oran  M.  Roberts, 
James  G.  Sheppard, 
George  W.  Tate, 
Elijah  C.  Wallis, 
James  W.  Wallis, 
James  D.  Webb,  M.A.4 


Texas. 

Texas. 

Dallas  Co. 

Pickens  Co. 

Pickens  Co. 

Greene    Co. 


Alex.  B.  Forney,  M.A.,  Lowndes  Co. 
Jas.  C.  Foster,  M.A. ,  Tuskaloosa  Co. 
John  T.  Foster,  M.A.,  Tuskaloosa  Co. 
Ezekiel  Henry,  M.A. 
Oliver  J.  Lawrence,  M.A,,  Gainesville. 
Claudius  G.  Rives,  M.A.,  Lowndes  Co. 
Samuel  H.  Rives,  M.A.  M.D.,  La. 

A.  B.  Stevens,  M.A.  M.D.,  Autauga  Co. 

1839. 

Samuel  L.  Cresswell,  M.A.,  Greene  Co. 
Rev.  J.  H.  Foster,  M.A.,  Tuskaloosa. 
Richard  Furman,  M.A.,  Selma. 

W.  H.  Ogborne,  M.A.,  Montgomery  Co. 
Rev.  T.  Y.  Ramsey,  M.A.,  Summerfield. 
Richard  H.  Ricks,  M.A.,  Franklin  Co. 
David  H.  Robinson,  Miss. 

Young  L.  Royston,  Perry  Co. 

Henry  L.  Rugely,  Macon  Co. 

Lewis  M.  Stone,  M.A.,          Carrollton, 

1840. 

Wm.  B.  Billingslea,  Montgomery. 

Alex.  L.  Blackborn,  Madison  Co. 

S.  B.  Johnston,  M.A.  M.D.,  Pickens  Co. 
J.  W.  Meek,  M.A.  M.D.,  Carrollton. 
Rev.  E.  B.  Teague,  M.A.,  Sumter  Co. 
Lewis  S.  Thomas,  M.A.,  New  York. 
John  W.  Walthall,  M.A.,  Perry  Co. 
Thos.  M.  Walthall,  Perry  Co. 

Thos.  N.  Wood,  Tuskaloosa. 

1841. 

John  G.  Barr,  M.A.,  Tuskaloosa. 

Felix  G.  Christmas,  Clarke  Co. 

Benj.  F.  Cochran,  Tuskaloosa. 

Thos.  P.  Crawford,  M.  A.,  La. 

Alex.  R.  Gates,  M.A.,  Greene  Co. 

Edward  B.  King,  M.A.,  Selma. 

Leonidas  N.  Walthall,  Perry  Co. 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 


795 


1842. 

Rev.  John  F.  Dagg,  M.A.,  Penfield,  Ga. 
Joseph  C.  Guild,  M.A.,  Tuskaloosa. 
John  T.  Lowe,  M.A.,  M.D.,  Miss. 

Richard  Furman,  Marengo  Co. 

Claudius  IT.  Perkins,  Tuskaloosa. 

James  Somerville,  M.A.,  Miss. 

1848. 

Henry  E.  Brooks,  M.A.,  Greene  Co. 
Rev.  Charles  E.  Crenshaw,  Butler  Co. 
Frederick  W.  Crenshaw,  Butler  Co. 

Samuel  B.  Jones,  Miss. 

Rev.  Basil  Manly,  Jr.,  M.A.,  Va. 

Austin  W.  Richardson,  M.A.,  Miss. 
Warfield  C.  Richardson,  M.A.,  Camden. 
Martin  L.  Stansel,  M.A.,  Carrollton. 
Felix  Tait,  M.A.,  Wilcox  Co. 


1844. 

William  A.  Battle,  M.A., 
William  H.  Forney,  M.A., 
Robert  S.  Gould,  M.A., 
William  C.  Hill,  LL.B., 
John  G.  Huckabee, 
Richard  II.  Lee,  M.A., 
George  LaFayette  Mason, 
LaFayette  M.  Minor, 
B.  B.  Poellnitz,  M.A.,  M.D. 
Rev.  John  W.  Pratt,  M.A. 
Richard  W.  Rawdon, 
W.  G.  Richardson,  M.A., 
John  L.  Smith,  M.A., 
Matthew  W.  Steel. 
Rev.  William  A.  Stickney, 
John  P.  Wallace, 
James  Welch,  M.A., 
Hampton  S.  Whitfield, 

1845. 


Tuskaloosa. 

Jacksonville. 

Texas. 

Talladega  Co. 

Marion. 

Perry  Co. 

Wetumpka. 

Greene  Co. 

,  Marengo  Co. 

Talladega  Co. 

Tuskaloosa. 

Livingston. 

Htmtsville. 
Marion. 

Tuskaloosa. 
Talladega  Co. 

Tuskaloosa. 


Noah  A.  Agee,  M.A.,  Claiborne. 

Jonathan  Buck,  M.A.,  M.D.,  Miss. 

Rufus  H.  Clement,  M.A.,  Tuskaloosa. 
Rev.  John  S.  Cleveland,  M.A.,  Texas. 
Chelsea  M.  Cook,  M.A.,  Tuskaloosa. 
LaFayette  Guild,  M.A.,  M.D.,  Texas. 
John  D.  Johnston,  Tuskaloosa. 

Samuel  S.  Murphy,  Greene  Go. 

Benjamin  F.  Saffold,  M.A.,  Dallas  Co. 
John  F.  Steel,  Huntsville. 

1846. 

Edwin  A.  Archibald,  M.A.,  Pick  ens  Co. 
Rev.  J.  K.  Armstrong,  M.A.,  Marion. 
Rev.  A.  J.  Battle,  M.A.,  Tuskegee. 


Newbern  H.  Browne,  M.A 

.,    Tuskaloosa. 

Francis  C.  Capel,  M.A., 

Miss. 

John  D.  Carpenter, 

Greene  Co. 

Rev.  D.  C.  B.  Connerly, 

Pickens  Co. 

Origen  C.  Hall, 

Mobile. 

A.  LaF.  Haralson,  M.A., 

Autauga  Co. 

Archibald  H.  Hope,  M.A. 

,      Clarke  Co. 

Thomas  J.  Molton,  M.A., 

Montgomery. 

Enoch  Morgan,  M.A., 

Eutaw. 

Isaiah  J.  Morris,  M.A., 

Chambers  Co. 

Francis  M.  Prince,  M.D., 

Marengo  Co. 

George  W.  Rives,  M.A., 

Lowndes  Co. 

Rev.  E.  R.  Ware,  M.A., 

Jacksonville. 

Maximilian  B.  Wellborn,  M.A.,  Eufaula. 
1847. 

James  0.  Banks,  M.A.,  M.D.,  Mobile. 
James  I.  Bonner,  M.A.,  M.D.,  Dallas  Co. 
Isaiah  C.  Brown,  M.A.,  Livingston. 
Rev.  P.  E.  Collins,  M.A.,  Talladega. 
Louis  J.  Deupree,  M.A.,  Tenn. 

John  A.  Foster,  M.A.,  Miss. 

Joshua  W.  Foster,  M.A.,  Tuskaloosa  Co. 
John  H.  Fitz,  M.A.,  M.D.,  Tuskaloosa. 
E.  J.  Fitzpatrick,  M.A.,  Montgomery. 
James  A.  Fountain,  Dallas  Co. 

Thomas  S.  Gray,  M.A.,  Tuskaloosa  Co. 
Charles  F.  Henry,  M.A.,  M.D.,  Mobile. 
Thomas  H.  Herndon,  M.A.,  Mobile. 
William  D.  King,  Perry  Co. 

Leonidas  Martin,  California. 

Thomas  W.  Oliver,  M.A.,  Montgomery. 
Richard  B.  Owen,  M.A.,  Mobile. 

George  Washington,  M.A.,     Sumter  Co. 

1848. 

Abner  A.  Archibald,  M.A.,  Eutaw. 

John  N.  Carpenter,  Carrollton. 

A.  C.  Davidson,  M.A.,  Marengo  Co. 
William  R.  Fleming,  Greene  Co. 

J.  R.  Fleming,  M.A.,  M.D.,  Greene  Co. 
R.  S.  Foster,  M.A.,  M.D.,  Tuskaloosa  Co. 
Andrew  Glassell,  Mobile. 

R.  T.  Meriwether,  M.A.,  Tuskaloosa  Co. 
William  S.  Penick,  Wetumpka. 

Thaddeus  H.  Perry,  Pickens  Co. 

Rev.  George  W.  Price,  M.A.,  Fla. 

William  Saffold,  Texas. 

Milford  F.  Woodruff,  M.A.,  Tuskaloosa. 

1849. 

William  B.  Augustus,  Miss. 

Charles  E.  Bridges,  Mobile. 

Charles  M.  Buford,  M.A.,  Camden. 

Walter  Cook,  Hayneville. 

James  H.  Fitz,  M.A.,  Tuskaloosa. 

P.  Fitzpatrick,  M.A.,  M.D.,  Autauga  Co. 


796 


Appendix  to 


Felix  G.  Henley,                                Miss. 

Thomas  J.  Patton,                   Greene  Co. 

Manley  L.  Hester,  M.A.,  M.D.,     Texas. 

Roscoe  Peck,                           Tuskaloosa. 

Peter  F.  Hunley,                   Lowndes  Co. 

William  H.  C.  Price,               Tuskaloosa. 

Andrew  J.  Jenkins,                 Wilcox  Co. 

William  A.  Wynne,                  Greene  Go. 

Edward  L.  Jones,                            Texas. 

Lucian  V.  B.  Martin,  M.A.,  Tuskaloosa. 

1853. 

Alburto  Martin,                      Pickens  Co. 

Samuel  M.  Meek,  M.A.,                   Miss. 

Robert  W.  Adams,                  Pickens  Co. 

John  Moore,                                  Marion. 

John  M.  Bonner,                     Pickens  Co. 

John  M.  Owen,  M.A.,                   Mobile. 

Thomas  G.  Chilton,                    Tuskegee. 

Thomas  B.  Slade,  M.A.,      Cherokee  Co. 

James  0.  A.  Clopton,               Macon  Co. 

Augustus  Tomlinson,  M.A.,       Camden. 

William  C.  Cleveland,               Dallas  Co. 

Franklin  0.  Dailey,                           Miss. 

1850. 

David  L.  Foster,                                Miss. 

George  W.  Foster,          »  Tuskaloosa  Co. 

Thomas  F.  Bugbee,  M.A.,  Montgomery. 

William  A.  Gunter,         Montgomery  Co. 

Carter  H.  Cleveland,  M.A.,            Selma. 

Philip  B.  McLemore,                     Eutaw. 

Morgan  S.  Cleveland,  M.A.,          Selma. 

Edward  Q.  Thornton,                  Eufaula. 

Ira  G.  Deason,                          Jonesboro. 

William  J.  West,                     Pickens  Co. 

John  L.  De  Yampert,                 Perry  Co. 

Charles  W.  Williams,             Haynesville. 

Rev.  William  S.  Foster,                  Texas. 

John  T.  Yerby,                  Tuskaloosa  Co. 

Ebenezer  P.  Gould,  M.A.,     Montevallo. 

John  J.  Hawthorn,                Conecuh  Co. 

1854. 

William  T.  King,                     Tuskaloosa. 

John  A.  Marshall,                   Wilcox  Co. 

John  W.  Bishop,                  Talladega  Co. 

John  S.  Meriwether,  M.A.,    Greene  Co. 

Taul  Bradford,                     Talladega  Co. 

J.  J.  Ormond,  M.A.,  M.D.,   Tuskaloola. 

George  F.  Crawford,                         Miss. 

Walter  S.  Patton,  M.D.,          Greene  Co. 

Neville  Edmonds,                              Miss. 

J.  E.  Prince,  M.A.,  M.D.,       Greene  Co. 

William  S.  Jefferies,           Talladega  Co. 

James  F.  Williamson,                      Texas. 

George  C.  Johnson,                         Selma. 

Charles  0.  Jones,                          Marion. 

1851. 

William  W.  Lang,                      Dallas  Co. 

Benjamin  F.  Meek,                 Tuskaloosa. 

George  G.  Beemon,                           Miss. 

Caesar  Rodney  Montague,    Marengo  Co. 

William  P.  Carter,                     Butler  Co. 

Joseph  W.  Morton,                    Perry  Co. 

Guy  S.  Goldsby,                   Summerfield. 

Goronwy  Owen,                              Mobile. 

Jonathan  Haralson,                         Selma. 

Edmund  LaFayette  Prince,   Tuskaloosa. 

Thomas  H.  Lewis,                Jacksonville. 

Henry  B.  Whitneld,                          Miss, 

Eliphalet  A.  McWhorter,    Montgomery. 

Walter  E.  Winn,                    Marengo  Co. 

Edward  L.  Stickney,             Marengo  Co. 

Joseph  P.  Wier,                                 Miss. 

1855. 

William  S.  Wyman,  M.A.,     Tuskaloosa. 

Joseph  P.  Clark,                             Eutaw. 

1852. 

Richard  H.  Cobbs,               Montgomery. 

James  J.  Cook,                               Mobile. 

Wallace  B.  Colbert,                          Miss. 

Jesse  G.  Foster,                      Tuskaloosa. 

Girard  Cook,                            Hayneville. 

Nathaniel  Friend,                    Greene  Co. 

James  M.  Bearing,                 Tuskaloosa. 

Reuben  R.  Gaines,               Chocktaw  Co. 

Duncan  Dew,                                  Eutaw. 

William  G.  Gamble,                 Wilcox  Co. 

James  R.  Edmonds,                            Miss. 

William  H.  Gladney,                         Miss. 

William  J.  Gilmore,                 Sumter  Co. 

Benjamin  W.  Jackson,                    Selma. 

John  H.  H.  Glassell,                     Mobile. 

John  A.  Jones,                Montgomery  Co. 

James  J.  Goode,                            Camden. 

Jasper  J.  Jones,                     Jackson  Co. 

Robert  K.  Hargrove,              Tuskaloosa. 

William  Le  Roy  Kennedy,      Greene  Co. 

Michael  S.  Kennard,                         Ark. 

George  Little,                          Tuskaloosa. 

James  M.  Knox,                       Greene  Co. 

Charles  Manly,                         Tuskaloosa. 

John  R.  Lee,                            Sumter  Co. 

James  W.  Monette,                  Greene  Co. 

John  W.  McConnell,          Tuskaloosa  Co. 

Osborne  Parker,                      Monroe  Co. 

John  R.  McDow,                      Sumter  Co. 

Wiliain  A.  Parker,                   Monroe  Co. 

Henry  F.  Meek,                    Jefferson  Co. 

Robert  Perrin,                         Greene  Co. 

Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 


79? 


Richard  H.  Pratt, 

Bibb  Co. 

Lemuel  G.  Spiva, 

Wilcox  Co. 

John  T.  Richardson, 

Greene  Co. 

Homer  Spiva, 

Wilcox  Co. 

Thomas  J.  Scott, 

Dallas  Co. 

John  F.  Tarrant, 

Tuskaloosa  Co. 

Walter  Tate, 

Russell  Co. 

James  F.  Tarrant, 

Jefferson  Co. 

Miles  H.  Yerby, 

Tuskaloosa. 

Joseph  B.  Thornton, 

Eufaula. 

William  C.  Ward, 

Bibb  Co. 

1856. 

John  D.  Weeden, 

Huntsville. 

Robert  K.  Wells, 

Pickens  Co. 

John  A.  Jones,  B.A., 

Montgomery. 

Thomas  Williams, 

Montgomery. 

Edward  Q.  Thornton,  B.A.,        Eufaula. 

Nathan  E.  Cockrell, 

Sumter  Co. 

1859. 

Noble  L.  De  Votie, 

Montgomery. 

Wade  Foster, 

Tuskaloosa. 

Edward  F.  Comegys, 

Tuskaloosa. 

James  J.  Garrett, 

Greene  Co. 

Samuel  S.  Harris, 

Autauga  Co. 

Andrew  C.  Hargrove, 

Tuskaloosa  Co. 

Thomas  M.  Henley, 

Montgomery. 

John  W.  Kerr, 

Tuskaloosa. 

William  I.  Hogan, 

Tuskaloosa. 

Paul  C.  Lee, 

Dallas  Co. 

Samuel  B.  Johnston, 

Tuskegee. 

Edmund  P.  Morrisette, 

Monroe  Co. 

Dan  Jones, 

Perry  Co. 

Josiah  D.  Rhodes, 

Perry  Co. 

John  P.  Jones,  ' 

Camden. 

John  B.  Rudulph, 

Lowndes  Co. 

Richard  C.  Jones, 

Cam  den. 

Henderson  M.  Sornerville,     Tuskaloosa. 

John  C.  Meadors, 

Chambers  Co. 

Benjamin  C.  Yancey, 

Montgomery. 

John  J.  Richardson, 

Pickens  Co. 

John  W.  Young, 

Wilcox  Co. 

James  T.  Searcy, 

Tuskaloosa. 

James  E.  Webb, 

Eutaw. 

1857. 

John  A.  Wilkinson, 

Greene  Co. 

John  M.  Bonner, 

Pickens  Co. 

1860. 

Thomas  J.  Brown, 

Tuskaloosa. 

Jacob  Bryant, 

Clarke  Co. 

Henry  C.  Clark, 

Eutaw. 

Benjamin  F.  CrowelJ, 

Choctaw  Co. 

Anderson  Crenshaw, 

Eutaw. 

Alfred  H.  Hutchinson, 

Tuskaloosa. 

Joseph  Hutchinson, 

Tuskaloosa. 

Cornelius  M.  Hutton, 

Greene  Co. 

John  H.  Jones, 

Perry  Co. 

Bush  Jones, 

Perry  Co. 

Sidney  F.  Leach, 

Tuskaloosa. 

Burwell  B.  Lewis, 

Shelby  Co. 

John  D.  Leland, 

Tuskaloosa. 

Chambers  McAdory, 

Jefferson  Co. 

William  D.  C.  Lloyd, 

Miss. 

Stephen  J.  Miller, 

Tuskaloosa  Co. 

Thomas  Norris, 

Selma. 

Lycurgus  J.  Parker, 

Pickens  Co. 

John  M.  Parker, 

Monroe  Co. 

Abner  E.  Patton, 

Greene  Co. 

Joseph  A.  Pickens, 

Eutaw. 

Robert  Richey, 

Pickens  Co. 

John  H.  Pickens, 

Eutaw. 

Matthew  T.  Sanders, 

Greene  Co. 

Franklin  N.  Smith, 

Dallas  Co. 

William  J.  Vaughan, 

Wilcox  Co. 

William  F.  Withers, 

Tuskaloosa. 

1861-'2.     (Not 

known). 

Junius  McQ.  Witherspoon,               Miss. 

1864. 

1858. 

Spots  wood  Garland, 

Missouri. 

Junius  K.  Battle, 

Tuskegee. 

William  J.  Hamner, 

Tuskaloosa  Co. 

James  A.  Bullock, 

Montgomery  Co. 

Moody  H.  May, 

Tuskaloosa  Co. 

Newton  N.  Clement 

Tuskaloosa  Co. 

John  R.  Griffin, 

Russell  Co. 

18G5. 

Boiling  Hall,  Jr., 

Autauga  Co. 

John  D.  McLaughlin, 

Perry  Co. 

Jeff.  E.  Boseman, 

Autauga  Co. 

James  W.  Miller, 

Greene  Co. 

F.  M.  C.  Du  Brutz, 

Mt.  Sterling. 

James  Miller, 

Tuskaloosa  Co. 

S.  W.  John, 

Selma. 

Thomas  G.  Parsons, 

Jefferson  Co. 

William  H.  Ross, 

Mobile. 

William  H.  Sanders, 

Greene  Co. 

W.  C.  Westmoreland, 

Greene  Co. 

Appendix  to 


HONORARY   GRADUATES. 


1833. 


Rev.  Albert  A.  Muller,  D.D.,  Tennessee. 
1834. 

Rev.  Stephen   Olin,  D.D.,   Middlebury 
College,  1820,  LL.D.  Yale  College,  Ct. 
Abner  S.  Lipscomb,  LL.D.,  Texas. 

Rev.  H.  W.  Hilliard,  M.A.,  Montgomery. 
Rev.  Daniel  P.  Bestor,  M.A.,  Sumter  Co. 
C.  G.  McPherson,  M.A.,  South  Carolina. 
A.  H.  Sample,  M.A.,  South  Carolina. 
R.  T.  Brumby,  M.A.,  South  Carolina. 

1837. 

William  Crawford,  LL.D.,  Mobile. 

Henry  Tutwiler,  M.A.,  Greene  Springs. 
Henry  Thompson,  M.A.,  Texas. 

1838. 

Elisha  Mitchell,  D.D.,  Yale,  N.  C. 

William  E.  Blasingame,  M.A.,  Perry  Co. 
Arnoldus  V.  Brumby,  M.A.,  Macon  Co. 
J.  G.  Barnard,  M.A.,  U.  S.  Army. 

1839. 
Rev.  Stephen  R.  Wright,  M.A.,    Selma. 

1841. 

John  G.  Shorter,  M.A.,  Eufaula. 

Rev.  J.  J.  Hutchinson,  M.A.,  Greensboro. 

1842. 

William  G.  Simms,  LL.D.,  South  Carolina. 
Isaac  H.  Erwin,  M.A.,  Mobile. 

Duncan  M.  Murphy,  M.A.,  Claiborne. 
James  C.  Dockery,  M.A.,  Mississippi. 

1843. 

Rev.  John  L.  Dagg,  D.D.,  Georgia. 

Benjamin  F.  Porter,  M.A.,  DeKalb  Co. 
Lemuel  B.  Robertson,  M.A.,  LaFayette. 
E.  Sanford  Sayre,  M.A.,  Montgomery. 
Joseph  P.  Saffold,  M.D.,  Montgomery. 

1844. 

Rev.  W.  A.  Scott,  M.A.,  1841,  Louisiana. 
Rev.  Henry  J.  Ripley,  D.D.,  Mississippi. 

1845. 

Edward  C.  Bullock,  M.A.,  Eufaula. 
Rev.  Jesse  Hartwell,  D.D.,  Arkansas. 
Robert  T.  Johnson,  M.A.,  Pickensville. 


Jones  J.  Kendrick,  M.A.,  Geneva. 

Pleasant  W.  Kittrell,  M.A.,  Greensboro. 
James  W.  McClung,  M.A.,  Huntsville. 
Rev.  A.  H.  Mitchell,  D.D.,  Summerfield. 
Oliver  H.  Prince,  M.A.,  Demopolis. 
Thomas  M.  Price,  M.A.,  Washington  Co. 
Thomas  H.  Watts,  M.A.,  Montgomery. 


1846. 

Rev.  Theodore  Sayre,  M.A., 
Daniel  Pratt,  M.A., 

1847. 


Prattville. 


Rev.  Aristides  S.  Smith,  M.A.,  Virginia. 
Joseph  W.  Taylor,  M.A.,  Eutaw. 

Robert  S.  Lewis,  M.A.,          Montevallo. 
Lucius  B.  Johnson,  M.A.,  Selma. 

1848. 


John  H.  Chapman,  M.A., 
Rev.  Thomas  F.  Curtis,  M.A.,     Marion. 
Robert  Bradshaw,  M.A.,  Selma. 

John  W.  Womack,  M.A.,        Greene  Co. 

1849. 

Rev.  J.  Somerville,  M.A.,  Pickens  Co. 
Paul  T.  S.ayre,  M.A.,  Montgomery. 

1850. 

Rev.  Jacob  H.  Baker,  M.A.,  Elyton. 
Rev.  J.L.  Reynolds,  D.D. ,  South  Carolina. 
Ashley  W.  Spaight,  M.A.,  Cahawba. 

1851. 

Clark  S.  Brown,  M.A.,  Mississippi. 
Rev.  J.  M.  Jennings,  M.A. ,  Carrollton. 
Rev.  A.  A.  Lipscomb,  D.  D. ,  Montgomery. 

1853. 

John  McP.  Berrien,  LL.D.,  Georgia. 
Simon  Greenleaf,  LL.D.,  Massachusetts. 
James  K.  Paulding,  LL.D.,  New  York. 
Rev.  John  L.  Kirkpatrick,  D.D.,  S.  C. 
Rev.  William  Johnson,  M.  A. ,  Tuskaloosa. 
Rev.  William  H.  Milburn,  M.A.,  Mobile. 
John  N.  Malone,  M.A.,  Athens. 

1853. 

John  A.  Campbell,  LL.D.,  Mobile, 

Rev.  Henry  Talbird,  D.D.,  Marion. 
Aaron  B.  Levissee,  M.A. ,  Mardisville. 
William  B.  Moss^M.A.,  Montgomery. 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama.  799 

THE  UNIVERSITY  DURING  THE  WAR. 

It  is  difficult  to  publish  an  authentic  Catalogue  of  the  Cadets  of  the  University, 
or  of  other  material  facts  in  connection  with  the  history  of  the  Institution  during 
the  war.  There  are  remaining  among  the  archives  only  some  unsatisfactory  frag 
ments,  and  we  find  no  Catalogues.  It  is  sufficient  to  say  that,  during  that  period, 
the  College  roll  reached  its  greatest  numbers.  In  1862-' 3  there  were  256  Cadets; 
and  in  1863-'4,  the  number  reached  341.  In  1865,  the  University  closed  with 
265  Cadets.  The  officers  on  duty  at  the  University  at  various  times,  from  the  be 
ginning  to  the  close  of  the  war,  are  given  below  : 

OFFICERS    OF   INSTRUCTION   AND    GOVERNMENT. 

Collegiate  Department. 
L.  C.  GARLAND,  LL.D.,  President. 

PROFESSORS. 

Rhetoric  and  Oratory. 
Rev.  JOHN  W.  PRATT,  M.A. 

Natural  Philosophy  and  Astronomy. 
GEORGE  BENAUGH,  M.A.  Rev.  CHARLES  H.  TOY,  M.A. 

Ancient  Languages.  Modern  Languages. 

WILLIAM  S.  WYMAN,  M.A  ANDRE  DE  LOFFRE, 

Mathematics.  Chemistry,  Mineralogy,  and  Geology. 

Caleb  Huse,  William  Boggs, 

James  T.  Murfee,  W.  C.  L.  Richardson,  M.A. 
William  J.  Vaughan,  M.A. 

ACADEMIC   DEPARTMENT. 

EDWARD  R.  DICKSON,  M.A.,  Rector. 

Instructors. 

John  F.  Tarrant,  M.A.,  H.  M.  Somerville,  M.A., 

S.  C.  Donaldson,  M.A.,  B.  F.  Meek,  M.A. 

W.  J.  Vaughan,  M.A. 

MILITARY  DEPARTMENT. 

Col.  L.  C.  GARLAND,  LL.D.,  Superintendent, 

Commandants. 
Lieut.  Col.  Caleb  Huse,  Lieut.  Col.  J.  T.  Murfee. 

Surgeon. 
John  B.  Read,  M.A.,  M.D.,  with  the  rank  of  Major. 

Instructors. 

Major  J.  T.  Murfee,  Captain  D.  Poyner, 

Captain  C.  L.  Lumsden,  Captain  John  Massey, 

Captain Morrison,  Captain  E.  A.  Smith, 

Captain  H.  Otey,  John  H.  Murfee. 

Captain  John  T.  Gibbs,  Quartermaster.         Paul  F.  Tricou,  Treasurer. 

THE   DESTRUCTION    OF  THE   COLLEGE   BUILDINGS. 

On  the  4th  of  April,  1865,  the  main  buildings  of  the  University,  including  the 
Rotundo,  were  destroyed  by  fire,  by  the  United  States  troops.  The  College  Li 
brary,  and  also  the  Libraries  of  the  Erosophic  and  Philomathic  Societies,  were 
consumed.  The  President's  Mansion,  the  Observatory,  and  five  cottages  for  Pro 
fessors,  remained. 


800 


Appendix  to 


THE   PRESENT   CAPACITY   OF   THE   BUILDINGS. 

In  1868,  a  new  and  splendid  edifice,  capable  of  accommodating  two  hundred 
Cadets,  was  erected.  This  building  contains  a  large  mess-hall,  and  commodious 
offices  and  recitation  rooms,  as  well  as  extensive  dormitories.  There  is  now  abun 
dant  room  at  the  University  for  two  hundred  Cadets,  and  all  necessary  officers. 

BOARD   OF   REGENTS,  1870. 

N.  B.  CLOUD,  M.D.,  President,  Montgomery. 

G.  L.  Putnam,                               Mobile.     J.  Nichols,  Madison  Co. 

W.  P.  Miller,                          Conecuh  Co.     W.  H.  Clayton,  DeKalb  Co. 

J.  H.  Booth,                           Autauga  Co.     G.  A.  Smith,  Lawrence  Co. 

T.  A.  Cook,                          Talladega  Co-     A.  B.  Collins,  Lawrence  Co. 

H.  M.  BUSH,  Secretary,  Montgomery. 

FACULTY   AND   OTHER   OFFICERS. 

W.  R.  SMITH,  President,  and  Professor  of  Metaphysics,  International  and 

Constitutional  Law. 

Rev.  J.  DeF.  Richards,  Professor  of  Natural  Science  and  Astronomy. 
H.  S.  Whitfield,  Professor  of  Mathematics. 
D.  L.  Peck,  Professor  of  Ancient  Languages. 

W.  R.  Smith,  Professor  of  English  Literature,  Rhetoric  and  Logic.* 
Charles  M.  Foster,  Treasurer. 
J.  M.  Martin,  Attorney  for  the  University. 

FACULTY,  1872. 
N.  T.  LUPTON,  A.M.,  President. 


W.  S.  Wyman,  A.M. 
B.  F.  Meek,  A.M. 
A.  S.  Garnett,  M.D. 
W.  A.  Parker,  A.M. 
N.  T.  Lupton,  A.M. 


W.  J.  Vaughan,  A.M. 
D.  S.  Peck,  A.M. 
Rev.  Telfair  Hodgson,  A.M. 
J.  G.  Griswold,  A.M. 
E-  A.  Smith,  Ph.  D. 


Gen.  GEO.  D.  JOHNSTON,  Commandant. 
*Supplying  the  place  of  H.  S.  Whitfleld,  transferred  to  the  chair  of  Mathematics, 


GENERAL   INDEX. 


[The  names  which  appear  in  this  Index,  are  of  persons  who  have  been  sketched, 
or  specially  noticed,  to  more  or  less  extent,  in  the  Reminiscences.] 


Abercrombie,  Charles  A 603 

Abercrombie.  James 555 

Abenmthy,  Miles  C 283 

Abolition  Papers  in  1840 378 

Acklin,  William 383 

Adams,  James  M 172 

Aldridge,  Enoch 357 

Agee,  Noah  A 653 

Adjustment — 

Proposed  by  Alabama 492 

Rejected  at  Washington 492 

Col.  Judge's  Eeport 492 

Correspondence 492 

Alford,  Julius  C 618 

Aid  to  Railroads — 

In  1853  Rejected 580 

Alston,  William  J 156 

Amason,  George 498 

Anderson,  Decatur  C 358 

Armstead,  Robert  B 621 

Armstrong,  James  M 568 

Ashley,  William  A 598 

Attorneys-at-Law — 

Roll  of,  in  1845 780 

Attorney-Generals 779 

Anecdotes  and  Humor — 

McConnell  and  Jones 75 

McConnell  and  Ireland 163 

McConnell  and  the  Demijohn.  .412 
Dougherty  and  the  Alligator. .  .354 

Clitherall  and  the  Bath 355 

Judge  Pickens  and  the  Jury. .  .262 
Judge  Pickens  and  the  Convict. 262 

E.  Herndon  and  his  Badge 43 

Womack  and  Gen.  Bulger .....   59 

Strode  and  the  Colic 238 

Strode  and  his  Rival 238 

Strode  and  the  Candidate 238 

.Clemens'  ' '  Joint  Song  " 234 

54 


Cochrau  and  the  Chaplain 216 

Ricks  and  the  Eagle 506 

Pettit  and  his  Bank  Charter.  .  .310 

C.  W.  Lee  and  the  Dandy 414 

Tunstall  and  his  Opinions 50 

Amason  and  the  Opera 498 

Judge  P.  and  J.  L.  Martin 68 

Price  and  his  Politics 102 

Gibbs  and  the  "Code  of  1819,"  34 

Example  of  Politeness 369 

Williams  and  his  Mistake 370 

Bagby,  Arthur  P 205 

Baldwin,  Joseph  G 358 

Baldwin,  Marion  A 349 

Bailey,  James  F 499 

Barnes,  William  H 730 

Bates,  Joseph 173 

Baker,  Robert  A 172 

Baker,  Benjamin  A 173 

Bacon,  E.  J 624 

Barron,  John 173 

Barry,  George  L 572 

Ball,  George  C 350 

Banks,  Marion 283 

Barnard,  F.  A.  P 707 

Barr,  John  G 708 

Battle,  Cullen 653 

Bank  Committee — 

Report  of  Mr.  Campbell 250 

Bank  Directors — • 

Canvassing  for 43 

Number  Reduced 43 

Bank  Frauds — 

Investigation  of. 216 

Report  of  Committee 217 

Testimony  Sealed 218 

Bank  Notes — 

Destroyed  by  Law 336 


802 


Index  to 


Bank  Trustee — 

Mr.  Lyons'  Report 580 

Complimentary  Approval 580 

Bock,  Franklin  K 627 

B  ek,  Thomas  K 431 

Beckett,  James  M 489 

Bolser,  James  E 327 

Beene,  Jesse 52 

Benham,  Vincent  A 552 

Benson,  Nimrocl  E 614 

Bestor,  Daniel  P GO 

Benners,  Augustus 605 

Bell,  Isaac,  Jr 604 

Bethea,  Tristram  B 624 

Bibb,  Benajah  S 431 

Biennial  Sessions — 

Vote  on  by  the  people 416 

Bowie,  Alexander 425 

Bowie,  Andrew 530 

Bowdon,  Franklin  W 392 

Booth,  John  P 87 

Bragg,  John 557 

Brazier,  Thomas 553 

Brickell,  Robert  B 621 

Brindley,  Mace  T.  P 222 

Birmingham — 

Description  of 441 

Blassingarne,  William  E 98 

Boiling,  James  M 118 

Blake,  Samuel  R 598 

Bradford,  Jacob  T 599 

Brooks,  William  M 730 

Brodnax,  Robert 61 

Browu,  Newbern  H 605 

Jtothwell,  James 285 

Bradley,  A.  Q 174 

Bridges,  John  W 283 

Bulger,  Michael  J 657 

Baylor,  Walker  K 223 

Berney,  James  E 353 

Bugbee,  Francis 359 

Burke,  John  M 55 

Burke,  Malcolm  M 101 

Buford,  Jefferson 157 

Bullock,  Edward  C 653 

Bynum,  Oakley  H 654 

Uyrd,  William  M, .  •  / 568 

CnbanisB.  S.  D. .  \ . 593 

Cain,  James 239 

Campbell,  John  A, 285 

Campbell,  Robert  B 175 

Calhoun,  James  M 288 

Called  Session — 

In  1837,  for  Relief 201 

Carmack,  Cornelius 88 

Carroll,  James  G 123 

Cato,  Lewis  L 730 

Cato.  Sterling  G 593 

Chapman,  Reuben 523 

Chapman,  Samuel 265 

Chandler,  Daniel 393 

Chancery  Courts 68 


Chancellors 779 

Charleston  Convention — 

Report  Adopted 691 

Resolutions  affirmed 687 

Alabama  Protest 694 

Ballots  for  Nominee 694 

Chambers,  William  H 730 

Chilton,  William  P 116 

Circuit  Court — 

Judges  of 775 

Solicitors 776 

Clay.  Clement  C 484 

Clay,  Clement  C.,  Jr 289 

Clarke,  John  R 157 

Clarke,  Lincoln 423 

Clarke,  James  B 550 

Clarke,  Thomas  D 348 

Clarke,  William  E 477 

Clanton,  Nathaniel  H 625 

Clanton,  James  H. — 

His  Public  Services 632 

Tragical  Death 634 

Proceedings  of  the  Bar 634 

Response  by  Judtre  Busteed. .  ,6X5 

Message  of  Gov.  Lindsay 635 

Report  of  Committee 635". 

Eulogies  in  the  House 636; 

Tribute  in  Convention 645 

Clayton,  Henry  D 659 

Clemens,  Jeremiah 176 

Clements,  Rufus  H 569 

Clopton,  David 730 

Civil  Code  - 

By  A.  J.  Walker 455 

Adoption  of 547 

Congress  United  States — 

Senators  in 771 

Representatives 771 

Clitherall.  Alexander  B 552 

Crawford,  Daniel 654 

Crawford,  Lorman 120 

Crawford,  Hugh  N 226 

Crabb,  George  W 52 

Creagh,  Gerard  B 158 

Creagh,  M.  W , ....  607 

Crenshaw,  Anderson 384 

Crenshaw,  Walter  H 179 

Crews,  Thomas  R .553 

Groom,  Isaac 397 

Coleman,  Daniel 264 

Coleman,  Walter  L 572 

Cobb,  Williamson  R.  W 395 

Cochran,  John 227 

Cochran,  William 347 

Collier,  Henry  W 718 

Cocke,  Jack  F 428 

Comptrollers  of  Public  Accounts — 

Names  of,  since  1819 774 

Cook,  Edward  H 397 

Cook,  Nathaniel 119 

Cook,  Walter 606. 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 


803 


Cooper,  Aai'tm.  B 433 

Cooper,  Thomas  B 292 

Cooper,  William 489 

Co-operation  of  Southern  States — 

Proposed  by  Gen.  Bulger 658 

Covington,  Harrison  W 250 

Cox,  Henry  \V 569 

Cotton  Speculations — 

J.  M.  Bates'  Pamphlet  on 267 

Advances  by  State  Bank 268 

Loss  on  account 276 

Davis,  James  W 499 

Davis,  L.  R 531 

Davis,  Nathaniel 233 

Davis,  Nicholas 341 

Davis,  William  P 621 

Davenport,  James  M 179 

Dailey,  Samuel  C 279 

Dargan,  Edward  S 385 

Dawsoii,  N.  H.  E 729 

Dear,    Charles 360 

Death  of  Members— 

J.  H.  Garrett 180 

P.  S.  Glover 501 

D.  Sullivan 57 

Deaths  by  Casualty- 
Baylor,  W.  K.*. 

Cobb,  W.  R.  W 

Hatcher,  R.  S 

Jackson,  John 


....223 

396 

....608 
. .  301 


Lesene,  J.  W 476 

McClanahaii,  M 98 

Deferred  Sketches 738 

Dellet,  James 325 

Dent,  Dennis 159 

Dickinson,  J.  S 601 

Dougherty,  Robert 353 

Dowdell,  James  F 586 

Dunn,  William  D 392 

Duels— 

Inge  and  Stanly 401 

Yancey  and  Clingman 682 

Earle,  Samuel  S 293 

Edward,  Charles  G 490 

Ellis,  Harvey  W 210 

Elrnore,  John  A 61 

Elmore,  Rush 350 

English,  Elbert  H 294 

Ernest,  Williura  S 530 

Ei-wiii,  Isaac  H 296 

Erwin,  John 294 

Erwiu,  Robert  H 731 

Eligibility  to  Office  - 

Investigation  of. 109 

Seats  Declared  Vacant 110 

Extension  of  Bank  Debts — 

Reviewed  by  Gov.  Martin 417 

Falkner,  Jefferson 428 

Fannin,  Augustus  B 729 

Federal  Relations— 


Fire  Eaters  — 

Origin  of  Name 545 

Fitzpatrick,  Benjamin 715 

Fleming,  William 279 

Flewellen,  E.  R 565 

French  Exiles — 

Settlement  in  Marengo 36 

Freedmen,  kindness  to — 

Judge  Clayton's  Charge 663 

Frazier,  Joseph  P 601 

Frierson,  Gideon  B 153 

Frierson,  Samuel  G 152 

Forney,  Alexander  B 479 

Forsyth,  John 731 

Foscue,  Frederick  F. 534 

Foster,  Arthur 220 

Foster,  John 622 

Gardner,  Benjamin  L 535 

Garrett,  John  H 179 

Garrott,  Ishani  W 434 

Garth,  Jesse  W 83 

Gayle,  George  W 434 

Gayle,  John 458 

Gibbons,  Lyinan 591 

Gilchrist,  A 386 

Gilchrist,  J.  G 500 

Goldsby,  George  W 535 

Goldthwaite,  George 549 

Goldthwaite,  Henry 475 

Godbold,  Cade  M 531 

Gooch,  Albert  G 481 

Graham,  M.  D 613 

Graham,  N.   S 570 

Graham,  William 480 

Green,  William  H 241 

Greene,  William  J 621 

Gresham,  Leroy 240 

Guild,  James 435 

Gunn,  George  W 532 

General  Ticket- 
Governor's  Message 138 

Mr.  Hudson's  Resolution 139 

Excited  Debate 140 

Whigs  Retire  from  House 141 

Whig  Protest 143 

Speaker's  Defense 144 

Law  Repealed 219 

General  Assembly^- 

Members  of.  frpra  1819 741 

Presidents  of '  Senate 769 

Secretaries  of  Senate 769 

Speakers  of  House 770 

Clerks  of  House 770 

Georgia  Platform  — 

Fourth  Section 548 

Action  of  Senate 548 

Non-action  of  House 548 

Grand  Lodge  of  Alabama — 

Monument  to  A.  P.  Pfister 554 

Hale,  Samuel  A 731 

Hale,  Stephen  F 665 

TToll      Unilinrr  t~>,- 


804 


Index  id 


Hall,  Dixon 160 

Hamilton,  Peter 502 

Harris,  Ptolemy 424 

Harris,  Sampson  W 387 

Harrison,  Alfred 296 

Hardaway,  Robert  S 356 

Hatcher, 'Robert  S 608 

Hastie,  J.  H 437 

Hawu,  William , 125 

Hefflin,  John  T '. .  .565 

Hefflin,  Bobert  S 655 

Hefflin,  Wyatt , 241 

Henley,  John  W 297 

Henshaw,  Andrew  1 570 

Hermitage,  Visit  to 426 

Higgins,  R.  W 594 

High,  Robert  A 118 

Hill,  George 180 

Hill,  Gibson  F 608 

Hill,  John  T 536 

Hill,  Pleasant 361 

Hilliard,  Henry  W 93 

Hobdy,  Harrell 398 

Hobbs,  Thomas  H «29 

Hogan,  John  B 236 

Holly,  John  J 437 

Homicides — 

Erwin  and  Boss 295 

Frierson  and  Anderson 155 

McClung  and  Wills 303 

Moody  and  Cantley 347 

Nelson  and  Clanton 644 

Hooper,  Johnson  J 526 

Hopkins,  Arthur  F 377 

Houston,  George  S 324 

Houston,  Samuel  S 180 

Howard,  C.  C 571 

Howard.  W.  B.  H 361 

Hubbard,  David 297 

Hudson,  Benjamin 160 

Humphreys,  David  C 364 

Huey,  J.  G.  L 226 

Hunter,  John  L 226 

Hunter,  John  S 181 

Huntmgton,  B.  W 364 

Hutchinson,  J.  J 183 

Hospital  for  the  Insane — 

Visit  of  Miss  Dix 520 

Report  iu  Senate 520 

Report  in  House 520 

Report  of  Trustees 436 

Inauguration — 

Gov.  Bagby's 40 

Gov.   Fitzpatrick's 215 

Gov.   Martin's.  .    416 

Gov.  Chapman's 465 

Gov.  Collier's  : 618 

Gov.  Winston's 581 

Independent  Treasury- 
Resolutions  of  Mr.  Elmore.  ...   50 
Resolutions  of  Judge  Smith. .  .   72 


Earnest  Discussion  in  House ...  74 
Impeachment — 

Memorial  of  W.  Kelly 384 

Response  of  Judges 384 

Invitation  to  Henry  Clay — 

By  Tuskaloosa  Committee 54 

Inge,  Richard  F 609 

Inge,  Samuel  W 399 

Inge,  William  M 183 

Indian  War — 

Volunteers  for 208 

Removal  of  Tribe 201 

Moneys  reimbursed  by  U.  S . .  .  327 

Jack,  William  P 732 

Jackson,  Crawford  M 437 

Jackson,  Francis  S 571 

Jackson,  John 299 

James,  Lorenzo 229 

Jarnigan,  John  M 478 

Jay,  Andrew 609 

Jemison,  Robert,  Jr : 401 

Jenkins,  J.  D 403 

Jeter,  Samuel 666 

John,  J.  R 504 

Johnston,  R.  T 438 

Jones,  Allen  C 655 

Jones,  Elliott  P 594 

Jones,  George  T 236 

Jones,  Henry  C 365 

Jones,  Henry  T 88 

Jones,  John  E 170 

Jones,  William  G 301 

Judge,  Thomas  J 490 

Kelly,  Moses 356 

Kennedy,  John  S 232 

Kerr,  Elijah 439 

Keyes,  Wade 592 

Kirnball,  Allen 602 

King,  Nathaniel  R 630 

King,  Peyton 161 

King,  Porter 573 

King,  William  R.— 

Public  Services  of. 675 

Elected  Vice-President 675 

His  Death 676 

President's  Message 676 

Eulogies  in  Senate 676 

Eulogies  in  House 677 

In  Supreme  Court  U.  S 679 

Alabama  Resolutions 581 

Kno  w-Nothi  ngs — 

Canvass  lor  Governor 97 

Kossuth  Reception — 

J.  Clemens'  vote  on 177 

W.  R.  Smith's  vote  on 561 

Langdon,  Charles  C 184 

Land  Fund — 

Hist6ryof 651 

Mr.  Howard's  Resolutions 344 

Latham,  Milton  S 529 

Lawler,  Levi  W 732 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 


805 


Lee,  Columbus  W 404 

Leslie,  W.  P 566 

Lesene,  Joseph  W 476 

Lewis,  Dixon  II 471 

Ligon,  David  G 425 

Lipscomb,  Abner  S 91 

Lipscomb,  Andrew  A 595 

Lindsay,  Kobert  B 732 

Lindsay,  Matthew  W 126 

Little,  Blake 185 

Literary  Characters — 

Names  of,  in  Alabama 707 

Lockwood,  Elihu 504 

Lottery  for  Public  Objects— 

G.  F.  Hill,  Originator 608 

S.  Swan,  Manager 608 

Proceeds  Diverted 608 

Lowe,  Bartley  M 81 

Lowe,  William  M 83 

Lyon,  Francis  S 587 

Mabry,  A.  G 666 

Malone,  John  N 625 

Manning,  Amos  R 439 

Martin,  Abram 728 

Martin,  John 80 

Martin,  James  B 666 

Martin,  Joshua  L 465 

Martin,  J.  M 466 

Martin,  Peter 263 

Martin,  William  B 302 

Mays,  Thomas  S 85 

Macadamized  Roads — 

Report  on 107 

McAllister,  Angus 222 

McAlpin,  Blauton 92 

McAlpin,  Solomon 185 

McClanahan,  Milton 222 

McClanahan,  J.  M 98 

McClellan,  W.  B 85 

McLeod,  Norman 366 

McCoy,  Thomas  W 305 

McConnell,  Felix  G 162 

McClung,  James  W 303 

McDonald,  Reuben 537 

McGuire,  Moses 537 

McKaskell,  C 573 

McLemore,  Charles 185 

McMillon,  L.  G 306 

McSpadden,  S.  K 656 

McVay,  Hugh 164 

Meek,  Alexander  B 711 

Military  Code— 

By"Crabb  and  Bradford 203 

Military  Letter — 

Gen.  Sherman's,  on  the  South.. 405 
Mexican  War — 

Alabama  Troops  in 461 

Gen.  Shields 466 

Gen.  Quitman 467 

Remains  of  Col.  Butler 468 

Mills,  Archibald  E. .  89 


Mobile- 
Fire  and  Pestilence  in 108 

B.  F.  Porter's  Resolutions 108 

P.  Walker's  Speech 108 

Moore,  Andrew  B 720 

Moore,  David : 188 

Moore,  John  E 477 

Moore,  S.  D.  J 122 

Moore,  Samuel  B 62 

Moores,  William  B 189 

Morris,  William  W 190 

Moren,  E.  H 733 

Morrisette,  John 306 

Moss,  William  B 574 

Mudd,  William  S 478 

Murphy,  John 327 

Murphy,  Robert : 610 

Murphy,  William  M 191 

Musgrove,  W.  H 228 

Nabors,  Z.  L 652 

Nabors,  James  M 496 

National  Bank — 

M.  Baker's  Scheme  of 206 

Native  Artists — 

Sanders,  W.  C 715 

Tarver,  M.  L 714 

Nicks,  Alvis  Q 551 

Norman,  Felix  G 231 

Norris,  William  H 192 

Norwood,  Daniel  H 192 

Oliver,  Samuel  C 164 

O'Neal,  Edward  A 382 

Ormond,  John  J 267 

Organization,  1851  — 

H.  S.  Foote's  Address  on 545 

Parsons,  Lewis  E 735 

Parsons,  Silas 524 

Patton,  Robert  M 737 

Patton,  William  S 405 

Payne,  Sidney  B 610 

Payne,  William  W 99 

Pacific  Railroad — 

Address  of  A.  Whitney  on 468 

Perkins,  Hardin 192 

Pearson,  Joel  E 567 

Perry,  William  F 595 

Perrine,  George  G 568 

Peters,  Thomas  M 440 

Pettus,  Edmund  W 382 

Pettit,  John  W.  A 309 

Phelan,  John  D 114 

Phelan,  Joseph 349 

Phillips,  Matthew 228 

Phillips,  Philip 405 

Phillips,  George  C 611 

Phillips,  William  S 165 

Pfister,  Amand  P 554 

Pickett,  Albert  J 714 

Pickett,  R.  0 611 

Pickens,  Ezekiel 261 

Post  Notes— 


806 


Index  to 


Portis,  E.  G 630 

Portis,  John  W 366 

Posey,  Sidney  C 389 

Polk,  ex-President— 

Reception  of. 511 

Pollard,  Charles  T 482 

Porter,  Benjamin  F 310 

Powell,  James  R 440 

Prince,  Thomas  M.  C 193 

Price,  Thomas 102 

Pryor,  Luke 620 

Party  Platforms,  1860— 

Republican 695 

Union 697 

Democratic 702 

Southern  Rights 704 

Public  Education — 

A.  B.  Meek's  Report  on 580 

First  Superintendent 584 

Public  Honors — 

Charles  Carroll 93 

Andrew  Jackson 426 

William  R.  King 581 

Public  Lands — 

Settlers  on 278 

Currency  for 238 

Rains,  John 56 

Railroad — 

Loan  to  M.  and  W.  P 337 

Rather,  John  D 574 

Rather,  John  T 55 

Relief  Measures — 

Repeal  of. 288 

Removal — 

Popular  vote  on 416 

Committee's  Report 416 

Resolutions — 

In  1840,  at  Baltimore 472 

Revenue  Bill — 

Mr.  Campbell's  Report  on 255 

Representation  in  Congress — 

Denied  to  Alabama 448 

Mr.  Taylor's  Appeal 448 

Reese,  George 166 

Reese,  James  E 280 

Reynolds,  Benjamin 193 

Reynolds,  Walker 539 

Rice,  Green  P 167 

Rice,  Samuel  F 194 

Ricks,  Richard  H 505 

Riggs,  Joel 479 

Roberts,  Orran  M 195 

Robinson,  Daniel  S 611 

Robinson,  James 318 

Rodgers,  Hugh  M 280 

Rose,  Howell 367 

Ross,  Walter  R 224 

Royston,  Young  L 622 

Rowe,  John 656 

Rushing,  James  M 239 

Saifold,  Joseph  P .692 


Sanford,  John  W.  A 727 

Saunders,  James  E 195 

Scott,  Alfred  V 57 

Scott,  Nathaniel  J '406 

Scott,  Robert  T 319 

Secretaries  of  State- 
Names  of  since  1819 774 

Seale,  Arnold 122 

Searcy,  Reuben 101 

Seawell,  Joseph 408 

Semple,  Henry  C 481 

Sellers,  Calvin  C 391 

Simmons,  Luke  R 196 

Shelley,   N.  G 612 

Shields,  B.  G 90 

Shorter,  Eli  S 617 

Shorter,  John  Gill 722 

Shortridge,  Eli 260 

Shortridge,  G.  D 97 

Smith,  AlexAnder 667 

Smith,  Neill 86 

Smith,  Robert  H 540 

Smith,  Sol.  C „ *  429 

Smith,  Wesley  M 631 

Smith,  William 113 

Smith,  William  R 558 

Strode,  Charles  E.  B 236 

Steele,  John 225 

Stallworth,  James  A 525 

Stewart,  George  N 497 

Storrs,  John  S 32CK 

Storrs,  Seth  P 497 

Stephenson,  H.  L 506, 

Summers,  Leonard  F 33 

State  Peculiarities 33 

State  Census 70 

State  Cotton  Agency — 

Established  in  Mobile 44 

State  Banks- 
Paper  Offered 669 

Debts  owing  to 670 

Cotton  shipped 670 

Proceeds : 671 

Counties  arranged 671 

State  Bonds t 672 

School  Fund 673 

Assets  of  Banks 674 

Currency  at  par 674 

State  Tax- 
Abolished  in  1834 258 

Restored  in  1842 255 

State  Treasurers — 

Names  of  since  1819 

Seat  of  Government — 

Montgomery  Chosen 

Capitol  Received 

Commissioners  of 

State  Archives 

Burning  of  Capitol 

Southern  Rights — 


.775 

.417 

.460 
.460 
.460 
517 


Reminiscences  of  Public  Men  in  Alabama. 


807 


Secession — 

.Ordinance  of 683 

Supreme  Court — 

Judges 775 

Reporters 775 

Librarians 775 

Tariff- 
Profits  of 472 

Report  on 343 

Amendments 343 

Texas — 

Annexation  of 208 

Talbert,  E.  G 613 

Tarrant,  Leonard 532 

Taylor,  George  (N.  Y.) 481 

Taylor,  George 631 

Taylor,  George  F 631 

Taylor,  Joseph  W 446 

Terry,  Nathaniel 168 

Thornton,  Harry  1 169 

Tonlmin,   T.  L 170 

Towles,  Toliver, 632 

Townes,  Eggleston  D 550 

Turner,  B.  L 430 

Turner,  Daniel  B 224 

Tuutstall,  Thomas  B 153 

University  of  Alabama — 

Endowment 360 

President  installed 47 

Trustees 791 

Faculty 792 

Graduates 793 

Viimlyke,  J.  C 152 

Va'nlioose,   A.  E 594 

Vining,  John 122 

Votes  for  Governor — 

In  181?) 120 

In  1*37 40 

In  1841 212 

In  1817 464 

In  1849 517 

In  1851 548 

In  1853 580 

In  1855 616 

Votes  for  President  U.  S. — 

In  1840 210 

In  1848 511 

In  1852 616 

In  1856 616 

Wade,  James  W 118 


Walker,  A.  J 454 

Walker,  L.  P 507 

Walker,  Percy 383 

Walker,  Richard  W 383 

Walker,  Samuel 137 

Walker,  Tandy  W 198 

Walker,  Thomas  A 197 

Wallace,  James  B 55 

Walthall,  R.  B 281 

Ware,  Robert  J 321 

Watkins,  John 282 

Watrous,  Daniel  E 171 

Webb,  F.  C 626 

Webb,  James  D 602 

Wellborn,  William 121 

Weaver,  James  H 621 

Weisinger,  L.  A 98 

Whatley,  George  C 542 

White,  Alexander 562 

White  basis — 

Mr.  Hubbard's  Resolution 246 

Vote  in  House 247 

Protest  of  Minority 248 

Mr.  Campbell's  Protest 249 

Vote  in  Senate 250 

Effort  to  Rescind 340 

Whiting,  John 591 

Whitsett,  John  C 369 

Wiley,  J.  McCaleb 351 

Williams,  James 509 

Williams,  Price 575 

Williams,  Thomas 321 

Williams,  Thomas,  Jr 408 

Williams,  George  W 369 

Wilson,  B.  F 626 

Wilson,  Burr  W. 282 

Wilson,  Thomas 171 

Winston,  John  A 726 

Winston,  William  0 230 

Withers,  Jones  M 125 

Wright,  William 544 

Womack,  John  W 57 

Woodward,  John  J 525 

Woodward,  Thomas 425 

Woodward,  William 322 

Woolsey,  B.  M 576 

Wyeth,  Louis 510 

Yancey,  Befljamin  C 626 

Yancey,  William  L 681 

Young,  Elista............... 199 


808 


Index  to 


SECOND    INDEX. 


[The  names  here  arranged  are  those  of  citizens  of  Alabama,  and  some  of  other 
States,  who  are  incidentally  mentioned  in  this  volume.  A  few  names  probably  do 
not  appear  in  the  Index,  that  are  found  in  the  narrative.] 


Acklin,  Joseph  A.  S 384 

Aikin,  Hugh 459 

Aikin,  John  G 484 

Allen,  Wade 725 

Andrew,  Rev.  Bishop 576 

Arnett,  John 346 

Arnold,  J.  F 346 

Ashe,  William  8 678 

Bacon,  John  E 557 

Baker,  Alpheus 157 

Baugh,  Robert 523 

Bates,  John  C Ill 

Bates,  John  M 267 

Baine,  D.  W 495 

Banks,  Willis 719 

Bascom,  H.  B.  (Rev.) 718 

Battle,  Alfred 718 

Barclay,  Thomas  E 584 

Beene,  William  A 584 

Berrien,  John  M 394 

Bibb,  Thomas 432 

Bibb,  Wilson  C 214 

Billingslea,  J.  C 597 

Blount,  Frederick  IS 229 

Boyd,  Samuel  B 99 

Bradford,  Joseph  H 118 

Braly,  William 54 

Brittan,  P.  H 579 

Bush,  Lewis  B 241 

Bush,  Nathan  B 241 

Caldwell,  John  M 445 

Capers,  Rev.  Bishop 718 

Caruthers,  Robert 145 

Chappell,A.  H 471 

Chandler,  Gray  A 286 

Chisolm,  M.  A 621 

Claiborne,  J.  H.  F 158 

Clements,  J.  C 54 

Clay,  J.  Withers 335 

Clayton,  Nelson 659 

Clayton,  Joseph  C 660 

Clitherall,  George  B 242 

Colquitt,  Walter  T 471 

Colquitt,  A.  H 389 

Childress,  Thomas  B 38 

Chilton,  Thomas 116 

Church,  Alonzo  (Rev.) 596 

Christmas,  Felix  G 228 


Cobbs,  Rt.  Rev.  Bishop 192 

Comegys,  E.  F 145 

Cook,  Algernon 214 

Cook,  William  C 557 

Cook,  Major 269 

Couch,  William  J 335 

Crabb,  Thomas  D 165 

Crawford,  Martin  J 731 

Crawford,  David 120 

Creagh,  Alexander 607 

Creagh,  John  G 607 

Creagh,  Thomas  B 607 

Cuthbert,  John  A 221 

DeWolf,  Thomas '. 579 

Dougherty,   William 353 

Drish,  John  R 54 

Dyer,  Otis 54 

Elniore,   John 474 

Everett,  John  F 220 

Fitch,  John 54 

Freeman,  F.  G 584 

Forney,  Daniel  M 479 

Garrett,  William,  Sr 145 

Garth,  J.  W.,  Jr 85 

Garth,  W.  W 85 

Gayle,  Billups 435 

Gayle,  Matthew 459 

Gayle,  Richard  H 459 

Giles,  Jacob 242 

Glover,  Allen 502 

Gorgas,  J 469 

Gordon,  Robert  G 475 

Graham,  Daniel 480 

Graham,  John  G 480 

Graham,  Samuel  S . . .480 

Haralson,  A.  L 597 

Harris,  Hugh  N 389 

Harris,  S.  W.,  Jr 389 

Harrison,  Carter  R 346 

Harrison,  Simmons 244 

Hargrove,  Fort 730 

Harvey,  John  G 513 

Hayne,  Isaac  W 112 

Haywood,  Rufus 54 

Hemphill,  Hiram 285 

Herndon,  Thomas  H.,  Sr 541 

Hency,  George  G 372 

Hewitt.  Girait 584 


Eemmisoences  of  Public  Men  inAlabama. 


809 


Heydenfeldt,  S 220 

Hodgson,  Joseph 634 

Hogan,  James 268 

Hogan,  William 67 

Hooper,  DeBernier ,  52G 

Inge,  Richard 541 

Inge,  Francis 541 

Jackson,  Absalom 438 

Jarnigan,   Spencer 478 

Jenkins,  Charles  J 547 

Jemison,  William 401 

Jennings,  S.  K.  (Eev. ) 80 

Johnson,  Herschel  V 716 

Jones,  John  A 528 

Kelly,  Isham 357 

Kennedy,  Lewis 346 

Kennon,  Robert  L.  (Rev.) 41 

Keyes,  John  W 593 

Kidd,  Wilson  M 413 

Lacy,  Robert 54 

Lane,  Levin  B 241 

Lester,  George  N 729 

Lewis,  Burwell  B 266 

Locke,  James  W 459 

Lowe,  John  T 82 

Lowe,  Robert  J 82 

Lurnpkin,  Chief  Justice 573 

Manly,  Basil  (Rev. ) 47 

Marrast,  John 79 

Marrast,  J.  F 374 

Martin,  Edmund  W. .  ? 80 

Mason,  George 417 

McAlpin,  Robert 261 

McCaskill,  John 584 

McLemore,  O.  K 495 

McDonald,  Charles  J 471 

McPherson,  William 116 

McWhorter,  A.  M 57 

Minis,  Seaborn 172 

Molton,  T.  J 597 

Moody,  Washington 347 

Morgan,  John  T 118 

Myrick,  Seth  P 587 

Nooe,  Daniel  T 54 

Norment,  J.  M 346 

Nott,  Richard  T 447 

Gates,  William  C 637 

Ochiltree,  W.  B 540 

Paine,  Rev.  Bishop 382 

Parsons,  Enoch 484 

Patteson,  Benjamin 81 


Peck,  E.  Woolsey 69 

Perkins,  C.  H 228 

Perkins,  Constantine 126 

Pike,  Albert 528 

Poe,  George 306 

Polhill,  Jarnes 369 

Portis,  David  Y * 367 

Reese,  David  A 166 

Rhett,  R.  B.,  Jr 189 

Riggs,  Daniel  M 364 

Ross,  William  H 591 

Saffold,  Reuben 118 

Sale,  Alexander 382 

Samford,  William  F 587 

Samuels,  T.  F 461 

Sauuders,  George  B 266 

Scales,  Thaddeus 242 

Scott,  David 719 

Scott,  W.  A.  (Rev. ) 426 

Scruggs,  Henry  F 154 

Seibles,  Colonel 542 

Shine,  James  B 242 

Shorter,  Reuben  C 722 

Slade,  M.  D.  J 335 

Sledge,  Alexander 241 

Smith,  Malcolm 67 

Smith,  Murray  F 242 

Soule,  Rev.  Bishop 718 

Tait,  James :  628 

Tate,  Waddy 484 

Taylor,  Lin". 104 

Taylor,  William  H 727 

Thornton,  James  1 170 

Toonibs,  Robert 285 

Troy,   D.  S 197 

Towns,  George  W 615 

Tunstall,  Peyton  R 153 

Tyler,  Ex-President 379 

Vandegraff,  W.  J 191 

Vaughn,  Edward  B 719 

Waddel.  Moses  (Rev. ) 590 

Walker,  John  J 383 

Ware,  E.  R 597 

Webb,  William  P 603 

Wellborn,  M.  B 597 

White,  Joel 554 

Williams,  Gaza  way  D 557 

Wood,  William  B   391 

Woodruff,  David 213 

Woodson,  Philip,  Jr 512 

Wright,  William  C 557 


FINAL  NOTE. 

As  in  all  works  for  the  press,  however  attentively  the  proof-sheets  may  be  ex 
amined,  some  typographical  errors  will  escape  correction,  so  in  this  volume,  a 
few  may  be  detected  by  the  careful  reader— not  of  sufficient  importance,  how 
ever,  as  to  require  a  formal  enumeration.  Whatever  they  may  be,  the  super 
visor,  representing  the  author  in  publication,  takes  all  the  blame  upon  himself. 

M. 


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